The following article was written by Kristin Keck, a Teen Associate at the Manitowoc Public Library.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that everybody loves a box. Boxes are presents, surprises, and essential supplies. Boxes encompass multitudes, everything from the much-anticipated order from the internet to a pair of birthday socks from your great-aunt to leftovers that are gaining sentience in the back of the fridge. Only cats appreciate boxes more than humans do.
People of a certain age (like myself) hate to let go of a “good” box. Everyone has their own criteria for the “good” box, but we all can identify them when we see them. “Good” boxes are being hoarded right now in basements and closets across the country. Someday, you’ll want a box and we’ll be there, ready to answer the call with a variety of containers.
Maybe the best of box applications is the subscription box—a monthly gift you give yourself, coming in the mail like a herald of joy, brimming with the new toys or snacks or stationery promised by the theme. There’s a subscription box for everything from beauty projects and cooking to traveling and writing. Subscription boxes are truly the princes of the box world!
With that in mind, Manitowoc Public Library is proud to announce our first subscription box-inspired service for Teens—The Shelf Care Box!
Each month, Teens can fill out a quick form to get the next month’s box. The form will be available Friday, August 1, through the Teen Services page of Manitowoc Public Library’s website. Complete the form by the 15th of the month and a box will be waiting for you on the 1st of the following month—on hold under your card number at Manitowoc Public Library.
You’ll have eight days to pick up the box. Boxes will be limited for the first couple of months to gauge response, so be sure to fill out the form as soon as possible to guarantee a box on hold.
And what’s in a Shelf Care Box? Magic, romance, mystery, adventure—and that’s just the books! Each box will contain three books from MPL’s Young Adult section, both fiction and nonfiction, which correspond to the theme of the month posted on the website. There will also be a parade of art projects, pens, notebooks, coloring sheets, keychains, pencils, art and stationery supplies, and whatever other fun things we can find—plus a little snacky snack. It’s important to keep up your strength when reading. The box and books need to come back to Manitowoc Public Library, but the rest of the contents belong to the subscriber.
The best thing about the Shelf Care box is the price—which is free! There’s no subscription service out there that can beat it! So, if you’re a teen—or a teen-adjacent adult—check out the Teen Services page of the MPL website and fill out the Shelf Care Box form before Friday, August 15, to have your box ready Monday, September 1.
Unless you’re a cat. If you’re a cat, you probably have enough boxes already.