Alarm as Tennessee libraries shut down for Republican 'book purge'

[murielm99]

35. Years ago, it was possible.

Patrons would sign a card and turn it in at the desk. The librarian at the desk would hand stamp a card in the book. We don't do it that way any more. Now it is much more anonymous. I did a lot of reading recommendation. Patrons would ask for Westerns, mysteries, science fiction, specific authors, reference questions, etc. That is confidential as well. But to this day I remember people's reading preferences. Sometimes they see me and remind me of our interactions.

On Thanksgiving day, I ran into a lady who was a former patron. I have to say that she had great kids. She is not so great. The woman would not even look at me on Thanksgiving when I saw her. We went out to a Thanksgiving buffet, and she was one table away from me. I would have smiled and said hello if she had not purposely ignored me. When she left, I said something to my husband. I told him that years ago, I had registered her to vote. We offered that service, too.