A series of strange coincidences

[altivo]

Most libraries in the US no longer have card catalogs. We use computer databases instead, and mine is no exception. We do, however, still maintain what is called a shelf list, a series of catalog drawers that contain one 3x5 card for each book we own, arranged in the same order in which the books would be on the shelf if they were all here. Various incidental bits of information may be recorded on those cards, such as the date a book was sent to be rebound (yes, we still do that occasionally) or the name of a donor, etc. We no longer type those cards up manually, but instead have them generated by our computerized cataloging system as we catalog each new book. The cards are actually printed in Dublin, Ohio on a specialized printer that does only catalog cards, and are mailed to us daily.

I do check to make sure all of them arrive. As it happens, the shipments for December 21 and December 23 have been missing, and I'm on the point of ordering them to be reprinted. I figured they got lost somewhere in the holiday mail, because they are just small envelopes. Today the December 23 packet arrived. We didn't notice the cancellation on the envelope (they are mailed using a postage meter, so typically have no cancellation.)

When I took the cards from the envelope, a small handwritten note fell out:

1/8/06
Hello, Harvard Diggins Library,
Just thought you would like to know that these cards arrived in Juneau, Alaska on Jan. 7, in a package of gifts from Norway. The Norway package had been damaged & repaired, & somehow your envelope ended up included--imagine our puzzlement when opening our Norwegian treasures!
Best Wishes for 2006;
Your friends in Juneau

On re-examining the envelope, sure enough, it was cancelled on the back in Juneau, Alaska, on January 8. I wonder where the other packet from December 21 got to...

Comments

[fandt4.livejournal.com]

Now that is a modern marvel. One would think that after going that far it would be past any point of return. Well, I guess you can chalk that one up to "unbelievable events of January post". hehe

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Actually we chalk it up to honesty and helpfulness on the part of the anonymous Juneau residents.

Like another incident years ago. A book that had been long missing was returned to the library I worked in at the time. It was one of those "Europe on a dollar a day" things. A note was included in German, which when translated turned out to be from a Swiss motorist who had picked up an American student hitchhiker. The book was left in his car, and he mailed it back to us at his expense (postage was more than the value of the paperback book, probably.)