Sorry Squirt, No Library Card for You- The Bookmobile- Part 2

Not All Books and Rainbows

My memories about the Bookmobile aren't all good ones. In fact my first memory is horrifying. Still gives me nightmares and I can't believe I'm even sharing this with you. Please, if you can't take horror stories, look away. I included a stormy  picture of a rainbow trying to survive for you above . Just stare at that and fantasize while the rest of us discuss the storm I survived.

So here it is, the event that scarred my childhood.

In grade one, we were allowed library cards. There I was, all innocent and excited, looking up at the driver as if he was the god of books-- in my mind, he looked a little like a god of books would (but I have an entire post just dedicated to him, so we won't go there yet)-- and he refused my card. My gosh! you read that right, and it is not a typo. He actually told me I could not take books from paradise.

HE REFUSED MY CARD
Can you imagine? Can you feel how traumatized I was? I thought it was a joke. It had to be. But nope. I was refused a card because I lived in the neighboring town and it fell in another library jurisdiction. I had no idea what that meant, I just broke into tears that no one knew how to stop. For days.

I asked Ma to move.Even packed my crap up and told her I was going to live with my cuz.

Next time he dared to show his bus in my town, I stayed in the classroom debating how to steal a bus full of books and get away with it, or maybe I just felt sorry for myself, I don't actually remember the details. I do remember being told that the school library had plenty of good books. Now that was a terrible lie. I don't want to get into it, but trust me, they had nothing on the books in that Bookmobile.

A friend slipped a book in my bag that I found when I got home. Really, that's the sign of a true friend eh? When they sneak you illegal books? hee hee.

Ma got involved at some point of my depression. I know that much but I don't know what she did to fix things.

The next time, I was told I could take one book and the teacher was taking responsibility for it, so I felt like I was sinning the entire time, and quickly grabbed a book and ran off without looking around.

It took my cousin to help me. God bless her. She talked to the driver, like the grown-up grade 2 student she was (truth be told, she was probably scared I might actually move in with her), and told him that I lived right by her, if she could get a card, so could I. Makes sense, but I was a little afraid he'd just take her card away. Still... if she was willing to risk it, I was game.


After my cuz straightened things out for me. The driver of this magical bus (LEARN ABOUT IT HERE) told me I could have a temporary card. This meant, I was allowed to take X amount of books. Yes, I had a limit. Which now that I think about it was probably a good thing because... well, that's a story for the next post.

Have you ever been refused a library card?

11 comments:

Vicki Tremper said...

Oh, you poor thing!

I think our Bookmobile was the precursor of today's Book Fairs. We bought books, rather than borrowed them. Was still the highlight of my elementary years.

Spanj said...

Oh I'm glad it got sorted in the end. How awful to ban a child from books!

I remember the library van; they were so tiny and crammed full of books. And they smelt funny.

I also remember the book fairs. We would have money from my Mum and I would spend hours choosing a book. Even when I'd spent my money, I'd still go back every lunchtime it was there just to browse and dream...

Gary Weisbrodt said...

A short introduction.
Live in Regina

I'm currently finishing off the writing of two books; Chambers Bay Walking Tour, and Cottage Kitchen Design. Both are the first in a planned series. The first one is about my love of photography and my second one is my love for architectural design. 

First published book
Fox Harb'r Golf Resort & Spa Walking Tour
itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9780988028104

I'm a Design Builder which means I work with clients to design their homes or business facilities and help them through the building stages until the keys are turned over. An end to end service.

BLOG "Design & Details Matter
I'm currently discussing Cottage Kitchen Design - From my book with the same title.
http://gjconstructs.wordpress.com/

Pinterest
http://pinterest.com/gjconstructs/

July 4th 2012 Editorial in PINK magazine for Saskatchewan Women

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

It's the saddest thing in the world to see a child denied something she thinks is hers.

Juliana L. Brandt said...

Hoooly cow! That would have scarred me, too! Awful :( But I'm glad it all got figured out!

Tanya Reimer said...

Oh it sold books, Vicki! How interesting. We have something similar, "foire de livres." but they come in crates. A bus or van would be much handier. I should start that, eh?

Angeline, that's what my kids do at the book fairs.

Nice meeting you Gary. A fellow Saskatchewan visit is always exciting!

Yes Richard. Yes it is. lol.

Juliana, it actually gets even better in the next few posts! lol. Gosh. I loved that Bookmobile.

Samantha Sotto said...

Awww! :( I want to give your younger a self a huge hug!!!

Victoria Lindstrom said...

I remember my library card as a kid, it made me feel so grown up. The funny thing is that YESTERDAY I was at the library volunteering and left my card there. It's lost! The librarian that spoke with me on the phone said it has been canceled - no one can use it now! Too funny, like it's a credit card. It is that important to me, though. Loved your post!

Deana said...

That is so sad:( I was refused a library card, but it wasn't nearly as traumatizing. I had just moved and it was like applying to go out of the country. I didn't have all they paperwork and they denied me. They do take there books seriously:)

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Libraries and books have always been such a big part of my life, I would have cried my heart out!444

DUTA said...

What a traumatic event for a little schoolgirl!

I don't recall any traumas regarding libraries and card libraries from my childhood or teenage period.

However, I do remember being unpleasantly surprised several times in my adult life for being charged a fee at the library for browsing through specialty books (law, medicine).