A little research

You find Alice Wilder the librarian sitting at a desk nibbling at some toast, a cup of tea beside her. She looks up slightly flustered as you smile at her.

"Hello...Good Morning...Mr. Carter, how may I help you?" Her voice is shy and diffident and her face looks uncertain of herself.

"Good Morning Alice, nice to see you again," you answer, noting that she makes a little grimace with her mouth that might be a smile or might be a mark of embarrassment. Though what she might need to be embarrassed about you have no idea. "I'm wondering if there are any books or records about the school itself. It's history and so forth."

"Oh I suppose...of course there are...although not much I think," she stammers, tapping the keyboard in front of her. "There isn't much demand for that, but I think there are some older books." She peruses the computer screen for a while and jots down three titles and catalogue numbers. "You'll find them on the second floor. Do you need help?"

"I'll be fine," you answer. "Finish your breakfast. Thank you Alice."

"You're welcome Mr. Carter," she murmurs shyly, picking up her teacup. As you walk away you shake your head slightly, bemused at the contrast between the dowdy librarian and the vivacious and bubbly cheerleader coach. You find it hard to believe they're the same person and wonder why the dramatic change of personality that seems to come with a change of wardrobe.

Putting the minor puzzle out of your mind you climb a spiral staircase to the second floor. It takes only a few minutes to find the relevant section, but only two of the three volumes on your list are present. Shrugging, you take them off the shelf, glancing through them.

The first is a history of Pink Rose written in 1937, apparently by an alumni. Scanning a few pages you find that it's as much a personal memoir as it is a history, although the first chapter contains some notes on the foundation of the school.

The second is published in 1949, also by an alumni and consists of short biographies of notable graduates of the school. Like the first book it contains a short history of school's foundation, but for obvious reasons, nothing of more recent date.

Looking at your list, you search for the missing volume, assuming that it might have been shelved incorrectly. Its title is 'Facing a Brave New World: Pink Rose Academy' with a publication date of 1962. Ten minutes of searching convinces you that it's not in the section, and picking up the other two books you head back downstairs.

Alice Wilder looks up with an uncertain smile as you approach. "Did you find what you were looking for Mr. Carter?"

"I found these two, but this other book wasn't there. Perhaps it's been misfiled, or someone has checked it out?"

"There was no record of it being checked out when I looked it up," the young librarian says with a worried grimace. "I suppose it could be misfiled. That happens sometimes. The students are very careless. I'll try to look for it later. Are you checking these out?"

"Yes, they're not really what I was looking for, but I might as well start somewhere. I've become very interested, being around all this old architecture."

She nods as she checks the books out and passes them back to you. "Yes, it's a very intriguing place," she answers diffidently, picking up her teacup and lowering her eyes shyly.