Suspense fiction fans love to encounter surprises and mystery in books they’ve chosen.
But not like this. Co-worker Carolyn handed me a still-new copy of a popular thriller, outlining the customer complaint: someone had taken it upon himself/herself to cross out and “revise” phrases throughout. Surprise!
Not that it matters, but the grammatical edits weren’t even correct. And the mystery was, as Chip put it, “what would possess anyone to think that was a good idea?”
Still muttering over the disruptive markups, I spotted one of our regular customers strolling by the reference desk. What a great opportunity to share my little outrage!
But this patron hadn’t received the Scribbling is Bad memo. He curiously flipped pages, assessed the inky text interruptions, and grinned. “I have to disagree”, he shrugged, “Ever since Gutenberg, print has been one-dimensional and non-participatory. And now someone has made this copy interactive.”
Fine. Customer approval always makes our day. But I still can’t bring myself to equate a defaced library book with “interactivity”–especially when September, promising fall and its beloved festivities (even beyond football, I mean) is nearly here. Mingling in outdoor vistas, sampling new delicacies, marveling at creative talent: now that’s interaction.
The State Fair of Texas opens this year on September 27. Check out SFT’s timeline for an enlightening scan of innovations, celebrities, and organizational changes reflecting a microcosm of Texas life. But you’ll have to wait until September 2 to learn whether deep fried versions of Nutella, Thanksgiving dinner, King Ranch casserole, or another crispy delight/cardiac health threat snagged this year’s coveted Big Tex Choice Award.
This week’s Scout Report sported–in addition to its always-impressive slate of educational links like Pew Internet’s Infographics and American Biology Teacher–a feature devoted to that notorious annual phenomenon: the national buffet of state fair fried food specialties (try saying that three times fast).
Atlantic Wire’s photo spread of trendsetting fair fare may leave you wondering how many more iterations of the corn dog are possible (also how you, too, can get your hands on Cocoa Cheese Bites). The Scout Report staff even highlighted this portal for state-fair-winning recipes. Compared to the Deep Fried Hot Dog Wrapped in French Fries, pie sounds like health food.
You should award Round Rock Arts Council’s popular Chalk Walk (a feast for your eyes) a spot in your calendar for October 4-5. Texas Book Festival will crown the October 26-27 weekend. Stay tuned for soon-to-be-revealed announcements of author appearances and events, but you can go ahead and contribute to the cause or register to be an event volunteer now.
Even before these rewarding events, there’s another chance to engage in a mass effort–remotely. Work From Home Day (9/10/13) challenges Austin-area esidents to improve air quality by “removing 20,000 cars from city roads” for one day. Round Rock Public Library’s online resources stand ready to support our cardholders in that effort.
And, to prepare for the later festivities, why not accessorize your green telecommute with a verdant, leafy lunch?
