A popular floor at North York Central branch, Business and Urban Affairs was crowded with goal-oriented readers. All five private study booths were occupied and all available tables taken. One trio of patrons were making a day of it in the library. Camped out around a low table in the northwest corner, their writing surface was obscured by water bottles, fruit, croissants, papers, and cell-phones.
Notices in both English and Mandarin warned us to “watch our belongings.” The warning wasn’t excessively alarmist; during my visit, I actually heard an announcement over the intercom that a wallet had been reported stolen. On a less serious note, an exhibit of recommended books included the title How Come THAT Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not? Finally, a timely display on debt management suggested reading Tame the Debt Monster, Release from Debtor’s Prison, and Green with Envy: Why Keeping Up with the Joneses is Keeping Us in Debt.
Wondering if the wallet thief had neglected to read the books mentioned above, I walked to down to the third floor, Society and Recreation.