I was doing my library volunteer thing and a woman came in to the desk holding a book. “I left the book out in the rain and ruined it, so I bought this new copy”. You won’t see a story about it anywhere, but people are good
@andyjennings how certain are you she wasn't using it as a shield in a water-gun fight?
Jun 11, 2026, 2:30 AM@andyjennings Wow. I have had books damaged but I figured the library was better at buying :P GO HUMANS
Yes, we are all good at the level of intention. Where we are not always so good is at the level of awareness.
We mean well, but we also defend, hide, explain, justify, and occasionally hope the ruined library book will somehow dry itself into innocence.
What I love here is the plain honesty of it. She could have vanished into the shrubbery of denial, but instead she walked up to the desk and told the truth.
That is kindness in its work clothes.
@andyjennings I've tried that, but in my county they say they aren't allowed to accept books bought by the public, they have to buy from "approved vendors", who usually cost a lot more, and the person who checked out and damaged the book is responsible for bearing the full cost, no exceptions. :( People can be good, but not bureaucrats.
@Ashmire @andyjennings same happened to me. My dog chewed up a library book. They wouldn’t/couldn’t let me give them a replacement book, they had to buy through a specific vendor.
@andyjennings Yes Sir, there are still many good people around who need to realise that they need to be activated and stand up on a bigger stage. The world is being overpowered by filth.
Jun 11, 2026, 4:49 AMLibraries have printers and find fun uses for these in case you may be interested. They're free.
I was a library trustee and I can’t tell how many people try to evade responsibility for them or their kids ruining a book
@andyjennings Much better than the bloke I saw handing a sopping wet book to a librarian who protested "But it's soaked!"
@andyjennings I lost a loan recently, bought the replacement, and when I showed up with it and explained myself the librarian was a little confused at first
Jun 11, 2026, 2:24 PM@andyjennings Back when I was at the public library, someone did this. It wasn't rain though. We don't speak what happened to the library's copy. But they offered to replace it.
There may be hope for the human race yet…