Librarian praised for buying customer book

A librarian in Northampton has been praised after using his own money to buy a book for a customer who had waited two months for it to arrive. The Weston Favell Library worker, known only as Tim, purchased a second-hand version of the children's book 'Tuesday' by David Wiesner, after a woman requested it a few weeks ago, but was told it had gone missing.

Tim then delivered the book after cycling to the woman's house on Wednesday, along with a letter apologising for the delay, and saying that she can keep the book. The woman, named Abigail, was so touched by the kind gesture, that she shared a picture of the letter on the Spotted Northampton Facebook page.



Her post reads: "So I have waited nearly two months for a book from the library to come in (Weston Favell Library) and the man who was dealing with the issue for me turned up at my home his evening on his bicycle, with his shopping to deliver it to me by hand with this lovely letter. He bought the book himself for me! Nice to know there are still genuine people out there. Thank you Tim, it was a lovely gesture!" The book Abigail requested is a children's picture book which is often used by primary school teachers, and it tells the story of a day when a group of frogs go flying on their lily pads.

The letter from Tim reads: "Dear Abigail, I am sorry for the delay in ordering this book for you. Thank you for being patient with the library service. Here is the 'Tuesday' book by David Wiesner that you requested many weeks ago. The only copy previously held by the library service is missing. You can keep this book if you like. It is only one that I have bought second hand. I don't think it is suitable for the library anyway. It's up to you, you can return it to me if you don't want it. Hope it is not too late in getting it to you. Best wishes, Tim." A spokesman for the library service said: "It's great to hear some wonderful feedback from one of our satisfied customers."