HR-ML's Reviews > Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Non-fiction.

In winter 1987 in small town Spencer in NW Iowa,
a library director, Vicki Myron, found a small kitten
in the library drop-box, forced open by an extra book.
The kitten was shaking and had frost bite on his paws.
He limped. She gave the kitten a bath, took him to the
vet, and named the 8 week old orange kitten, Dewey.
Vicki had an old dog at home.

Dewey lifted the spirits of library patrons who had
financial issues or lost farm or manufacturing jobs.
The library had job listings/ resources. Vicki obtained
one computer for the library, to start. Library staff
took turns feeding/ playing with Dewey on Sundays.
He spent library holidays w/ single mom, Vicki. He got
to know kids who visited the library & showed extra
sensitivity to those physically or developmentally
disabled.

Some book reviewers seemed to dislike the author's
take on the small town. I considered it an integral
part of the story. She also noted her health struggles
and those of her birth family. Vicki worked fulltime
@ the library while earning her Master's degree in
Library Science.

Dewey had his likes (yarn, rubber bands, warm copier
machines, warm laps, boxes to sleep in) and dislikes
(a bath, a trip to the vet, other animals, loud noises).
He was particular about food & charmed nearly everyone.

Vicki featured library cat Dewey in a library journal, soon
the media chimed in. Visitors traveled from other states &
countries to see Dewey. Two documentaries had Dewey
and other cats too.

The patrons and townspeople were saddened by Dewey's
physical decline after 19 years. His energy decreased and
he no longer greeted folks at the library door. Interesting
how Dewey's little soul impacted so many. A sweet story,
but sad toward the end.