Things They Never Taught You at Library School

Interesting things seem to happen nearly every day when you work in a library. Many of them are easily addressed by the wonderful course offerings librarians have sat through. Reference, cataloging, material selection and computer courses are very handy in solving the do you have" and "how do I find" problems. Every so often, however, something happens that you never were taught at library school.

Here is our quick list.

- squirrel mouth to mouth resuscitation (when the cute baby squirrels that fall out of the tree in front of the library are barely breathing)

-plunging toilets (the lady's room toilet is plugged again and you get to plunge it because you earn the big bucks)

-catching mice (what do you do when a little mouse runs across the floor)

-removing cars from the building (somebody missed the brake)

-cleaning up body fluids (use your imagination here)

-restarting the furnace (can't pay a repairman to come on the weekend)

-getting a cat out from under a car (patron won't leave until cat is removed)

That's our list, now please tell us yours.

National Library Week

In case you missed it, this past week was designated as National Library Week. Of course, here at the Ledyard Public Libraries, we think every week should be library week. We are possibly a little prejudiced.

Through history, however, there have been many famous people who valued libraries. In Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare wrote "They are the books, the arts, the academes, that show, contain and nourish all the world." Many years later, Lady Bird Johnson expressed her appreciation of libraries, "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." The famous author Lemony Snicket said "A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them."

I am sure Charles Schulz was a library fan. This week, a special patron of the Gales Ferry Library brought us a Peanut's cartoon about librarians and a lovely treat to celebrate National Library Week. Those of us who work in libraries understand their unique place in the community and it is always nice to have that celebrated.

Hopefully you won't suffer the fate of 19th century observer, Tom Masson, who said, "Seventy million books in America's libraries, but the one you want to read is always out." If only poor Tom had known to check with his librarian. I am sure she could have gotten it for him quickly through interlibrary loan or easily recommended a similiar title.

Magical History Tour

If the weather cooperates this Saturday, local historians Jan Bell and Kit Foster will be leading a walking tour of Gales Ferry Village. Even though I have lived in Gales Ferry for nearly thirty years, I know there is much I can learn from these two experts. Jan, who has authored several histories of the town, has actually lived in town for over seventy years. Kit is the author of the popular Images of America book, Ledyard and Gales Ferry. Coincidentally, these items are available for sale at the local libraries.

There are many questions about and places to explore in our fair village. Do you know where the original Gales Ferry Library was located? How about Norman's store or the Gales Ferry Country Club? What are the origins of the Harvard-Yale Regatta? Or is it the Yale-Harvard Regatta? Probably the biggest question is the name of the village. Why is it called Gales Ferry, when Roger Gale only owned the ferry for five years and others ran it much longer? We are also looking for the apostrophe that fell off Gale's at some unknown point.

So many questions, so many places on so few streets! Come walk with us and get to know our hometown.