Read 'til you drop

Linda Sappenfield — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:41:00 GMT

In hindsight, I view the inspiration as a convergence. That would technically be defined as a concurrence of ideas leading to a conclusion; however, personal experience teaches that it's really just the ability to recognize that notions I stumble across are better than the ones I'm trying for.

When we were applying all those RFID tags a few months back, I encountered some intriguing nonfiction books, titles that suggested fiction-worthy appeal and extremely relevant topics. A couple that I'd enjoyed in the past--Paco Underhill's Why We Buy and The Call of the Mall--were among the group also including I Want That! How We All Become Shoppers; Shoptimism: Why the American Consumer Will Keep on Buying No Matter What; Macy's: The Store, The Star, The Story; The Towering World of Jimmy Choo; The Making of a Name: The Inside Story of the Brands We Buy; Service and Style: How the American Department Store Fashioned the Middle Class, and so forth.

Driving home that day, I was still musing about these highly readable opportunities to consider social history, consumer behavior, and the economy from such a user-friendly angle. That's when I noticed several souvenir shopping containers from our visit to Manhattan still residing in the back seat of my car. Soon after, I came across Round Rock's "Shop the Rock" promotion online. Finally, when I heard about a gap in the display schedule for the big glass case on first floor, realization dawned: someone ought to put together a shopping theme!

That concept is now labeled "It's in the Bag: Shoppers and Shopping" and you can see it next time you come in. You'll immediately spy the shopping bags--lots and lots of them--so many, in fact, that I suspect co-workers are eyeing me pityingly and concluding that all my off-duty time must be spent on the prowl for designer togs and home accessories, not to mention credit counseling sessions. I'm happy to report that all those sacks aren't mine (and sad to say that among the "not mine" items are the Tiffany bags).

Amid the riot of shopping totes and tissue paper you can also discern many books, the titles mentioned earlier and numerous others. Books and reading are, after all, pretty much the reason for any library feature. I may have over-accessorized, though. Quite a few co-workers and library patrons have commented, and they all say the same thing: "Great display! It makes me want to go shopping!"

Reader's Exchange : Shop the Rock

Read 'til you drop