They’re Out There, Moving Amongst Us

Have you ever considered the humble bookmark?  It’s the object that keeps your place in your book, and there’s even a device called a “bookmark” designed solely for that function.  But I suspect that there exists people who collect bookmarks as a hobby.  A lot of people.  But I can only supply circumstantial evidence that those people are out there, because I tried searching for “bookmarks” on Google and ended up with several dozen pages that dealt with the bookmarks you find in most common computer software.  There are clearly no hobby interest groups or activist sites for dedicated, serious collectors of bookmarks for books.

Bookmarks are common objects, almost a commodity.  If you wanted to, you could gather hundreds of real, honest-to-goodness bookmarks with very little effort.  And that is where my evidence begins.  I know people are gathering bookmarks, because I have to keep printing them to keep up with the demand.

You can find bookmarks at conventions, book signings and author appearances.  You can write to your favourite author, and if you supply a postage-paid return envelope, the author may send you a bookmark if you ask nicely.  Usually the bookmark will feature one of the author’s books, and a blurb on the back.  They’re decorative and interesting at once.

All these types of bookmarks are (nearly) free.  A really dedicated collector might even pay for bookmarks.  Bookstores have racks of bookmarks with pretty tassels, plastic coverings, unusual paper and card, and beautiful graphics.  You can get them shiny or rough, with metal edging, metallic printing.  You can move all the way up to expensive keepsakes; semi-precious metal bookmark clips and slides.  The variety is endless and fascinating.  And they wouldn’t keep making those bookmarks if people weren’t buying them.

The second half of my proof involves non-bookmark bookmarks.

I’ve used all sorts of odd things for book marks, including:  elastics, bits of paper, I’ve even folded down the corner of the page I’m up to <gasp!>.  I sometimes leave the book open, and face down, if I’m certain no weight will bear down on the spine.  I’ve used paper clips when I’m desperate, and I’ll flip the flaps of hardcover covers out and insert them into the page I’m up to.  I’ve used the peel-off tabs you get from the office.  I’ve used a length of string before now.  Electronic books conveniently mark their place for you when you shut them, but for paper versions, I tend to use whatever is to hand that will do the job.  I might have a dozen different books on the go at once, so I usually need lots of bookmarks and I don’t carry them around with me.

All those beautiful made-for-the-job bookmarks, and I’ve never used one.  I’ve only ever used what is to hand.

And that’s the catch, isn’t it?  When was the last time you bought a bookmark for yourself?  And how often do you use a proper, made-for-the-job bookmark?

If you’re like me, and aren’t in the habit of carrying spare bookmarks with you, then there has to be collectors out there.  There has to be.  Because the really depressing alternative is that people are throwing the bookmarks they gather into the rubbish bin.

So I stand by my circumstantial evidence as proof that out there amongst us moves hoards of secret bookmark collectors.  It’s a good thing I’m not paranoid, or I’d be worried….