Forgive me if this sounds a bit reductivist but libraries are all about sharing. We share our collections of books, ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and even things like nature-explorer backpacks and Blu Ray players with our patrons. And if our patrons are looking for something we do not own we will try to acquire it or we can ask another library to share this with us.
This service known as interlibrary loan is also built on sharing. We ask other libraries for books, movies, music, and journal articles and, reciprocally, they ask to borrow materials from us for their patrons. We are more than happy to help out other libraries and (of course) we are pleased to receive materials that our patrons really want or need.
When we return books to other libraries we like to add a little “thank you” by stamping the interlibrary loan paperwork with our Harry Potter/Waldo glasses stamp. This isn’t necessary to the process of returning materials but this tiny display of gratitude just seems like the right thing to do.
We also receive many notes of appreciation from other libraries for sharing our collections. At the interlibrary loan desk we have a bulletin board covered with thank-you notes that were tucked into our books.
A few of the more interesting ones include this beautiful card for the Jacksonville (FL) Public Library;
this historic bookmobile picture from Middletown Township Public Library with a thank you note on the other side;
and, my favorite, a card and a Mardi Gras doubloon from the New Orleans Public Library. We graciously accept all this gratitude!
If you want to learn more about the proven benefits of gratitude (giving and receiving) we have books for you. As always, thank you for visiting and happy reading.
All photos by the author