Some time ago, videographer Logan Dillinger remarked that the Bright Lights Book Project was “creating a need” in our community. At the time, I thought that this was somewhat nonsensical – after all, how does one “create a need?” Needs just materialize.

I now better understand what he meant. For the longest time, I grew anxious when a large number of books appeared and needed categorizing and sorting. My thinking was that, oh oh, it’s going to take me a long time to find places for the books that had just materialized, and in that space of time more books would appear. I’d then have to figure out what to do with all the books; otherwise, I’d have to send them to the recycling center where they’d be shredded.

And (and not for the first time in my life) I’d consider myself to be a failure.

Well, the need for booksmaterialized after we (a cadre of volunteers) put them in places where they were visible. (Location, location, location). And people got used to seeing them and taking them. The need then manifested itself as in, “I need to go get a book.”

Maybe talking in terms of absence might make this idea clearer. If, suddenly, we removed the bookcases and no longer offered free books to anyone who wanted them, people would be mystified and irate. Mystified because they’d wonder where their books went, and irate because they were gone. This would be because we would no longer be filling a need.

The above came to mind several times today, during what turned out to be a very hectic day. I went to the Palmer Senior Center and set out books. There were a lot of seniors there. My friend Bill was also there. Many took books. One woman, who is an avid reader of historical/political novels thanked me for giving her the novel Clinton, a book that most likely she could not afford. I said I’d bring her more historical/political novels.

Another woman said she was looking for a book by Sue someone, it was called A something. I went downstairs and put books on the library shelves. And then I found it. Laura was by then leaving the Palmer Senior Center. I raced across the parking lot and handed it to her. It was A is for Alibi by Susan Grafton. Together we then did the happy dance.

I went back downstairs, in order to put some classical/contemporary fiction in my secret stash. There I ended up talking to two pool players, one of whom mentioned that his granddaughter was an avid reader. I went back upstairs, and I brought down some of the kids’ books. I didn’t, by then, have many left, but I told him that I’d bring more books for her age group next Tuesday.

An hour later, I was at the Meeting House when a woman came in – she’s starting a kids’ center in town and was wanting kids’ books. She left the Meeting House with two boxes of books.

Bea Adler also appeared and took books for Wolfe Eyewear and for Saturday’s Wearable Arts show.

Yes, The Bright Lights Book Project is filling a need in our community. Must mean that we did create it.

Next: 20. 1/20/23: P.J.