Imagine a book vending machine that dispenses surprise books! This link will take you to the NPR story. Though owner Stephen Fowler (who also owns the book store that houses the pistachio green "machine"), says he's not making much money off the Biblio-Mat, he adds "it's a great way to entertain customers — especially kids."

If you've not read Helen Hanff's book 84  Charing Cross Road (1970), a true story about a New York writer and a London bookseller and books and friendship you'll still appreciate her comment "I do love secondhand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest."

Hanff and bookseller Frank Doel corresponded as Hanff searched for hundreds of obscure books. Hanff postponed visiting her English friends until too late; Doel died in December 1968  and the bookshop eventually closed. Hanff did finally visit Charing Cross Road and the empty but still standing shop in the summer of 1971, a trip recorded in her 1973 book The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street.

Don't you just love it when you find that  you and an earlier reader are so wonderfully linked. In fact, it was my good friend Marge who introduced me to the book about30 years ago. She and I were were joined by friendship and a love of books and language.

Check out this delightful blog from Sarah Christensen! She, Marine husband Rich, and young son Robbie visited the Friends Store last week. Bargains galore for the beginning reader!  We look forward to seeing you on Tuesdays after Toddler Story Time. Thanks, Sarah, for your kind words about our wonderful town and it's library.

As always, Hector Tobar writes of interesting things! In today's LA Times,  its about children and reading and reading to your children reinforcing the wonderful idea that the easiest way to help children learn to enjoy reading is to read to and with them. Enjoy!