Over the last few years that I have spent in the library, I have noticed a rather strange phenomenon: The Book With Legs or the BWL. There is this particular non-fiction book that appears to sprout appendages and wanders around the adult non-fiction section following no particular pattern of destination.
Sometimes I will find the book resting atop the travel books in the 900 section. Maybe the BWL is pondering a trip to Paris, who knows?
Other times I find the BWL crammed up underneath the self-help tomes, a rather strange bit of circumstance indeed. Perhaps a consultation with Deepak Chopra or Joel Osteen was necessary to understand the BWL's obvious shelf staying issues and lack of contentedness in its rightful place.
It was only after spending a fair bit of time employed by the library district that I became aware of the true method of conveyance that the book with legs was utilizing, although I always had my suspicions. Indeed, once our security cameras were installed last year we got to see the BWL in action. Apparently young people, mostly between the ages of 11-14, feel a compulsion to liberate the BWL from its comfy home and pack it to various secluded corners of the library for a perusal. Even though our cameras have no volume, you can see the giggles and shocked looks emanating from the younger set as they comb the BWL's pages.
Lately our manager has been removing the BWL from its home during the after-school rush and placing it on our work counter in the back office. We then re-shelve the instructional tome back in its rightful place after the kids clear out for the day. Amazingly this strategy has caused the BWL to cease its reckless, wandering ways. No more, when I am shelving garden books in the 635 section do I come across the stark red and white cover that beckons to curious young people!
So, I bet you are all really wondering just what the heck the Book With Legs' title is at this point. Never one to deprive my audience of a climactic ending, I took a picture of the BWL just for you all:
And as always, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's amused at the youth's antics iPhone.
