SUSAN LOESCH

So what does a library cat do when he isn’t working with the kids, helping them select books or  work on the computer? He keeps busy with many other things!

Over the past week or so Shadow has dressed for Easter, acquired additional computer skills, worked with the printer and…gotten married!

Barney had the opportunity to become a style icon, and he turned it down.

Shadow continues to love to sit, sleep or stand on my keyboard — or knock it off the desk entirely if he doesn’t have enough wiggle room. Sitting on the keyboard this week, he managed to turn off the monitor. Confused as to where his picture had gone, he looked up at us as if to ask, “What in the world happened? You are going to fix it, of course.”

And we did.

He found the printer and wasn’t sure paper was supposed to come out, piece-by-piece as it was doing, so he monitored the printer for a while. I am just glad he hasn’t learned to print on his own.

And I wish he didn’t feel the need to rearrange all the figurines and pictures sitting on my printer!

Barney modeled a handsome orange and white striped t-shirt. It was stylishly trimmed in a masculine blue and said “Tuff Guy,” which is a perfect description of Barn.

He looked so fine, but he let us know in no uncertain terms that he didn’t approve. After rolling around in it, he stood in front of Mary and Lea and “Rahrr’d” a demand that it come off.

They tried to tell him what a handsome dude he was but to no avail.

Once freed of the offensive T-shirt, Barn went to work patrolling the library while secondary kids were here. He’s become my go-to guy for working with older kids.

Meanwhile Shadow came to school the Friday before Easter wearing a wonderful Easter bandana from Ms. Lanita. It was yellow and white and was adorned with a yellow chick. He did look fine and was much admired.

Being admired is, of course, a major job responsibility for a library cat, and both Shadow and Barney take that part of their job very seriously.

He caught up with a group of my juniors and seniors and posed with them for a picture. Of the 5 students, I’ve had three since they were tiny. They don’t remember the library without a library cat!

Oh, and about getting married … Bailey came to the library with her class and was kissing Shadow. “Are you guys getting married?” asked one of her classmates.

“Yes, we are,” said Bailey. “Shadow is my husband.”

The class went on to check out books and read for the period. When they lined up to leave, as she went out the door, Bailey called out, “Bye, Shadow. Bye, my husband!”

And you thought being a library cat involved just books and reading!