On Being a Library Deliquent

One of the best advantages of my father being an educator was this: at the dinner table I would say Dad I have to do a report on (for example) prohibition--- can you get me some books? And the next day he would bring me home 7 or 8 books on the topic with markers in each book outlining all the important topic areas. It was awesome. I never had to be bothered doing my own research. My father had it done for me by the Yonkers High School librarian—and she took her job very seriously.

When my daughters began doing research papers, I returned the favor. I would often save them time by going to the library and  getting them their research books. The only difference between the Yonkers High School librarian and I was that I did not put markers in the books. That is where I drew the line.

And aside from the fact that my fetching the books was borderline cheating, there was another issue with the library lending. I was never good at returning books. I have been known to be so delinquent that I have had my library card revoked. And worse still, I have been responsible for one or more of my girls having their library cards revoked. Apparently the librarians did not appreciate that I considered the library to be like a Barnes and Noble book store. The overdue fines ran so high it was cheaper to purchase the books---and so I did.  Ultimately it was not at all disadvantageous.

When Samantha was in Mrs. Ayre’s challenge social studies class (code word for honors) in 7^th grade she received a research assignment: write a paper about an inspiring person. And Samantha thought of several but by the time she approached the teacher with her topics, all of them were taken. Mrs. Ayre suggested she write about Thomas Gallaudet—the man credited with creating the first school for the deaf.

So off to the library either she or we went—I can’t recall. But together we took out 5 books on Thomas Gallaudet-- all with varied reading levels. And Samantha wrote her paper as assigned. But I never remembered to return the books—even after the librarian made threatening phone calls and sent written notices more disconcerting than if they were made by organized crime members. And when I finally tried to return the books I was notified that the delinquent fee exceeded the purchase fee and so I bought them. And because the librarian had such an attitude I chose to keep them and not donate them back---just for spite.

But the Ciccone girls had the last laugh. Thomas Gallaudet became the “go to” topic for multiple papers and book reports in multiple school years for all 3 girls. Anytime someone needed to write a paper or report all they had to do was go downstairs to the bookshelf and pull the 5 books. No dewey decimal system was needed—and neither was the grouchy librarian. Everyone became an expert on all things Thomas Gallaudet.

Not too long ago I was in my attic searching for a diary from my high school European trip. And in the cardboard box that contained the diary, I found multiple research books from the Yonkers High School library. Some of the books still had the markers in them. I guess my father never returned them. I  guess the apple indeed does not fall far from the tree.