What happened to you oldroser is completely unconcionable. It's really appalling that a gift, and one from a primary benefactor, could be so misused. I'm so sorry it happened. Rosefolly, I'm sorry your noble quest to donate a worthy title has become so convoluted. As Bellegallica said - just because it may be accepted, doesn't mean you'll see it in the stacks. And I think Oldroser hit the mark by talking about selling books, whether a rose book collection or even a new rose book. I know it may bring up a sore spot, but getting these great books into the hands of people who really want to read them is the first priority, right? So is a library really the right place to do so? I guess I'm being influenced by a review I read recently in the New York Times about Larry McMurtry's "Books: A Memoir" where he talks about his obsessive book collecting. My husband is one such kind of guy who relishes his "finds" on dusty shelves. I have some lovely old rose books due to his "hobby" and I secretly wait for the next one, even as I try to subdue his obsession. Anyone who loves books will cherish this volume and perhaps keep a copy, or sell it, or share it with those who will appreciate it. The ability to see quality in a book is foresight into its intrinsic value, now, or in the future. Even though public libraries may not see it now, there are many more venues to appreciate its value.

alisande asked in regard to my Phoebe McCoy: "Jemdandy, how did you learn so much about your g-g-grandmother? Interesting! She looks so at peace in that photo." After I inherited her photo, I did some serious research on her. My break-through came when I traveled to the city library of Winchester, TN in the county where her mother eventually arrived with the Franklin(s). I found a well reserched article by another genealogist that gave me the lead on the origin of her parents in NJ. The best information of all was how and when Jemima (mother of Phoebe) met her husband-to-be and his correct name, Hugh McCoy. The story continues below: It was during the Revolutionary War. Hugh McCoy, a Scotsman, was not a military man and had gone to a seaport town to attend to some business when the Brits grabbed him and said, "You are in the Army now". (He was conscripted for war with the American colonies.) Hugh McCoy was shipped across the ocean and placed in Lord Howe's army at New York. Hugh was wounded and his commander took him to the house of Franklin(s) in NJ to recuperate. While there, his term of enlistment expired and he refused to re-enlist. The daughter of John Franklin, Jemima, had caught his eye and captured his heart. He asked for her hand in marriage. [To date, this is the only source I have found for my Scotish lineage. These Franklin(s) had immigrated from Acton, England.] Using land warrants from the War, these Franklin(s) and their married daughter, Jemima (Franklin) and Hugh McCoy, removed to Burke Co., NC where they aquired land. After Hugh and Jemima (Franklin) McCoy had about 6 children, Hugh supposed that he may have had some property comming to him in Scotland. He embarked on a voyage back home. He and the ship disappeared. It was presumed he had been lost at sea. Several years later, these Franklin(s) (and Jemima and Phoebe) voyaged by wagon train through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky and eventually arrived on the Elk River in Franklin Co,, TN about 1808. Jemima had married for the second time and outlied her 2nd husband. She married for the 3rd time and outlived that husband by a couple of years. Jemima and her second husband is buried on the family farm. I was privileged to view their headstones and dates on these stones were very readable. John Brown and Phoebe McCoy married in TN, but I have not been able to find any documentation. I do have the birthdates of their children who were born there by calculation from data in Illinois. Also, strangely enough, I know where and the date of Phoebe's demise but can not find anything about her burial.

Everyone has been so positive that I guess, well, I guess it is my turn. My town has about 20,000 residents. Our library looks huge. The center section is two and a half stories tall with huge long wings on either side of the building. It is solid brick, about 15 years old. It sits upon a gentle rise on several acres of land with a lazy stream meandering out front. It is connected, via bike/walking path to the community recreation center and to the town's sports fields and to all of the schools, K-12. Once you get inside, however, you will see great vaulted ceilings which, to many, signify wasted space, and which make every whisper an echoing shout. The children's department is located on one end of the building with no sort of divider which means kids and their mothers are squealing and yelling. Before you think me rude, I love that the kids come to the library. But I also think that both kids AND parents need to abide by the rules of the library. Many of the librarians are sweet and kind and read constantly. The lady in charge, however, is the black cloud over the whole thing. She would rather be an actress. And instead of putting her energy into the library, she allows it to coast along while putting all of her time and energy and creativity into finding little acting gigs in the area. She listens to no one, and thinks she knows more than everyone. The whole town wishes to fire her, as do all of the librarians. But so far, no success. As far as selection goes, non-fiction is okay... in need of updating. Fiction is very well represented as are videos, CD, DVD's and audio books. We have great ILL service as well as a huge selection of e-book titles. So, good and bad, but I am still grateful to have it. It is very close to my house and we often bike or walk over. PAM

It is not only students who are demanding and thoughtless about assignments. We asked the lecturers at our local university to give us a list of items that needed copies prepared by library staff for the next term assignments before they went away. I was told that the pressure of work caused by collecting and photocopying these books would be so great that I would not be able to take leave myself. My husband had the opportunity for us to go for a fortnight free of charge to a lovely holiday island but we had to turn it down. Only a few of the lecturers gave us lists but all those who had not demanded that we prepare their copies urgently after they returned from their trip. Would you believe that they had all gone to the holiday island! I could have gone up there and bugged them for the lists so the staff would have had the work prepared and had my freeby too! I was furious.