Welcoming

When my library people had their Strategic Planning meeting a few weeks ago, they talked about values.  One of the values they think is important is for the library building, and the library staff, to be Welcoming.

I think it's important to lead by example, so here I am being Welcoming:

See me???

After a while, I decided that AB Karen was doing a fine job of Welcoming everyone who came in the door, so I went back to my Office for a refreshing nap.

We also had Thunderboomers last week.  They were very impressive in their loudness, but much less impressive in the amount of rain and coolness they brought.  As always, I retreated to my safe in-between spot on the Stairs.  This allows me to be within earshot of my Upstairs AND Downstairs people.

I had visitors who tried to comfort me this time, though.

They helped distract me from the Thunderboomers, which was very nice of them.  I'm a tough, brave, mancatly mancat--but Thunderboomers really give me the willies.

So do fireworks, but since we are rainless and HOT here, there were no fireworks here this 4th of July.  I was absolutely thrilled, but I still wish it would rain so the corn and beans and vegetable gardens and lawns would perk up a little bit.

That is my Monday update!  Today is Bored Board Meeting Day, so I have to keep AB Karen on task!

Purring for Rain,

Tober

Another Official Visit

As you all know, I am currently entertaining Flat Cauli V here at TPL.  She was sent here as a representative of the Mooresville Public Library in Mooresville, Indiana--a Most Excellent Library if you're ever in the neighborhood.  MPL has a very special 100th birthday coming up, and it sounds like they have all sorts of excitement planned!

She was great help when it came time to set up the Friends of the Library Spring Booksale last week:

As you can see, we have a pile of "Get Fuzzy" books and lots of puzzles, but there are plenty of other things back there, too!  The staff and volunteers and Flat Five and I were totally exhausted after setting up the sale, so we all refreshed ourselves with cupcakes and naps.

The book sale is still going on--through Saturday--so stop by and get a good bargain on gently used VHS movies, books, audiobooks, and even magazines!

On Tuesday night our Friends had their Annual Meeting and Plant Swap (don't be fooled, this is an excuse to get together and eat cookies).  We had ANOTHER Official Visitor for the occasion!

Mr. Dick Munro from Crawfordsville wrote a book called Paddling Sugar Creek from the Source to the Wabash.  (For my far-away friends, Sugar Creek is a local waterway that passes through My County.)  Mr. Munro came and spoke to the Friends about his book, and read bits of it, and sold and signed his book.  Here he is reading an excerpt:

This photo was taken approximately 2.3 seconds before the tornado sirens went off in Thorntown. 

AAB Photographer did the Right Thing by (1) finding me, (2) picking me up, (3) making sure (with AAB Linda P's help) that no one was Upstairs, and (4) taking me Downstairs where I would be safe.

AB Karen got all of the people to the other safer end of the building.  And about the time we all got there, the sirens stopped and the sun came out.

Now, everybody teased me all evening because I was in my Special spot on the stairs--the one I use when the weather is bad.  Humans don't get it, Critters--we can tell, can't we, when something's going to go all haywire with the weather!

Here is how I feel about Thunderboomers and Tornadoes and stuff:

Mr. Munro and the Friends got to finish up and Swap Plants and have cookies, and I went back to my Stairspot for a bit longer--but all in all, it was a good night.

Flat Five is getting anxious to continue her Library Critter World Tour, so we'll be sending her on her way this week!  Stop by her blog and say hi, and check out her expert reporting on Breaking Library News!

Pooped from all of the Official-ness,

Tober

Catnip, Storms, Bravery & Planners

On Wednesday, I was given a heap of Catnip by my Assistant Assistant Boss Linda W. I expressed my appreciation by passing out next to it for a good hour and a half:


I would have stayed in the position ALL DAY, but I heard the pitter-patter of little feet and a high-pitched voice say "Look Mommy, a kitty!" and so this is where I ended up:


(Please note the heap of abandoned Catnip, as well as the still-pink and Unmancatly Feline Training Device Box under the chair.)

On Thursday we had Thunderboomers. I am Not A Fan of storms and the accompanying Thunderboomers. I feel that when the storms get going, the absolute most safest place for me to be is on the stairs:


Apparently no one else felt that this was an adequately safe place (something about getting Stepped On!) and they tried to move me to other places in the Library, but I would have none of it. I wanted to be on the stairs. So my Staff took turns guarding me on the stairs--they weren't worried about being Stepped On! If they were so worried about me but were willing to risk their lives watching over me, I must have a Very Brave Library Staff.

Here is another picture. In this picture, AAB Christine has gotten her planner out. This is a book that she opens, scribbles some words in, and then forgets to open for a week or so. Then she gets mad at herself because apparently she was supposed to DO something about the words she scribbled. I have decided that this planner should be recycled as a Seat for Tober:


Thank you for reading this slightly weird post. This is what happens when my Blog Helper is too busy doing stuff like ordering books. Everybody have Wonderful Weekends!

The most important thing on anyone's To-Do List,

Tober

The Tree

On Wednesday, it got very, very stormy in Thorntown. Look at what happened:


This is the view from the window of the Young Adult Room.

This tree was blowing back and forth, back and forth. . .

I thought it was going to fall on my Library. I hissed at it, and scared it so badly that it decided to fall the other way.

Protecting the library from Rotten Trees,

Tober