The Library Dragons!

They're protectors of the knight. They're celebrities with the kids. They're...The Library Dragons! WooHOO! There are two dragons (and one dinosaur): Duncan and Donut (and Munchkin). They all love books and learning, but they have distinct personalities.

Duncan, the green dragon, is the biggest one, and he thinks he's in charge because of his size. That doesn't make him mean, however. He's actually quite protective of Donut and Munchkin, who are both small. He's really excited that a book, Duncan the Story Dragon, has been written about him and that you can get this book at the library.

Donut, the red dragon, is Duncan's trusty sidekick. Despite being smaller, he thinks he can do anything Duncan can (and he usually succeeds). When Duncan needs a break from his duties at the library, Donut is more than happy to step in. He's excited that Duncan got a book published, but he's hoping to get his own book sometime.

Munchkin, is not a dragon but a blue dinosaur who thinks he's a dragon because he wants to be cool like Duncan and Donut. He's rather shy, so you don't see him as much as you see Duncan and Donut. He likes hanging out in the back of the library where it's more quiet, but sometimes he comes out to see what's happening in the front. Although he prefers being left out of the spotlight, Munchkin is willing to help Duncan and Donut whenever he's needed.

For most of the year you can see Duncan and Donut protecting our knight behind the perch. Sometimes, though, during the summer, Duncan and Donut like taking turns hiding around the library in different spots and seeing if kids can find them. Munchkin spends most of his time in the back reading, but one summer he just might take a turn at playing hide and seek.

Next time you're in the library, don't forget The Library Dragons. Be sure to give a nod to Duncan and Donut and pass on a hello to Munchkin.

Ever bookishly yours from the perch.

(Updated from September 4, 2015.)

Secrets of Libraries and More!

What really goes on in libraries and bookstores? What are the secret lives of librarians and booksellers? Some of the things you hear may be true (yes, most staff members LOVE reading books) and some of it may be false (no, we don't live at the library or bookstore).

I'll share something with you--as a perch librarian, I occasionally like to read books about libraries and bookstores. It's similar to healthcare professionals watching medical dramas to see how outsiders view and depict their profession. I enjoy reading about both real and imagined book-associated locales and the characters that populate them. Here are some selections I particularly enjoyed and found interesting:

• The Bookshop on the Corner (Jenny Colgan)  A British library in the present time re-structures and downsizes, leaving a librarian out of a job. But when life gives you lemons, get a book van and head to Scotland!
• The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)  How would you like going to a special library where you can read books about the different lives you could have lived, the other roads not taken? One person does this and learns a lot about herself. 
• The Giver of Stars (Jojo Moyes)  Based on a true story, a group of dedicated librarians ride horseback to deliver books to families living in remote regions of Appalachia during the Great Depression.
• The Library of Lost and Found (Phaedra Patrick)  A librarian who has let life take over her learns, with the help of her charismatic grandmother, how to take over life and live it to the fullest on her terms.
• The Paris Library (Janet Skeslien Charles)  This is a loose account of the events and courageous staff members of the American Library in Paris during World War II.

All these books are available at the library in either print or audiobook formats; you can also enjoy them as digital books or e-audiobooks through our online resources. 

What are some books about libraries and bookstores that you have liked? Share with us!

Happy summer reading from the perch!