Turning the page on Cd'A Library's 15 minutes of fame
CRAIG NORTHRUP/Press Members of a camera crew from CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert “direct the Coeur d’Alene Library’s David Townsend and Mandi Harris on Thursday afternoon for a bit from Colbert’s popular talk show. Colbert gifted the library an “Unhideable Edition” of a book often misplaced by an anonymous protester who intentionally hides literature critical of President Donald Trump.
Mandi Harris, youth services librarian for the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, takes part in a bit for the CBS Late Show film crew Thursday afternoon. The crew came to Idaho to film a follow-up to their original Nov. 16 segment, in which the popular talk show host promised to deliver an oversized copy of “Whose Boat Is This Boat?” to stop a censor from hiding anti-President Trump books.
Janie Somers brought her child to the Coeur d'Alene Library's children's reading room Thursday afternoon, only to discover the newest addition to the stacks: Stephen Colbert's unhideable edition of "Whose Boat Is This Boat?" (CRAIG NORTHRUP/Press)
By CRAIG NORTHRUP
Staff Writer
With CBS film crews measuring light in the Coeur d’Alene Public Library’s downstairs children’s room and a cameraman adjusting his focus, David Townsend stood beside a wood bench and caught his breath, a ridiculously oversized book by his side.
“I have no idea,” he admitted between near-hyperventilations when asked how much the book beside him weighs.
The afternoon was abnormally busy for a Thursday at the library. Never mind the thousand-or-so guests who walk through the Front Street doors every day.
Communications coordinator Townsend, director Bette Ammon and library staff were managing a confluence of two moments that will live forever in librarian history: In a few hours, acclaimed sportswriter Rick Reilly was scheduled to speak in the community room, police escort in tow. But in a surprise twist, the library received an unexpected donation, one it knew was coming but didn’t necessarily expect so soon.
“It’s really remarkable,” Ammon said as she stood to the side of the commotion, watching as her staff participated in a story that cast the local library into the national spotlight. “It’s just remarkable.”
As promised from his soundstage in New York, CBS "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert sent the library a copy of “Whose Boat Is This Boat?”, a collection of quotes from Donald Trump — and assembled by the "Late Show" staff — to document the president’s less-than-ideal responses to hurricane victims.
Because “Whose Boat Is This Boat?” was one of the books targeted by an anti-left trickster who keeps misplacing literature critical of Trump, Colbert made certain the book could never be hid. The 4-foot-by-3-foot book, signed by the talk show host himself, sported an anti-theft tag and an “Unhideable Edition” stamp.
“I’m so grateful that [Colbert] talked about how important libraries are,” said Mandi Harris, Coeur d’Alene’s youth services librarian, “and encouraged all the readers across the nation to support their local libraries. Your library is here for you. We’re here to serve you. We’re here to provide you with the best information that you need in order to live your best life.”
If her comment sounded rehearsed, that’s because she had a few takes. Harris was featured in a "Late Show" bit that will likely air next week on Colbert’s brand-carrying platform. The camera crew included Harris as part of a follow-up to the show’s Nov. 16 episode, where it featured the plight of the local library.
Three hours later, Ammon introduced to the community room stage one of the more famous faces to stroll through the Coeur d’Alene Library.
“It’s not often you get a chance to interview the most famous librarian in the world," Reilly told the longtime librarian in front of the packed room.
To which Ammon rolled her eyes.
“No,” Reilly continued, “you’ve been on BBC. You were in the New York Times, the Washington Post. They talked about you on Stephen Colbert. How does it feel to be so famous?”
Ammon’s three-word reply summed up the limelight she and her staff have faced. “It feels humbling.”
As any book donation should, the oversized “Whose Boat Is This Boat?” was documented into the library’s record system. The book started in receiving, went downstairs to be recorded, sat in the children’s reading room, then went into the children’s main room.
As of press time Friday, the book stood on an easel by the check-out counter, under the watchful eye of library staff. Just in case.
“People have been coming and going all day,” Townsend said. "A lot of people have been coming, looking through the book. People are having fun with it, and I think that’s a good thing.”
Townsend and Ammon both acknowledged the library will build or acquire a special display for “Whose Boat Is This Boat?” But when asked about the particulars of where or when, neither said they knew.
“At some point down the road, I suppose,” Ammon told The Press as the CBS crew kept filming. “We’ll put something together at some point.”
For now, Ammon, Townsend, Harris and the rest of the Coeur d’Alene Library staff have been gifted one of the most famous heirlooms in the history of public libraries before they finally turn the page on this bizarre set of circumstances and the fame that ensued, whether they wanted it or not.