Footnotes from the library

Nancy Smith

If you are a reader of fiction books and you know the author’s last name and you know the alphabet, then our library is easy. For instance, novels by the now-deceased Robert Ludlum will always be shelved under the letter L – no matter who has been hired to continue the Ludlum stories. The fiction section is the largest and most popular of our library.

If, however, your interest lies in non-fiction, you’ll find books on historical themes, such as First Ladies of the White House. Bill O’Reilly’s Killing series is shelved there, as are other authors such as David McCullough and Ann Rule’s true crime books.

We have many mystery readers who like P.D. James, Mary Higgins Clark, Patricia Cornwell and Diane Mott Davidson. This section has a “Mystery” tag at the top of the book. New mystery writers, such as Betty Webb and James Doss’ Southwest mysteries, are here.

If you like those rootin’-shootin’ westerns, we have good ones. Stories by Ralph Compton, Elmer Kelton, Zane Grey and the two Johnstones, William and J.A. Louis L’Amour has his own shelf. All those good guys in the white hats ask you to return all our books.

Next to the westerns is the war collection (facing the windows). This covers the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Iraq, Korea and Vietnam. A wide variety of subjects covered are tanks, admirals, D-Day, American Revolutionary War, seal teams, survival/escapes and women in the war. Be aware that this section is not shelved by battle or person. This section has a “War” tag on the spine and author’s last name.

We are proud of the fact that all our books are donated. They all belong to the SunBird Library and must be returned. That is the honor system. That is what keeps us special.