Flash Fiction: The Donation

I stumbled upon this little flash fiction fun at Rach Writes and decided to give it a go... here are the rules:

via Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)


Story after the jump!

The Donation

The door swung open and an elderly woman walked into the library.

“Excuse me,” she said, “Do you take donations?”

“Yes, we do,” I said, “Although we can not say if they will be included in the collection.  More often than not we put them in the book sale to benefit the Friends of the Library.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” she said.

“Do you need help bringing them in, or a donation form for your taxes?”

“The help would be nice, they are heavy, but don’t worry about the taxes.”

As we brought the books in I noticed they were quite old but in very good condition.  

When I asked, she told me they were first editions of many American authors.

“They were my husband’s,” she said, one hand caressing the box, “They deserve more than these old eyes.”

I asked her to wait so I could get the director who could thank her in person for her generous donation.  She said she would, but her voice broke as she stroked the box.  

When we returned she had left.  Only the pile of books remained.  She had taken the box.  

We could just see her outline as the door swung shut.

Blog Bash 2011: I'm Reaching Out!

This post is for the Blog Bash 2011, a great idea from www.brittanyciara.com and littlemisshannie.blogspot.com to introduce blogs to each other.  Click on them for the rules.  Let's make a community.  Here's my intro: 

doo do doo do doo do doo do doo do doo

You open this door with the hand of 'magination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of books, a dimension of DVDs, a dimension of Innernetz. You're moving into a library of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas that are often wrong.

You've just crossed over into the Banned Library.

The Banned Library is a place for comedy, news and reviews about libraries, technology, and stuff we are interested in.  The point of the blog is to make people laugh, maybe think a bit.  Too many librarians I have met are funny and interesting people that paradoxily treat the profession way too seriously.  This blog is my way of poking fun at something I love, a world of information and people that are dedicated and fun.  As the world changes, the electronic takes over with the likes of clouds and The Google, I also want to document my experiences.  So that is what the Banned Library is.  If I did not care about my profession, I would not make fun of it.

The questions and answers for the Blog Bash 2011 Summer Fun are after the jump!

1.) What's your favorite memory from Summer 2011?
ALA 2011 in New Orleans was probably the most fun I have had as a librarian.  Meeting and sharing ideas, technologies and drinks with my fellow library folks is a precious gift.  And, man, those folks can party.

2.) What's your dream summer vacation?
A porch somewhere in the mountains where they serve cold beer, thick, medium-rare burgers, and steak fries.  In front of me is a stack of books and a broken cell phone.  At night thunderstorms boom and shake while I sit and write.  At some point I slow dance with the most beautiful girl in the world.

3.) What's your favorite thing to do in the summer?
My favorite thing to do in the summer is to sit outside under a ceiling fan, eat a burger, drink a beer and read.  See #2.  I am pretty simple.

4.) What's your "blog goal" for 2011?
My blog goal for 2011 is to make people laugh and see the lighter side of the profession.  I have a couple of projects (including a certain 100 books project that I have procrasinated on) that I would like to finish but my ultimate goal is to put a smile on some public servants face.  I would also like to get some more contributers for the site to get some more perspectives on the profession. And maybe make a lot of money.

5.) Let's hear the story behind your blog title! :)
The blog really started as a twitter account.  I was hearing things about this whole "twitter" thing a year and a half ago, and thought, "Well, I can do that."  I thought it would be funny to tweet the things my patrons said, changing up the words to make them generic but still true to the ideas and not get me fired.  The first name was called heardatlibrary, and after six months I had about 200 followers. 
This made me worry because there is an institution already called the Heard Library at Vanderbuilt University, and I could bet they had a few lawyers that might stop me if this took off.  So, I rebranded as Banned Library because I really liked the name, could get the web address, and it was Banned Books Week.  The name fit with the little essays and information I started putting out on the blog and I came up with a fun logo.  To make a long story short, I made it up and used it before someone else did.

That's what I am all about. Here's some of the most loved viewed posts from the site

 5 Reasons Libraries Should Not Use Ebooks... Yet.
How to Get Banned From a Library
7 Reasons Porn Should Be Allowed in the Library
The Public Library Vs Netflix: DVD Battle Royal
Twitter: Celebrity Endorsed #BPLRAMPAGE #WINNING

A to Z Blogging Challenge

We here at the Banned Library think we are pretty smart cookies.  Smart enough that we know our whole entire alphabet, from A to Z.  Sure, when we were younger, we though "ElEmEnO" was one big letter, but we chart that up to youth and a stupid song.  
It is because of this incredible mastery of the art of the language of letters in order that we are partaking in the "A to Z Blogging Challenge."  Each day in the month of April (excluding Sundays, FSM's day) we will blog using the alphabet as our guide.  "How can you, such a youngin' in the blogging sphere (or blogosphere) undertake such a rigorous challenge?" you ask.  Well, by stating stout of heart and strong of mind, we shall overcome this Everest.  Join us, won't you?
Tossing It Out: A to Z Blogging Challenge