Richard Mahaffey on tue 7 jan 03
I don't like to share books much anymore. I do sometimes get
duplicates and share those, but once while I was in graduate school I
loaned out a copy of the 1887 _The Story of Palissy thePotter_ to an
undergracuate who assured me that she knew how to care for a book that
was in first rate condition and could not be replaced.
While she was carefully reading it the phone rang (before cordless or
cell phones) so she carefully put the book down on the coffee table and
went to answer the phone. She said that she talked for only 3 or 4
minutes and came back to find her dog chewing on the book. She offered
to replace it, so I said sure give me the damaged copy and when you find
one I will trade you the dogged copy for it. She said "My dad collects
rare books and he will find one in a couple of months". Well I have
been out of graduate school for almost 28 years now and.....you guessed
it I still have the chewed copy.
Most of my books can not be easily replaced so I only lend the dupes or
current titles.
I may try the marking pen technique of Mel's to insure that I have the
dupes to share into the future.
I was taught that we do not own things, but are caretakers of things
that we will pass on to future generations of enthusiasts and
researchers.
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma Washington, USA
mel jacobson on tue 7 jan 03
i love to share books with others...just make sure
you have a long rope attached to the book....
then pull hard when you want it back....never lose one that way.
i hate to lose a good book to a cheap ass borrower.
but, on occasion i let one out of the studio.
i write their name in black marker on the wall.
9 inch letters.
with their phone number....library hell.
mel
when you go to look up something, then say.
@#%^gd wally has my hamer.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Martin Howard on wed 8 jan 03
Mel wrote:-
you have a long rope attached to the book...
At Wimborne Minster, where I was a server and choir boy 50 years ago, there
was a mediaeval chained library. All the books were chained to the wall.
Bit stronger than Mel's rope.
Might be a good financial proposition there for some metal worker.
On the otherhand we could all buy more than copy on the understanding that
the "loan" copy will eventually "vanish" into thin air. Our gift to the
Universe!
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 2nd January 2003
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