Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Even our secret weapon is a book-lover

Today I had a visit from a person I call our secret weapon. He's the fellow that comes to help whenever we call. He's Shannon, our computer expert.
So, there he was, just a-working away at my computer with me standing nearby and watching his interesting work. And while I had him as a captured audience, I asked some questions...but not about my computer.
Shannon drives two hours all over Georgia, as long as it's in a circle. Let's say that Moultrie is the center of the circle. He travels in all directions: Georgetown, Bainbridge, Quitman, Fitzgerald, Ashburn, etc. He has 20-plus libraries' computers that he services, as well as several small businesses. Shannon told me that he travels between 13 and 14 hundred (that's 1300-1400) miles every month.
"What do you do all that time you're driving?" I asked. "Do you listen to audio tapes and CDs?"
He said, "Yes!" In fact, he admitted he'd probably go crazy if he didn't listen to stories while driving. (That's different than texting or talking on your cell phone while driving.)
Shannon said lately he's listened to The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett, and to The Wee Free Men by the same author. He said he likes the little six-inch blue men because they talk with an Irish brogue like leprechauns. He must have a great imagination! But that's what listening to stories does for you.
He has some more favorite authors, other than Terry Pratchett: W.E.B. Griffin, Janet Evanovich, and Robert Jordan to name a few. His genre seems to run in the science fiction and humor areas. He said it was a librarian who turned him on to listening to Janet Evanovich. Yea for librarians!
It's nice to know that we have a secret weapon who enjoys checking out audio books and listening to them during his long travels. Guess you could call him our traveling library card. Imagine the choice of material he has because of visiting all those different libraries.
Good traveling, Shannon. And good listening also.

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