Another Night at the Library

Working for two libraries usually during the night shift is for some a lonely time to work such a job, but for me it's a chance to work and do something that makes me feel good about myself. There was a night not so long ago at another library where I kept hearing the phrase 'Read the Book." "Read the book." so at the end of the shift the voice or more of a whisper lead me to a certain table that had an open book to a particular story and I read the book which by the way was 'The Holy Bible' and open to the story of the 'Good Samaritan' which helped me to make a decision for my life.

Here I am at another library and working the night shift going about the necessary library chores for most libraries follow the same procedures. This night I started with the chore that usually takes the longest and that is always the tedious job of putting back all the books that various patrons put on the various carts throughout the library. That is a rule that most schools and public libraries have for some people do not put the books back in the right spots.

After clearing the books from the carts is one of the easiest duties and that is one of going about the library and checking for any trash left behind and tidying up by dusting shelves as well as wiping down the tables and chairs; that is a chore that started because of the COVID-19 pandemic and one that will probably continue on for the life of the library. This is when I once again heard the phrase whisper like "Read the book. Read the book". I moved about the library finishing up straightening for the daylight crew really doesn't have the time to do these small chores. As I was walking to a stairway to the second- floor stacks I heard "Read the book. Read the book."

I went back to my desk at the circulation desk and sat down and entered the new books that were on my desk into the system and prepared them to be placed on the shelves the next day. There were no further clerical duties this night, so I tidied up the circulation desk and made sure they had enough supplies for the next day. This is when for some reason the library got real, real quiet for I could not even hear the air-conditioning running, the phones were quiet for there are usually some late-night readers asking if the book(s) they wanted are back yet. "Read the book. Read the book."

I decided to break the silence by running the vacuum cleaner in the main reading rooms and the entry for we do this once or twice a week unless it really needs it in between. Again, "Read the book. Read the book." I put away the vacuum and went in search of the book. I started in the basement rooms and looked in the periodicals for a book that might have been left down there, and I did some tidying up for it seemed that not too many were down here today. "Well, I thought to myself no book down here. I climbed the stairs to the main floor then continued to go up to the third floor and since I already did clean up here, I went back to the study carrells and looked around. The one in the corner seemed to usher me towards it and there was a sheet of paper there and it said 'Read the book. Read the book."

I went back down to the main floor and had my lunch break that usually was only some tea and fruit for me the night shift is not a shift to eat heavy meals like sandwiches and stuff like that. I finished my lunch and went about looking things over to make sure I did not forget anything that needed done and went into the East Reading room to clean and prepare the little snack area or the morning crew. I put out tea/coffee bags, cups, stirrers and checked to make sure there was still enough creamer set out. I decided to put out some Lorna Doon cookies even though some of the librarians bring in homemade cookies from time to time. When I looked around I still saw no book. I went and and checked out the West Reading room and clear in the back where these two very comfortable, leather chairs sit there on the table between them was a book, as I approached, I heard 'Read the book, Read the book." I read the cover, and it was the classic novel, 'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville and I sat and thought about this why read this book and how does it fit into my living life? I read that first famous line "Call me Ishmael." and I thought one must do what one must do to earn a living just as Captain Ahab and his crew did. We have choices we can make from time to time and learn that there is more to life than just one large discovery there are many smaller ones that just may be the right ones for you and me. End of shift.