If not the Library, then maybe a few businesses would like to participate in a “Books Around Decatur” type thing. I could see small bookcases inside places like Dancing Goat, Karvana, Brick Store Pub, the Post Office (OMG, the post office could totally use a book case because there is ALWAYS a long line), etc. I think putting one outside, especially with all the rain, makes it more complicated that it needs to be.

I’ll follow up with the city and find out what needs to be done to go about this legally. Once we have an idea of where it can go, we can move on to finding a bookcase to fulfill the task.

I’m pretty sure it’s going to need doors. And depending on where it is located it may need to be water resistant.

I’m already thinking too far down the road. Like a weekly post detailing 5 random books on the shelf.

And it’s great to learn that donated paperbacks really can make their way into the Decatur Library’s collection. I’d love to return the favor to them for providing so many enjoyable hours of reading and entertainment.

Saying that Decatur has a lot in common with small town Vermont or Minnesota isn’t saying it is better. Literature and history clearly point to the limitations and sometimes evil that exists in small towns, e.g. gossip, cliques, self-appointed royalty, even prejudices and injustice, etc. There’s times after a snarky post on this blog that I don’t feel like going out in Decatur because I’m paranoid about who’s who. But there’s pluses too. In NYC, if you leave anything in sight for more than an hour in your parked car, however inexpensive, the odds that your car will be broken into are extremely high. In Decatur, if you forget and leave your door unlocked with all your kids sports equipment inside, the odds are high that you’ll be lucky and it will be there later. (But it’s not 100% so still lock your car!) Hence, community bookshelves might work.

Ok, who has an old bookshelf and let’s vote on where the first one should go!