December, despite the Castle Bailey Christmas lights, is a dark month. I cycle to work before dawn and the street lights are on again when I return home.

We’ve small bits of festive lighting in the library. We’re not allowed to leave them on after closing, thanks to our friendly local fire inspector who believes the entire concept of libraries has been sent to try him. We’re a giant box full of tinder in his eyes, the poor man. He’s never really been the same since he discovered our original fire door led into a brick wall. We got that fixed, but it shook him to his core.

I’ve already put up the artificial Christmas tree beside the issue desk and it has lights, of course. I also found a couple of small battery operated light strings to decorate the desk and one long s...

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