Dewey Readmore Books
Encyclopedia
Dewey Readmore Books was the resident cat at the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa
, garnering worldwide publicity. The cat's story was the subject of a book, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, published in 2008 and written by Spencer librarian Vicki Myron.
A naming contest, "Name the Kitty", was held to choose his name. Dewey was the most popular choice, named after Melvil Dewey
and his library coding system. The staff chose his middle and last name, Readmore Books. He usually went by Dewey, or sometimes, "Dew."
Dewey's breed is unknown. At first, Myron had thought he was part Persian. People came to believe that he might have been a Maine Coon cat or a Norwegian Forest Cat
. Some others have argued he was a Tabby Cat
, or a common mixed breed.
During hard economic times in Iowa, Dewey comforted those in distress and cheered up both patrons and staff, both children and adults. Soon his lovable personality began to attract visitors and fan mail from all over the U. S. and the world. Dewey stories appeared in the local newspaper and subsequently in a variety of magazines such as Cat Fancy, and Country. He later appeared on Sioux City
television and then across Iowa on public television in a documentary film. Word of Dewey continued to spread and eventually he was included in a television program in Japan
. He was also featured in a few books and postcards.
Dewey lived to be 19. During his last year he suffered from digestive complications
and hyperthyroid disease. He was euthanized after the veterinarian found a tumor in his stomach and discovered that Dewey was in constant pain. Obituaries appeared in newspapers across the US as well as on several television newscasts. Dewey was cremated (a local crematorium donated the services) and his ashes buried on the library grounds with a memorial stone donated by a local funeral home.
Visitors from across the US and around the world continue to come to the Spencer library.
Dewey was very finicky with his food. He only ate Fancy Feast, and he hated cat food with any sort of seafood in it. The staff tried beef, pork, chicken, liver, but none worked for too long. They kept an entire shelf of cat food just for Dewey.
Spencer, Iowa
Spencer is a city in the state of Iowa , and the county seat of Clay County . It is located at the confluence of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers. The population was 11,233 in the 2010 census, a decline from 11,317 in the 2000 census. Spencer is famous as the home of the Clay County Fair,...
, garnering worldwide publicity. The cat's story was the subject of a book, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, published in 2008 and written by Spencer librarian Vicki Myron.
Biography
In January 1987, on a freezing winter evening, someone left an eight-week old male kitten in the outside book drop at the Spencer Public Library. The library staff discovered the kitten the next morning. The kitten was badly frostbitten and so filthy that everyone thought he was gray instead of his natural copper and white. Although the entire staff cared for him, library director Vicki Myron took primary responsibility. Although some libraries have had a tradition of resident cats, this was the first such cat in Spencer, so approval was required from both the board of trustees of the library and the Spencer City Council. Once they approved, the kitten was vaccinated and neutered. Thereafter, Myron and the library staff cared for Dewey and accepted donations for his food and care. No public funds were used for his care.A naming contest, "Name the Kitty", was held to choose his name. Dewey was the most popular choice, named after Melvil Dewey
Melvil Dewey
Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey was an American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, and a founder of the Lake Placid Club....
and his library coding system. The staff chose his middle and last name, Readmore Books. He usually went by Dewey, or sometimes, "Dew."
Dewey's breed is unknown. At first, Myron had thought he was part Persian. People came to believe that he might have been a Maine Coon cat or a Norwegian Forest Cat
Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of domestic cat native to Northern Europe, and adapted to a very cold climate, with top coat of glossy, long, water-shedding hairs, and a woolly undercoat for insulation...
. Some others have argued he was a Tabby Cat
Tabby cat
A tabby is any cat that has a distinctive coat that features stripes, dots, lines or swirling patterns, usually together with an "M" mark on its forehead. Tabbies are sometimes erroneously assumed to be a cat breed. In fact, the tabby pattern is found in many breeds of cat, as well as among the...
, or a common mixed breed.
During hard economic times in Iowa, Dewey comforted those in distress and cheered up both patrons and staff, both children and adults. Soon his lovable personality began to attract visitors and fan mail from all over the U. S. and the world. Dewey stories appeared in the local newspaper and subsequently in a variety of magazines such as Cat Fancy, and Country. He later appeared on Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
television and then across Iowa on public television in a documentary film. Word of Dewey continued to spread and eventually he was included in a television program in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was also featured in a few books and postcards.
Dewey lived to be 19. During his last year he suffered from digestive complications
Megacolon
Megacolon is an abnormal dilation of the colon . The dilatation is often accompanied by a paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel...
and hyperthyroid disease. He was euthanized after the veterinarian found a tumor in his stomach and discovered that Dewey was in constant pain. Obituaries appeared in newspapers across the US as well as on several television newscasts. Dewey was cremated (a local crematorium donated the services) and his ashes buried on the library grounds with a memorial stone donated by a local funeral home.
Visitors from across the US and around the world continue to come to the Spencer library.
Personality
Some of Dewey's favorite things were catnip (he was crazy around fresh catnip), rubber bands, Christmas trees, full-fat yogurt, his red yarn, and boxes. As a kitten, he adored the library secretary Kim's typewriter. He also adored Vicki Myron's daughter, Jodi Marie.Dewey was very finicky with his food. He only ate Fancy Feast, and he hated cat food with any sort of seafood in it. The staff tried beef, pork, chicken, liver, but none worked for too long. They kept an entire shelf of cat food just for Dewey.
Legacy
Vicki Myron, who had been director of the Spencer Public Library for 25 years, retired from her position after Dewey's death. Myron wrote a book, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, that was published in September 2008. By late 2008 it was on the New York Times bestseller list http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2008-11-16/overview.html http://www.hawes.com/no1_nf_d.htm (November 16,2008). Her second book for adults, Dewey's Nine Lives, was released in October 2010. Myron has also written three books about Dewey for children.External links
- Spencer Public Library Dewey Biography
- Dewey pictures
- Iowa Public Television video on two Iowa cats
- Dewey site related to Myron book
- Dewey the library cat is back on the shelves - USA Today
- Purr 'n' Fur: Dewey Readmore Books, of Spencer Library, Iowa
- Variety story on proposed film Library Cat with Meryl Streep
- AmericanProfile article on Dewey and library cats
- Library Cat's Map an interactive world map of library cats
- Best Sellers - November 16, 2008 - New York Times