Odd Things Found in Books

Working in a public library I've seen a lot of strange things and I do mean a lot. One place where a lot of strange things have been found is inside returned library books. Some people are familiar with the concept of bookmarks to mark their place in a book, but it turns out there is another entire group of people who use whatever is closest to them at the moment to mark there page no matter what that object may be. Now I'll admit, I've used various scraps of paper and notes because of the conveniance factor and my fear of leaving behind my favorite bookmark and losing it forever, but some of the things my co-workers and I have found in books are just plain strange, and others just plain gross.

In no particular order, here are some of the things either my co-workers or myself have found left inside books. The list ranges from strange to gross to whatever was easiest to use at the time.

1. Train tickets and boarding passes. We've found these on more than one occassion. Sometimes they are from past trips and other times they are from dates set in the future. Now are these tickets to trips that have since been cancelled? Or when the date of this trip finally rolls around is someone going to be looking for their tickets and boarding pass? I have used train tickets as my bookmark. I always pack a book when I ride the train and after my ticket has been used I've used it as a bookmark, but I've never used my ticket as a bookmark before I've taken the trip.

2. Receipts. Here comes the latest James Patterson book in the book drop. Now we can know that not only does Jane Doe enjoy reading James Patterson, she also shops at the local organic store and here is what she purchases.

3. Pictures of children. This is one of the things that is left in books probably on a weekly basis and almost always results in a frantic call from a parent or grandparent who is devasted they left a picture of their precious child or grandchild in a book. If the patron is lucky we find the picture as we're emptying the bookdrop and can place it in the lost found. Or, they call or come in to look for all the books with the title they left the picture in and find it inside. However, there are times they leave the picture inside a bestseller or a popular book and someone else has already checked the book out meaning they have lost their treasured picture forever. I understand grabbing whatever is close to you and using it as a bookmark, but something you are afraid of losing? Why risk it? Especially inside a book that isn't yours to keep. Word to the wise - do not use pictures of loved ones as book marks. Especially in books that belong to the library. If you lose the picture you'll be upset. Save yourself the grief of losing the picture and just don't use it in the first place.

4. Food - pickles, bacon, and lettuce. Really? Were you cooking bacon at the time and thought, "Hey, maybe the next person who read this book would like some bacon so I'll leave a piece of raw bacon in here for him to cook up and enjoy a treat." If you're going to use something like food as your bookmark, fine, I can't stop you, but please take it out before another patron is grossed out by your bookmark.

5. Sanitary napkin. Unfortunately this is not a joke. I don't care that it wasn't used, that's gross. Please find a piece of paper or a bookmark to use in the future. I thank you. My co-workers thank you. Future readers of this book thank you.

6. Condom. Same thing as above. Just don't do this. You aren't funny or clever, you just gross the people out who have to touch this book.

7. A knife. Thank you. When I pull a book out of a full book drop I'm wanting to find a sharp knife sticking out of a book and if I'm lucky have it cut my hand. If you want to use a knife to mark your spot, go for it. Just don't leave the knife sticking out of the book and then drop it in a bookdrop for someone to injure themselves.

8. $20 bills. Kind of the same thing as personal photographs. Why would you use anything of value (no matter if the value is cash or sentimental) as a place marker in a borrowed book? I'm not willing to lose twenty dollars so I'm going to keep my bills far away from my loaned books. I don't want someone else to find my money and keep it. I have personally found two twenty dollar bills inside books and I'm not the only one. Tip for those of you who use money as a bookmark: don't do it. You work hard for your money so please keep it a safe distance away from your library books.

9. Uncashed personal check. Same thing as above. I don't care if it's one of the checks we've found for two dollars or one of the checks found for over a hundred dollars. Checks are money. Don't use them as bookmarks.

10. Unemployment check. For real? You're using your check for over a thousand dollars as a bookmark? You must be fairly wealthy if you can afford to lose that much money.

11. Credit card. You had better be thankful we're the ones who found your credit card. What if we didn't find it and someone else checked this book out and decided to have a little shopping spree with you picking up the tab? It is not a good idea to use your credit card as a bookmark..

12. Q-Tip. Gross. Just plain gross. That is all I have to say about this.

13. Kleenex. I'm sure you didn't use it, but I don't want to take my chances. Gross. If you use this as your bookmark, do everyone a favor and remove it from the book before returning it. We don't have to wonder if it's used or not.

14. Shopping lists. Feel free to leave these behind. Some lists are just plain strange. Don't forget milk, bread, candy, and bait.

15. Paranormal Investigator business cards. Uh-oh. Now we know you have some strange activity taking place in your house.

16. Leaves. No thanks. You keep them for your leaf collection. We have enough in our collection and we don't need your generous donation.

17. Giftcards. Thanks. I'll give this to my brother as his Christmas present. Or, maybe I'll keep it for myself and do some shopping. Thanks for your generous gift to the library staff!

I've shared with you the things my co-workers and I have found as bookmarks so now share with me what you've used as bookmarks.

What have you left behind in your library books? Maybe you left behind some money and never even knew it.