« Happy New Year! | Main | Rather troublesome »
January 5, 2006
The "Running of the Patrons"
Everyone knows about the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. You may have heard of the Running of the Brides at Filene's Basement. But have you ever in your life heard of the Running of the Patrons in Reading, Massachusetts?
My library keeps the most recent 24 issues (I think, I'm not at the library right now) of any magazine we subscribe to in the Magazines and Newspapers section of the library on the first floor near the Information Desk. However, we keep another 2 (or so) years of copies in the basement near the Movies and CDs. All but the most recent copy of our magazines can be checked out just like our other items.
Every year, we purge our older magazines and newspapers in the basement. I've only been at Reading a little over six months, so I've never experienced the Running of the Patrons first-hand, but I've heard stories. People wait outside the library, much like shoppers waiting at the doors of retail stores at 4:30am on Black Friday, just to be one of the first to rummage and grab. It's all done in a first-come fashion, so if you snooze, you will lose. From what I've heard, everything goes, there's little left over, and it's pretty much chaos all around. There have even been small squabbles.
I just got the email stating that February 18 is this year's Running date. Luckily, I don't think this is the year we're giving away the 2004 stuff, which means that we have the Red Sox stuff for another year or two, at least (I think we even took all that stuff out so as not to lose it; we might be selling that stuff on eBay or keeping it or something). But I do know that the magazines that get stolen most often (Cooking Light in particular) go first and quickly.
I'm not working that Saturday, but I think I might go up, just to experience it for myself. And I'm *so* taking pictures.
January 5, 2006 6:07 PM