You've probably seen the photo floating around all over Facebook, Reddit, Imgur, you name it. It went full-blown viral on levels we don't always see anymore.
Max, a local cat, has been banned from the library. The sign begs library visitors to NOT let Max inside the library. It says Max wants in, but the library and Max's owner are in agreement that Max should not be allowed into the library. It appears to be quite the conundrum that apparently has begged an eruption of questions from the Internet.
Cats love to be in all sorts of spaces. So why isn't Max allowed into the library? What heinous behavior could have barred the sweet cat from prowling the books and lounging in the rays of sunshine? We need to know.
We need to know!
Mischievous Max sparks an Internet uproar!
As it turns out there is a WILD story behind Max and we are just chomping up the details.
Isn't her adorable? We think so.
He roams free and wild enjoying the spoils of the neighborhood. He's a bit of a rebel though, not tamed solely by the ability to roll in the grass and bath in direct sunlight. Max seeks the comfort of the local library.
He has wandered in multiple times and even been CAUGHT on camera and was subsequently publicly banned!
Now, he has found fame like many rebels before him.
Like many other instances of Internet fame, a single tweet began the rolling ball that gained momentum as the photo spread far and wide.
This is basically halfway to being a children's book pic.twitter.com/DjwUPHy9Wz
— Erin McGuire (@e_mcguire_) November 29, 2017
By beginning Max's story with an eloquent poem on Twitter.
“Please do not let in the cat,”
— Finn, a Human (@relsqui) November 29, 2017
the sign said. By the door he sat.
His name was Max, I read and learned.
“He’s nice,” but this cat hadn’t earned
the right to come inside and read.
Why could it be? What did he need?
Every time Max went inside,
— Finn, a Human (@relsqui) November 29, 2017
librarians from far and wide
would chase him out and whisper “Shoo!”
His owner had forbade him too.
Poor cat. No human thought that he
belonged inside the library.
It seemed unjust to me that Max
— Finn, a Human (@relsqui) November 29, 2017
was not allowed to browse the stacks!
So I set out to make it right,
with pen and paper, desk and light.
I filed the forms. It wasn’t hard.
And now Max has a library card.
The Internet began to demand answers.
I need to know more to this story. What shenanigans does Max get up to?
— Jen DW (@jendaviswilson) November 29, 2017
First of all, because cats. Second of all, Max the cat.
Photo of Max please. How to distinguish him from the other #librarycats ? @jessamyn
— E. T. R. Soles (@EaterofSoles) November 29, 2017
In the name of Max!
I feel like a journalist needs to contact Max for his side of the story.
— Mo Ryan (@moryan) November 30, 2017
Macalester College Library employees tried desperately to satiate the cries from the public and to respond as eloquently as possible.
I work at this library and this is Max, via his owner’s IG pic.twitter.com/6WP6z6ZkmT
— Alexis Logsdon (@librarianrover) November 29, 2017
Well, mostly he just blocks the door to the library and tries to run in as soon as someone opens the door. The legend of Max might end up being a LOT more fun than the real Max. ;)
— Alexis Logsdon (@librarianrover) November 29, 2017
Does Max have a library card?!
It would be a violation of patron privacy for me to tell you that. 🤓
— Alexis Logsdon (@librarianrover) November 29, 2017
As to be expected from Internet levels of enthusiasm, Max's fan base got to work trying to figure out how to help Max get inside the library.
Which, by the way, cutest thing ever.
How could they say no to this!?
Like bribing.
Oh ethics!! Can you be bribed?
— booh - The Walk Home (@mikes_booh) November 30, 2017
Petitions.
Let’s start an online petition to get Max into the library #MaxInTheLibrary 😂
— Zoë the Jinja Ninja (@ZoeJinjaNinja) November 30, 2017
An entire Max section.
Would it be THAT hard to just build a Max Section?
— Erin McGuire (@e_mcguire_) November 29, 2017
And others yet decided they would be the rebels Max inspired them to be.
A solid plan, technically.
The only I know for sure is that I'm letting Max in the library.
— Adam Mills (@ad_the_bad52) November 30, 2017
all this does is make me want to let Max in the library even harder
— jimmgle bells pegan (@jpegan) November 29, 2017
Roberto has a point.
If I find this library, I'm letting Max in... try and stop me.
— Roberto Vargas (@ReBoRN_616) November 30, 2017
The days are long without the library aren't they?
If you ask me one of the best parts is how many public figures began to get invovled.
He's got the support of the government.
I’ve read the sign, but I am still pro- letting #MaxTheCat in the #library. He’s like a real life #LibraryLion. #RIReads #LetMaxInhttps://t.co/fJdSS1iM9I
— Senator Jack Reed (@SenJackReed) November 30, 2017
We love this.
I need to let max in now. I’m gonna get him a litter box and food ... and toys and set him up in the Cat section. . . I need to know max will get in this library. I need closure. https://t.co/p302Eix35h
— 🎉🦄Gypsy Beech🦄🎉 (@DGB_JAIID) November 29, 2017
And we were left wondering what is next for dear old Max?
And there's a lot of talented artists in his fan base...
So his owner is leash training him so they can go on adventures together!
Max is one loved cat, worldwide!
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