|
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Calling all plastic bags
The weather has definitely changed: most of the leaves are down and we got our first measurable snowfall in the Village. I got my snow tires on yesterday, and we ran out of plastic bags – again. You might not think of a plastic bag shortage as one of the harbingers of winter, but at the library is certainly is. Water damage to books and other library materials is a frequent occurrence, especially in winter. Usually it’s from having a book out in the snow or dropping it in a puddle.
It’s no surprise that this is the number one form of damage to items that we see here, in contrast to drier climates. Sometimes a patron will bring a damaged book up to the circulation desk and offer to pay for it, but more often these items are just put in the book drop as is. In that case we have to spend quite a lot of staff time to look up the patron’s name and contact her or him, explaining the situation and letting them know that a fee will appear on their account. Rain, snow and sleet are a fact of life in Whistler, and your library card states that you are responsible for any damage or loss: you must protect the library materials you have borrowed from the elements. This seems like common sense to me, but many patrons are surprised and/or dismayed when they get the bill for a pulpy, mouldy brick that used to be a book.
One of the traditions at Whistler Public Library is to collect used plastic bags, making them available for people to use when they have too many books to carry comfortably or when it’s wet out. We are fully committed to the recycling philosophy, so we don’t purchase fancy, logo-laden plastic bags for that purpose. We rely on staff members and patrons to bring in their second-hand bags for reuse at the library, and we run out frequently.
If you have a drawer or cabinet crammed full of those grocery store bags that seem to multiply on their own, consider bringing them in for our patrons to use. Any clean, dry plastic bags that are large enough to hold books or DVDs are welcome. You can even just put them in the book drop for us to find. The library staff, patrons, and the library collection will greatly appreciate it!
Lauren Stara, Library Director