Our colleague, Martha, found this story posted on the Whatcom County Library web site.  If you needed extra ammunition about how libraries and books can affect individual lives, here is a prime example.

This happened during a “Whatcom Reads!” One Book event at the Whatcom Community College:

“A woman, near the front of the line for the book signing, asked me if she thought it was ok if she just spoke to Sherman since she didn’t have a book for him to sign. I said I thought he was very flexible and to go ahead. When it was her turn, she and Sherman spoke for several minutes. I heard her ask him if he would please sign a piece of paper for her, since she didn’t have a book. She explained that she had been homeless for awhile and was really moved by his speech, especially what he said about poverty. He was signing her piece of paper when the next woman in line tapped the first woman on the shoulder and gave her her own copy of the book. The first woman protested, saying she didn’t have any money to pay for it. The second woman demurred and said, “I have other books at home. This one is for you.” Sherman said, “Take the book,” and everyone within hearing got a little teary. I have this image in my mind of this homeless woman clutching her very own signed copy of The Absolutely True Diary and keeping it as a precious treasure, and the second woman keeping a warm memory of a time she did a good deed. Awesome!”

This and more great comments from the Whatcom Reads! program on their website: http://www.whatcomreads.org/comments.shtml.