Bookmarks, Part I

Not all of us are able to read an entire book, cover to cover, in one sitting.  When that happens, unless we have incredible recall, it's probably common for us to mark the page we're reading so we can find our place again.  Normally this is achieved with a bookmark of some sort, whether it's made from paper, metal, or ribbon.

Another way of bookmarking, which is frowned upon in libraries, is dog-earring a page.  If you're unfamiliar with dog-earring (and I hope you are), the practice involves taking the top corner of a book page and folding it over to allow you to find the place where you left off.  Although it may be convenient to do if you lack a proper bookmark, it does damage books. 

Lately in our library we have found an alarming number of books being returned to us with dog-eared pages.  Some of these books are old while some are new.  Regardless, all library books should be kept in good condition for future borrowers to enjoy.  You wouldn't want to check out a book that's been misused and abused, would you?

Please take care of library books.  If you need to keep your reading place, we have plenty of paper bookmarks that are environment-friendly, reusable, and absolutely free!  You can't beat a deal like that!  And if, perchance, you happen to forget our wonderful bookmarks, please, PLEASE don't dog-ear the book.  Put something between the pages as long as it's not sticky, icky, or inky (I'll discuss this more another time).

Yours truly, trying to save one book at a time from the perch.

Make Your Intentions

We're halfway through January.  I'm sure many of you have made New Year's resolutions such as dieting, exercising, giving up smoking, being better with finances, etc.  Many of you are probably doing well in keeping those resolutions up to this point, but I'm sure there's an equal number of you who have already given up on them.  Am I right?

Perhaps it's time for a new tradition--New Year's intentions.  Stop and think about it.  According to Lexico, which is powered by Oxford (the same people who give you the Oxford English Dictionary), intention is defined as a "thing intended; an aim or plan."  Compare that with resolution, which is defined as a "firm decision to do or not to do something."  Doesn't an intention sound more appealing than a resolution to you?

Personally, I think it's more realistic to set up an intention.  Let's face it, if you're resolving to do something, like dieting, you're going to feel like a failure if you don't stick to it.  An intention is kinder.  You intend to improve, but if you fall short, that's okay.  Just get up and try again without beating yourself up.

So make some New Year's intentions, like going to the library more often.  If you don't fulfill your intentions one day, tomorrow is another day.  Do the best you can to keep your plans.  And if you do make it to the library, you might also want to make an intention to stop by the desk and say hello to your friendly neighborhood perch librarian.

Wishing you many good intentions from the perch.