We were standing in line at the library to check out our pile of books and DVDs. I had only six books and three DVDs, and I thought I might be taking a little too many items. I wondered if the librarian might say something.

While we were waiting, I couldn’t help but notice a much bigger pile of books that the lady in front of us was checking out—over twenty, in fact. They were children’s books, so I assumed she must have been a teacher or daycare provider, and the books were for the kids.

Is there a limit to how many books we can check out? That wasn’t the question for the day, but I thought I’d ask anyway. The answer was no—there’s no limit. I can check out as many books as I want to read. A big shopping cart of books, aha, sounds good?

Kidding aside, there’s no limit, but of course, it’s up to your discretion.

So, what was my second question?

I asked if there were records of all the books I’d checked out since I joined the library. The answer was no, because “we don’t have enough storage, that’s what they tell us,” the librarian at the checkout explained.

That seemed strange to me, since data like text shouldn’t take up that much storage space. All you’d need are three data fields: the name of the book, the author, and the date the book was checked out—tied to the library card number. The book name and author are already in the database, so the only new information would be the date. Never mind, though. Maybe in the future, the library database can be updated. For now, I’ll just keep my receipts, as the librarian recommended.

And I didn’t even ask for it, but I got to learn self-checkout that day too. A librarian approached me and asked if I’d like to learn how to use the self-checkout. “You have checkout stands?” I asked, surprised. “Yes, of course,” she said. “I like self-checkouts. In fact, I use them in stores all the time,” I added while she led us to the area.

Aha, now I know what this equipment is for! The lady was very patient with me as I kept an eye on Matthew over my shoulder. I’d lost him for a split second in the bushes that morning, and that brief moment felt like the longest second of my life. I wasn’t going to take any chances again. By the way, checking out your own books is very easy!

But before I conclude another learning experience at the library, I must suggest that when you’re there, drop by the display located on the right side of the sitting area.

The theme for this month is Remembrance Day. However, the most fascinating item on the display to me is the panoramic view of Yonge Street, the War Memorial, and the surrounding farmland. I’m not sure if you can see it in the image above, but if you visit the library, you’ll definitely spot it.

I just learned that all the displays are assembled by a lady named Helen. I must say, Helen does an amazing job, especially by adding a touch of Aurora to everything.

The person who told me about Helen said, “Helen is really good at putting it all together. I don’t know where or how she gets her supplies—sometimes she even brings them from home. She does a wonderful job assembling those displays, both inside and at the entrance.”

COMMENTS

Marvin said: November 23, 2011 at 13:27

“Helen must be a cool person. Like you!”