Do You Remember O’Keefe?
According to this website, the Duluth Public Library had a library cat named “O’Keefe” from 1982 to 1996.
I moved here in 1994 and have never seen nor heard anything about O’Keefe. Any of you long-timers know more? Why don’t we have a current library cat? I’d love to peruse the sci-fi section and come across a napping tabby.
(This isn’t an actual photo of O’Keefe – I just thought it was a cute pic)
Was it named after Danny?
I volunteered there and one of the librarians mentioned there had been one. She had no interest in there being another one. She mentioned how much it would be alone, but I’d be more worried about the cat’s health when people were there. I’m surprised any libraries have them any more what with allergies.
I never saw one, but if I did, I would have raised holy hell to get it out of there. I hate cats.
Her “things” were still around when I started there in September ’96, but I never heard of her before that.
Jerry: do you hate cats more than cockroaches, mice, and/or rats?
I love cats. I love libraries. My son loves libraries. I don’t love mice in libraries. I don’t love cockroaches. My son’s eczema-inflicted skin does not love cats.
Though I do like the idea of cats in libraries, I can understand how it would be horrible for someone with severe cat allergies.
Maybe we could populate the library with some of those freaky hairless cats?
There was a library in Iowa that had a cat, they named it Dewey. Someone wrote a book last year about Dewey the Iowa library cat. Book is a bestseller, people love that kind of stuff.
Yeah, someone dumped Dewey in the book return box overnight and he almost froze to death.
We should have a cat at one of the branch libraries. Those with allergies can avoid that one.
part of me loves the idea of a library cat, but I tend to think that it’s not such a hot idea for bigger towns/cities. Too many people, too much chance for mischief.
A cat would get pretty lonely at a branch library in this town.
Cats… great on a farm or boat; bad in a book room. I love the OP’s picture, though.
Yeah, one of my cats chews on books corners. She’d make a terrible library cat.
Still, I like the general concept. There should be more shop cats/dogs/whatever.
I think there might be a way to have animal interaction in public places that’s not in-your-face (think putting good zoos/aquariums next-to/inside-of libraries; weird, but good use of real estate). Running across a random animal thing in the library is fun, but also not for everyone.
A library snake would take care of the mice, and a library lizard would deal with the roaches. All while avoiding any allergy issues. Problem solved.
Library snakes and lizards would potentially cause an outbreak of salmonella.