Libraries: home to more than just books

A sticky note with a letter from mom and dad, a photo of a loved one, a beautiful sketch... all of these items have been found in accidentally returned library books, after their owners dropped the books in the return slot at Oakland Public Library.

🤔 Trash or treasure?... Librarian Sharon McKellar began collecting some of the lost items as she sorted through returned books a few years back. She found each little find fascinating and eventually created "Found in a Library Book," a webpage documenting all of her discoveries for the public.

• "I wonder if it was a precious object to somebody," Sharon said. "Does the person miss that item? Do they regret having lost it or were they careless with it because they actually didn't share those deep and profound feelings with the person who wrote [it]?" she wonders. "It lets us be a little bit nosy. In a very anonymous way." 

Check out the full collection here.