attn: me, ca. 2001
Several hours a week, I help out in my kids' school library. The librarian has more than she can deal with, and honestly, I'm not sure how she could keep her head above water without a handful of parent volunteers. The kids at this school really, really like to read - and I'm happy to encourage that, even if it's just by re-shelving books so they can be discovered by yet another reader.
Recently, the librarian (I'll call her Mrs. T) taught me how to secure the protective plastic around book jackets. It's not something I ever really thought about or noticed, really... it was just part of the book. It's a fairly exact process, making sure everything is lined up perfectly straight so there aren't gaps or wrinkles, folding precisely, and then, before the tape is affixed, assuring that the cover isn't so tight that the book can't be closed. Maybe I'm weird, but I really like that kind of repetitive, precise work. It reminds me of measuring & cutting mats for framing... it requires attention, but also allows the brain to wander & ponder. Of course, unlike cutting mats, this doesn't involve Exacto knives; my fingers thank me for that.
Wrapping the new book jackets also gives me a chance to see all of the books that come in- that's probably the best part. <3 BOOKS! <3
I wish this were something I'd been aware of earlier, as we've gotten rid of SO many dust jackets after they've been shredded by children, multiple moves, lava, etc. Now I know: they could have been saved! This is the kind of cover that Mrs. T has; she gets the giant roll and then cuts the required length for each book. Considering the ages of my boys now, and the fact that they are MUCH nicer to books than, oh, ever before... I probably won't wrap the dust jackets we still have. But, if someone could just send that little hint back in time, I'd be ever so grateful.
[a note... I hadn't intended to resuscitate my poor, wheezing LJ, but hey, there are still friends here! So I guess I'll let my ramblings replicate to the ol' LJ.]
originally posted at pixellaneous.com
Recently, the librarian (I'll call her Mrs. T) taught me how to secure the protective plastic around book jackets. It's not something I ever really thought about or noticed, really... it was just part of the book. It's a fairly exact process, making sure everything is lined up perfectly straight so there aren't gaps or wrinkles, folding precisely, and then, before the tape is affixed, assuring that the cover isn't so tight that the book can't be closed. Maybe I'm weird, but I really like that kind of repetitive, precise work. It reminds me of measuring & cutting mats for framing... it requires attention, but also allows the brain to wander & ponder. Of course, unlike cutting mats, this doesn't involve Exacto knives; my fingers thank me for that.
Wrapping the new book jackets also gives me a chance to see all of the books that come in- that's probably the best part. <3 BOOKS! <3
I wish this were something I'd been aware of earlier, as we've gotten rid of SO many dust jackets after they've been shredded by children, multiple moves, lava, etc. Now I know: they could have been saved! This is the kind of cover that Mrs. T has; she gets the giant roll and then cuts the required length for each book. Considering the ages of my boys now, and the fact that they are MUCH nicer to books than, oh, ever before... I probably won't wrap the dust jackets we still have. But, if someone could just send that little hint back in time, I'd be ever so grateful.
[a note... I hadn't intended to resuscitate my poor, wheezing LJ, but hey, there are still friends here! So I guess I'll let my ramblings replicate to the ol' LJ.]
originally posted at pixellaneous.com