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> Her library was immense, taking up over 90% of the station. She wasn't a member of the archivaas, but they did help her maintain it. Checking out materials was free, reading lessons were free, and if materials were returned late, rather than a fine, the person simply had a choice of making a donation, be it a book or monetary, to the library, to spend one hour working in the library to help maintain it. The dereggers that sometimes visited hated the fact that not only did a woman own such a vast thing, but that they were not allowed to cause problems without consequences. -- Lessons

_Most_ of the time, libraries are planned. They're designed, their shelves sorted according to the Dewey Decimal System, they're kept clean and welcoming by librarians in cardigans and glasses with little chains on them[1]. As with every rule, there are outliers who count despite what statisticians might think. Librarians who _don't_ have cardigans or glasses with chains. Libraries that just... happen. With books washing up like driftwood on the shores of its shelves.

Such was the case with Caterer Uem. Feeding transitory populations was their job. Reading was their hobby. They tended to gain copies of books not in their library as visitors passed through. Keeping a stock of popular print copies for those who lacked the digital storage space[2]. 

Often on the take-a-book, leave-a-book model of exchange.

Some left more books than they took. And it just grew from there. When the library dominated mnost of the temporary storage bay, an Archivaas arrived. Like most of the cult, ze wore simple brown clothing, and had packed material to protect and preserve the volumes present. There were also instructions for making a better, library class printer.

"Uhm," said Uem. "This station can't afford your wages."

"I'm funded by the organisation," said Archivaas Ile. "We've already filed for the requisite habitat to be added to this facility. We can fully pay for the addition and the work. In the meantime, I can bunk anywhere and tend to the local garden in lieu of payment for the residence. As well as sorting out your facility."

Oem was still trying to catch up. "My... facility."

"Your library," said Ile. "It's a small one, true, but it is very important."

"Why?" said Oem.

"A very good question for anyone to ask," said Ile. "All libraries are important. There's no such thing as redundant information. We thought that, once upon a time, and we're _still_ chasing the fragments that we know are lost."

"I know what the Shattering is," said Oem. "About a quarter of my holdings are cookbooks. _Why_ would you need to preserve that?"

"Why do Humans climb mountains?" said Ile. "Because they are there. This is here, and so am I. Who knows? You might be holding something we didn't know we didn't know."

Ile had a cross-stitch piece for their habitat. It said, "Remember Alexandria!"

Oem was not surprised.

[1] This is not mandatory, but it _does_ happen so often that it seems to be.

[2] Ironically, the one thing that cannot be wasted in space is... space. So digital versions of media are preferred. Unless your vessel's makers have cheaped out on the community media drives.

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