Heroic pilot is also a responsible library patron

February 17, 9:46 AMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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         AP Photo/Jason DeCrow

By now you have probably heard the story of Capitan Chesley "Sully" Sullenberge, the heroic pilot who safely landed his plane, US Airlines Flight 1549, into the Hudson River on January 15th after a flock of birds flew into both of the plane's engines.  He remained calm during the landing and even walked through the plane twice to make sure all the passengers and crew were safe before he disembarked.  Capitan Sully has been everywhere these days making his rounds on the morning talk show circuit and appearing on the cover of People magazine.  It is amazing that no one was seriously hurt in the accident considering how it had never been done before.  

What is even more amazing is that Sully is also a model library patron.  According to library officials at the California State Library, Fresno, Sully had checked out a book on professional ethics from the library and the book was in the plane's cargo hold when it went into the Hudson.  Chances are the book has made it's home at the bottom of the river.  Sully asked the library for an extension and to waive the overdue fines.  Apparently the librarians were so impressed by his responsibility they decided to waive the fines and dedicate a replacement book to him. 

The title of the book cannot be released due to privacy issues.  I'm kind of impressed the story even made it out considering how libraries cannot release information about items on a patron's record because they must respect their privacy.

I will say that if I was on a plane and my pilot kept us safe and from crashing, I would totally offer to pay his library fines in a heartbeat.  I think the cost of a book is worth my safety, but perhaps that is just me.