Treasures

by

Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

            Treasures can be found in surprising places. Have you ever thought the non-fiction stacks of the library might be one such place?  As a reference assistant one of my duties is to reshelve the books. In so doing what gems I have discovered!

            The Crimes That Haunt Us is such a treasure.  Written by FBI veteran and criminal profiling pioneer John Douglas, this book revisits famous cases such as Jack the Ripper, the Lindberg kidnapping, Jon Benet and my personal favorite Lizzie Borden. With modern day techniques, Douglas takes a fresh look at these cases, analyzes them and suggests a solution. The book is fascinating and both highly credible and plausible.

            Sometimes just the title grabs my attention.  Hidden in Plain View has a cover illustration depicting an American quilt hanging over a fence.  The book relates a secret code to guide runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad. This scholarly book is extremely readable, enlightening as well as fascinating. Who knew?  And as it so often happens with a well-written book, it leads to another. The author mentions a narrative by a slave who was able to buy his freedom. He later wrote and published his autobiography. I wondered, “Can one still get a copy of this 1789 book?” And thanks to our fabulous CLAN system the answer was yes! The Providence Public Library had a copy of Equiano’s Travel: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African.  By placing a hold, I had a copy in my hand in just a few days.  (Now the West Warwick Public Library also owns a copy.)

            As I attempt to reshelve the books images jump out at me. Here are two ducks close up; so close each feather is clearly defined. The book is Decoys: a Celebration of Contemporary Wildfowl Carving. These are not ordinary, utilitarian decoys – they are breathtakingly beautiful works of art. As I flip through the color photographs, page after page of exquisite carvings, I can only marvel. This is a book I want to savor again and again.

            Now I spot a girl jumping rope, a black and white photograph that captures a decade in a single image. I am holding The American Dream, the 50’s. My past is relived as I browse through this photo essay book. I love this book.  I love the 50’s.  It is all there:  the cars, the food, the TV shows, the musicals.  Nostalgic, idyllic.  But then I turn the page and the ugliness is there too. Diving under school desks to “protect” oneself from an atom bomb. McCarthy. The Red Threat. This book is more than a stroll down memory lane. This is a history book.  If all textbooks were presented in this appealing format we would all have been “A” students. Once again accessing the CLAN catalog I discover the entire century is presented a decade at a time in this Time Life series and again available to me by placing a hold in the computer.

            Now I spot junk.  American Junk by Mary Randolph Carter. Admit it. We all love junk, our “stuff.”  This treasure is a visit to a flea market packaged in a book. The author cleverly shows us how we can elevate our “junk” to a higher level by using it to decorate our homes. Not just clutter anymore but high style.

            Of course we are all so individual, so unique, that my treasure will not be yours. Nonetheless the non-fiction stacks are a mother lode. Just think of the possibilities: History, Music, Art, Philosophy, Celebrity Biography, Cookbooks, Crime, Pets—you name it.  Do you feel overwhelmed? Then feel free to ask your friendly librarian to point you in the direction of your areas of interest. Now go and mine that ore.