Library, Wednesday [05/16]

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

With the area properly cleared and safe for people to walk through, Thursday opened the library. She pushed the door open and looked inside. The grimace on her face said it all.

While the structure was intact and (after a cursory look inside) Special Collections was seemingly undisturbed, the main library itself was in shambles. Every single book was off the shelves. Some of the shelves were flat on the ground. Chairs were on their sides or up-ended. The computers looked worse for wear.

They had some work ahead of them, that was for sure. It didn't help that the power was seemingly out.

"Best get to it then," she said to herself and moved to pick up a chair.

[OOC: While we're not looking for any new library aides until Fall, feel free to come by the library when it's opened by one of the current aides and help clean and reshelve. Please follow the instructions given by the librarian and the aides.]

Comments

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Oh dear." Karal stopped just inside the door of the library, looking around with great concern. "May I help? At all? Please? All these books."

Re: Fourth Period

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Thursday was a little amused at the kindred spirit who hated to see books in such disarray. "You're more than welcome to join in. I'm not entirely sure where everything is meant to go yet, but help yourself to a pile if you'd like to help tidy. Are you a new student?"

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I am, yes. Very new." He smoothed his robes down and picked away across the floor. "Is there a method of categorisation? I'm not from this world, so the ones I'm familiar with aren't going to be much help."

Re: Fourth Period

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"The Dewey Decimal System, but we're a while away from trying to reshelve just yet. I don't think the books were displaced too much, so as long as they're grouped together based on location, we should be close to the mark. I'm looking for a list at the moment to see if we can check off books that are too badly damaged or missing."

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal nodded, already heading for a pile of books. "If you locate it, I believe I can assist. I have an excellent memory," he began clearing a space to sort and stack them, "I was trained to retain anything I hear or see, if it is necessary. I should be able to tell you which ones on your list I've seen and what their condition was." It would take some effort, but he knew he could do it. He hefted a book in his hands and looked back at her, suddenly hesitant. "If you think that might help?"

Re: Fourth Period

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Thursday was pleasantly surprised. "Consider your services hired for as long as you can bear to spend your time in here."

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He beamed and carefully smoothed the book's pages flat. "As long as you might need, I can be here," he promised. "Oh! Forgive me." In his concern over the books he'd forgotten even basic manners. "My name is Karal."

Re: Fourth Period

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"I'm Thursday," she replied with a polite nod. "Thursday Next. The new librarian it seems."

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Seems?" he asked quizzically, giving a deeper nod in return. There were books upside down and bent and this was not all right, so Karal set about rectifying it. He noted the title and condition of the book he was holding, set it down, and went to the next. "And are you new to the island as well?"

Re: Fourth Period

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"No, I've been here since the beginning of Fall semester last year, but I was a teacher. When the librarian position opened up, I was offered the role and accepted. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I'm sure we can set it right in time for the new school year. Where are you from?"

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he said, nodding determinedly. "We will. Libraries are important. I'm from a country called Karse, though I came here from a country called Valdemar. Do you think?" He glanced around at the disarray. "Do you think it might be possible to borrow a book? Or perhaps two? If they can be found."

Re: Fourth Period

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"As long as we keep a record of what's being loaned out, I don't see why not. That is what the library is for. Are you an avid reader?"

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I am," he confirmed. "And also a very confused one. Almost everything here is very new, different from my world. I'd like to change that if I could."

Re: Fourth Period

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Hi Karal," Isabel smiled. "How are you?"

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal glanced up, startled. He'd been so engrossed in remembering every book he looked at it he hadn't even heard her come in. "Good afternoon, Isabel," he said, looking sadly around the library. "have you come to help put this to rights?"

Re: Fourth Period

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I was just coming over to check in, I didn't realize it would be this bad," she said. "But yes, I'm one of the library aides so I'll be around to help straighten up."

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I will likely be here until it is restored," he said, smiling as he carefully dusted off a particularly large hard cover. "The librarian seems to think I can assist. If I'd known you were a library aide, I probably would have pestered you to let me in."

Re: Fourth Period

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Now you know one of my many secrets," Isabel smiled. "I'm not sure what the summer schedule is going to be, but I'll probably be here one day a week. You can come by and keep me company."

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Which had him looking at the book in his hand, smiling shyly at it. "I would like that, if you're certain I wouldn't be intruding?"

Re: Fourth Period

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Not at all," she promised. "Sometimes it gets too quiet in here. Company would be appreciated. How are things going? Settling in okay? No more glitter worries?"

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I believe I am," he said, sounding surprised. "There's been no more glittering attempts. Now that I know it's not mandatory, I won't mind if someone wants to decorate me. Though," he glanced around, blushing slightly, and lowered his voice, "may I ask you something?"

Re: Fourth Period

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Isabel said, getting a sudden image of Karal decorated like a Christmas tree.

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Is it common practice that half naked people traverse the camp ground at night?" If it was, Karal was staying in his alcove with the curtain shut for the remainder of the summer nights.

Re: Fourth Period

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel couldn't help herself, she laughed out loud. "I'm sorry," she said thinking of her conversation with Thursday (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/1368601.html?thread=81660185#t81660185). "People must have gotten bored."

When she finally stopped snickering, Isabel studied Karal's robe. "I guess it depends on what you consider half naked. Because as it gets warmer, people will be wearing less and less. Especially if they're at the beach."

Re: Fourth Period

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal shifted slightly at that, setting the book down and reaching for a thin paperback, turning it over in his hands. "I guess I'm simply going to have to accustom myself to seeing rather more of people than I'm used to seeing," he said thoughtfully. "It is somewhat of shock. Not that I believe it's bad," he hastened to add, thoughts of some of the adherents to the old Writ who'd believe exactly that, "it's just different."