Tri-County
Library gets a new resident
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–If you haven’t already noticed, or haven’t visited the
Tri-County Library in Mabank lately, there is a permanent resident
living there!
She
doesn’t take up too much space and doesn’t own a lot of stuff –
definitely not a “pack rat” like some of us. And, until a very short
time ago, she didn’t even have a name.
However, most patrons have welcomed the sight of her, and generally
approve of her living in the library.
Monitor Photo/ Linda K. Holt
Whisper, a smoky gray tabby, trots across the floor of the
children’s book section at the Tri-County Library with a favorite
toy. It won’t take her long to own “the joint.”
A brief naming ceremony and welcome Valentine’s Day party was given
in her honor Feb. 14.
Nameless no more, next time you see her, you may address her as
“Whisper.”
That
was the winning name chosen from the library’s “name the cat
contest.”
Eight-year-old Haile Buttram, daughter of Mabank resident Sonya
Stephens, submitted the catchy and appropriate name for the
four-month-old smoke-gray tabby with white socks.
Other candidates for her name were Libby, Page Turner, Smoky and
Boots.
Monitor Photo/ Pearl
Cantrell
Eight-year-old Haile Buttram submitted the winning name for the
library’s new mascot, a kitten called Whisper.
So, how did a cat come to live in the library, you ask?
Ask Sydney Busch. Back in October, Busch saw the story of Dewey on
CBS “Sunday Morning” television show.
Dewey was the mascot of Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa, for
nearly 20 years.
Over the years, Dewey Readmore Books became an integral part of
promoting books and learning in that community.
Discovered as a kitten, half-frozen in a book drop one morning in
January, 1988, the library staff made it their mission to save and
love Dewey.
A naming contest was launched to find the perfect name for the
recovering kitten, who made himself at home inside the library.
His care was supported by the collection of recycled aluminum cans
by library staff, who were soon joined by friends and patrons’ money
donations for Dewey’s food and kitty litter.
Needless to say, Dewey earned his keep by generating publicity for
the library, which became known as far away as Japan.
Of course, many people who seldom visited the library started to,
just so they could visit with Dewey.
Sadly, Dewey passed away not long ago, which generated the “Sunday
Morning” television story about him, a story that left Busch in
tears.
It is foreseen that Whisper will follow in Dewey’s paw prints.
“We hope Whisper will be an added attraction and comfort to patrons
visiting us,” librarian Claire Stout said. “The volunteer staff here
are all very happy to have her.”
Busch, the “Friends of the Animals” low-cost spay/neuter clinic
founder, determined the Tri-County Library would be a perfect spot
for a library cat, and started searching for the feline she thought
would be best suited to lots of social contact.
“I wanted a kitty to come from the animal shelter, first of all,”
Busch told The Monitor.
This kitten she found was in a foster home that helps take the
overflow from the Humane Society Animal Shelter in Tool.
The
foster owner pointed out Whisper’s even temperament and winning
ways.
“And boy, was she right,” Busch said.
Monitor Photo/ Pearl Cantrell
Members of the Tri-County Library board and friends join librarian
Claire Stout (center) in welcoming the newly named library cat,
Whisper, to its new home.
Busch suggested the library isn’t the only place a kitten or small
dog in residence can benefit.
“There are just hundreds of beautiful kittens and wonderful adult
cats, many of them already spayed or neutered, waiting to find
home,” she said.
The idea of a “host cat” can be used by area businesses, Busch said.
The Bluebonnet Emporium in Gun Barrel City and Old Friends Antiques
in Mabank have “fabulous tabby cats” in-house which attract traffic
to those businesses.
“Gilbert and Jones has a small dog,” she added.
She admits that business pets take a little work and upkeep, but are
great assets at driving in traffic.
“Its something people talk about,” she said.