A good friend of mine took a novel that he wrote to the local public library several months before I completed my book and later told me that his book had a following and had been checked out about 12 times. When I got copies of my finished book comparing scientific and Christian cosmology, I took one to the same local library on October 17, 2002. The lady at the desk asked if I had written the book and I said yes. She then thanked me for the contribution. I then checked back into the library about a month later and could not find it on the card catalog and I inquired at the desk about when it might be placed and cataloged. She said it was in the back and would soon be placed. Then about another month later I checked on the book from the internet and found my friend's novel but not my book.

Monday morning 2/3/03, I went into the library and checked the computer catalog. My book was not to be found. I went to the desk where three smiling librarian women asked if they could help me. I told them my problem. They looked it up on Amazon.com and found it. They looked on their catalog and could not find it. None of them were smiling anymore nor even responding to idle comments regarding the book quantity that seems to remain the same on the floor. They said my book was in the back and that only one person catalogs books. But this time I was determined to find out what was going on. I asked to go back into this room and find my book. One lady said just a moment and went to the back. She later came out and said come on in and there I met Ms. Jacki Gross, the Library Manager. She said sit down and I will tell you the book contribution policy. She said I am the one with responsibility to determine what is cataloged and goes on the shelf.

I looked for your book and it is not there. She said when I determine that the book does not fit our "reading public," it goes out in the lobby for sale. She said the age and condition of the book is critical. She quickly realized that was of no help as my book was brand new.

I asked her how my friend's novel could get on the shelf but my book could not as his was trash. My friend describes his book, when asked, as "600 dirty pages." I told Ms. Gross that I was amazed that I can't get a book about Christian cosmology on the shelf but my friend could get his trash on the shelf. I said there are other books about the cosmos in here. She said she was sorry if I was offended. I asked her if she would put my book on the shelf if I brought her another copy and she said she could not guarantee that.

She would have to determine if it "fits the local reading public." I said I was amazed and hardly knew what to say. I asked if she knew me or my name or something. She asked my name again and said no, should I? I said, well, I write stuff in the paper from time to time. I said I want to make sure people know the policy of contributing books to the library. She said I don't set the policy, would you like to talk to Mr. Mark Gretchen, the Head Librarian, and I replied no, and got up and walked out of her office. After three steps out, I quickly returned and asked for her name again and she gave me a card. I turned again and as I walked away, I could hear her say, do you write for the Gazette? I said nothing more.

I returned to the local public Library that afternoon of 2/3/03 about 1:30PM. Ms. Gross was surprised to see me and said she did not expect me back so soon as I invited myself into her office. I said, yes, well I want to get this worked out real soon. I gave her my letter addressed to the editor that I wrote that morning, as I said, maybe we can agree on what happened this morning. As she began to read, I said I will go get my friend's book off the shelf to compare with mine while you're reading.

I found my friend's book and returned to her office to find her on the phone with, I presume Mr. Mark Gretchen, the Head Librarian. I over heard her say that he said the girl at the desk asked if he had written the book and he had said yes. The rest of her conversations were just yes and no etc. She hung up and she said we don't have to agree to the content of this letter to the editor and I agreed. She returned the letter to my side of the desk and she said are you trying to bribe me with this letter to put your book on the shelf? I replied, well yeah, if that what it takes! I just can't believe it should take all of this to get my book on the shelf when my friend had no trouble at all.

I pushed my book over to her and said let's review this book now and see just what it is that does not meet the criteria of the library here. I said we should get out the review form and go over it. Ms. Gross said she didn't have a form and I was surprised. She said, I have a Masters degree in Library Administration, I mean I went to school for this, I'm qualified to make these decisions. I said that's fine but how do you determine what goes and what stays? She said when she purchases books she first reads all the reviews from publishers and journals etc, and your book doesn't have any reviews does it. I replied, no, as I held up my friend's book, and said this book doesn't have any reviews either. How did it get in here without a review article? I said I know everything about this book, the author is my friend and I see him everyday.

She said, what would make you happy Mr. Avery, and I replied, just put the book on the shelf and load it on the computer catalog. She said she would have to review it. I said alright, then I will just leave this new copy here with you but if you don't like it don't sell it for 50 cents out on the sidewalk, call me on the phone and I'll come pick it up. I also said that if my book does not meet the placement criteria, I want to know why when I come to get it. . I started to give her my number but said I'm probably on your computer and she looked up my name and found that my library card had expired. I said well my name is right on the cover and she said that doesn't make you a celebrity, just because you write a few letters to the editor. I replied that I was not saying I was a celebrity but just trying to show her that my name was on the cover and that I was a resident of Seguin. I got up and said I will return my friend's book to your shelf and she said no that's OK I will put it back and I said alright, I will wait for your call to see if my book meets all the criteria and I left the office with my letter.

I visited our Seguin Guadalupe County Public Library again at 11:30 AM on the following day, 2/4/03, to see if Ms. Jacki Gross had reviewed my book yet and if it was going to be acceptable for the shelf. When I arrived I went to her open door where she saw me, but she was on the phone so I looked at books on the cart close by to find all kinds of paper back books. My book is a paper back too. When she got off the phone I stuck my head in the door and said good morning, I came by to see if you had decided on my book yet. She said Mr. Avery this might come as a surprise to you but you are just not priority around here. I asked why not? I said, I am a local resident standing at the door, why would I not be a priority? She said just look at all these books I have to go through. There were books stacked all around her office but my book was still on her own desk on top of my friend's book right in front of her.

I said, I'm sorry but I'm beginning to take this personal. I asked her why she couldn't just look at the book and tell me if it can go on the shelf. She said well unlike your friend's book that you claim is just dribble, it's a fiction book and accuracy is not a question. She said but your book is a non-fiction book and can be reviewed for accuracy. I asked if she reviewed the accuracy of all non-fiction books and she said no. She said, OK Mr. Avery, I took a look at your web site last night and took your book home with me and I read the back cover and the "about the author" page where it said you're a space alien (she said this with a grinning smirk on her face). I said yes ma'am, I am, is there a problem with the accuracy on that? She did not answer that question. She said, I read the front part with the Preface, Dedication and Acknowledgements and that's as far as I got. I asked if there was a problem in there somewhere and she said no.

I said, then I just don't get why this is such a problem. She said I just don't like you coming in here and threatening me with a letter to force me to put your book on the shelf. I said I'm not threatening you with any thing, it's not illegal to write a letter to the editor. I said, you can write your own letter to the editor and tell him how nasty I am for coming in here with my book and wanting it to be put on the shelf like my other friend did. She said, I don't like you coming in here every day about your book, you told me to call you when acceptance would be determined. I said well can you give me some kind of date at when I could expect an answer. She said I don't know. I said, well I have to take that as a no on acceptance. She said, I didn't say that. I said, well then why should I have to wait eternally for an answer? She said, OK then, how about April the 30^th. I said, wow OK that's good. She said I will write it on my calendar and she opened it up and I watched her write it down in her calendar. I asked, that's this year right, 2003? She said yes. I said that's super I will not return to see you until then. I went to the car and wrote that in my calendar as well.

I don't believe this sweet girl would read this book any other way. She will be blessed if she reads it all, so I thank my Alienor who has made me an Alienee. May Christ Jesus be glorified in this event. How strange God in Christ works in the world! I wait with bated breath for April 30, 2003! She better be careful reading my book, she will turn into another hyper space alienee.