The Dorval Library in Quebec is inclusive and welcomes all book lovers. For a few years now, one particular visitor has been stopping by every day, and he’s earned himself a special membership card.
His nickname is Muffin. He’s five, and he loves the library.
Peter and Janet Bjorn live nearby and have a very sociable cat. Sitting in the lobby with his cat, Peter said, “About ten people have come in, so they just go by and say, ‘Hi, Muffin.’ And I ask if they knew him, and they said Muffin is always here.”
He’s a regular: part greeter, part ambassador.
“He knows when to show up. He knows when we close. He knows which doors to go to as well. He’ll try the front door, the sliding doors,” said Dorval Library staff member Dorothy Black.
Muffin’s family even lets the library know when he’s on the prowl. Reference librarian Gail Warren recalls the first phone call, years ago.
“She said, ‘He’s the library cat that comes to visit you.’ So she said, ‘I’m just going to let him out now.’ So she does. And wouldn’t you know it, five minutes later, he was at the front door!” said Warren.
He doesn’t go into the stacks, because Muffin likes the people.
He even tried to stow away in Librarian Kyra Paquet’s car when she parked at the library.
“We love him. The clients love him. He’s like, so wonderful to have at the door when you’re walking into the library, you just see people’s faces like light up,” said Paquet.
Even though he’s a card-carrying member, cats aren’t really supposed to be in the library, clarified document technician Amanda Judd.
“So, we have to escort him out usually by picking him up and bringing him out because he really doesn’t want to leave,” she said.
A location device on Muffin’s collar reveals to his family that he has made appearances at the Sarto-Desnoyers Community Centre next door and even The Royal St-Lawrence Yacht Club — where the fur flew in the dining room.
Peter said Muffin was under a table and brushed up against a client’s leg. “All of a sudden there’s a fur thing under and screams and then everyone, what is it, raccoon or mouse or something,” he said.
Muffin was banned from the Yacht Club. You could say he became gato non grata.
The library, however, is happy to keep the little visitor.
“He’s the cutest little thing. I’m more of a dog person, but for him, I’m a crazy cat lady. I just love him!” said Judd.
So they gave him a lifetime membership — good for all nine lives.
