Change of Assignment

On Monday this week, I was working in the warehouse as usual when my department overseer came in and gave me some interesting news.  I was going to be transferred to another department, for at least 2 weeks. What department?  From the electrical warehouse, to....Bookbinding and Library!!  I know!  Turns out the sister that manages those two departments has needed some extra help and so Bethel requested for someone to come for a couple weeks to lend a helping hand.  I had this thought that I might turn into some sort of skilled bookbinder but that's not really the case.  What she really needed help with is organizing her temporary location that she has recently moved to.  This involves sorting books, booklets, magazines, km's and such.  Also the library needs a thorough cleaning and organizing since the move into the new space.  The great thing is though, that there is A/C in those spaces!  (Happy dance.)  My first job has been pretty cool. (And not just because it's air conditioned.)  They are setting up an archive for the Bethel here.  No one has even started doing it before now, and I'm the first one to start setting things aside in a specific place for it.  So I've been sorting through and putting things into a cabinet that will serve for now, although more space will be needed here soon.

I'm getting my hands on some amazing theocratic history and learning about publications from the early 20th century that I had never heard of.  For example, have you ever heard of a man named Rutherford?  I'm sure most of you reading this blog have.  Turns out that in the past, many of the radio lectures and speeches that he (and later Brother Knorr) gave were actually later printed in booklet form and distributed.  I've loved seeing all the booklets and their cover art.  Some are even from the 1920's.

A few of my favorites, based purely on the cover art.

While sorting through things I came across a mail order catalog of the "Rainbow Books" and certain of the lectures that were printed in the 1930's.  I love the description of the booklets:

The way they put things then, so direct!  With the aid of this handy catalog I was able to separate those particular items (most are pictured above) into boxes according to order of the catalog.  My hope is that whoever is responsible for sorting through these things later and putting up displays will understand what is what and the value of these little items.  I couldn't  have ever imagined I would get to do something like this, even for a short time.  It would be so cool to work in an archive and set up displays as they have in New York at headquarters.  Hopefully I'll get to visit there and see those things someday.

I'm really enjoying the break from the heat of my first assignment, the mornings in the warehouse are hot but manageable, it's the afternoons that are difficult for me.  However, "I dey manage it." (Pidgin) That being said, I miss being up there too, and visiting with the different people I usually encountered during the day.  In two weeks we will see if I get to go back or stay with the books.  Either way, there are neat things to learn and do here.

I have some more pictures of the cool stuff I am finding, I'll save them for later, either the blog or in person depending on how much time I have to share.