I don't know why I love bookmarks. In India too, I had a penchant for collecting bookmarks. It probably stemmed from an aversion to keeping books open and turned down. If there is one reason I fear giving my books to someone, it is because most people will not return it in the same condition as it was before. It is all the more scarier if they say 'I will take care of it as if it is my own book' , especially when you know how they care for their books!
Most often, I use a small piece of folded paper as a placemark in a book if nothing else is available. But recently, whenever I go to the Auburn Public library, I love to pick up their latest bookmarks. The idea behind their bookmarks is so ingenious that it definitely needs to me mentioned.
One objective in keeping free bookmarks for take-away at all places around the library is to ensure that patrons use them and hence take good care of the books. But what differentiates these bookmarks is the design.
Look at some of the bookmarks in the figures. You will notice that they suggest alternate books of the same genre! How often have we wanted to read another book of the same genre! The suggestions are so relevant and have helped me make a good suggestion many a time. The bookmarks contain details about other books, their catalog numbers, genre and other information. And this is a service offered in a public library!
It is sometimes painful to think about our City Central Libraries(CCL) in Bangalore. The Government does invest a huge amount of money into them but the staff and public hardly care in caring for the precious books. Moreover, the rampant vandalism mentality in India hardly helps the cause of public libraries.
So next time you take out a book for reading, use a bookmark.
