Take the Time

February 08, 2012

Dear Customers,
Thank you for your continual use of the library. You make our days and nights go quickly when we’re busy. I hope you are able to locate books and other information quickly. If not, please ask anyone, as we are here to help our customers.

Sincerely,
Mary M.

My mother instilled in me the need to write thank you notes to people who gave me gifts. I resisted until she said I couldn’t go anywhere until I was done. In college as a sophomore, all girls had a class in Social Etiquette. One thing I remember was the need to write a "bread and butter letter" upon returning from a weekend at a classmate's home.

A "bread and butter letter" first appeared in print in the US in the early 20th century. In it the writer is thanking his or her hosts for their hospitality (and food), but the letter is also a basic social formality, not likely to contain any exciting content.
 
In this day of email, Facebook, and Twitter it is easy to send off a note to someone without much thought. The idea of writing a hand-written note, locating a stamp, and mailing the note is mostly lost.

The library has several books with ideas for various writing styles: The Right Letter!: How to Communicate Effectively in a Busy World, The Everything Improve Your Writing Book: Master the Written Word and Communicat Clearly, and Write the Right Words: Messages from the Heart for Every Occasion. Since we all like to get mail, a hand written note is likely to be read over and over again. Perhaps it will even be saved inside a book as a reminder of the gratitude.

As we approach Valentine’s Day, let’s not forget to write letters to our servicemen and women serving our country around the world. A couple of web sites are:
http://anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/ or www.operationgratitude.com/letters-to-heroes/.
 
So, get out the note cards, the pens, and the stamps, and take a few minutes to tell someone how much you appreciate their hospitality, gift, or time they have given to you.

Mary M.
Raytown Branch