Buy Me a CoffeeHer library was immense, taking up over 90% of the station. She wasn't a member of the archivaas, but they did help her maintain it. Checking out materials was free, reading lessons were free, and if materials were returned late, rather than a fine, the person simply had a choice of making a donation, be it a book or monetary, to the library, to spend one hour working in the library to help maintain it. The dereggers that sometimes visited hated the fact that not only did a woman own such a vast thing, but that they were not allowed to cause problems without consequences. -- Lessons
Most of the time, libraries are planned. They're designed, their shelves sorted according to the Dewey Decimal System, they're kept clean and welcoming by librarians in cardigans and glasses with little chains on them[1]. As with every rule, there are outliers who count despite what statisticians might think. Librarians who don't have cardigans or glasses with chains. Libraries that just... happen. With books washing up like driftwood on the shores of its shelves.
Such was the case with Caterer Uem. Feeding transitory populations was their job. Reading was their hobby. They tended to gain copies of books not in their library as visitors passed through. Keeping a stock of popular print copies for those who lacked the digital storage space[2].
Often on the take-a-book, leave-a-book model of exchange.
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