Puzzle 3 (APP4)

APP4: Puzzle #3 - The Path to Literacy was a "Medium" level puzzle for Auburn Puzzle Party 4: Auburn Puzzle Patrol. It was one of four puzzles themed for the Librarian villain.



Video transcript
"When word got out that I had dismissed my sidekick, I started advertising for a new assistant. You will find one of my flyers posted on a telephone pole near the city library, where five would-be applicants have already signed up."

"While most of their accreditations seem to fit a particular pattern, one in particular seems to stand out. You should seek out that applicant's favorite book at the City Library; you'll find a Puzzle Patrol Badge."

"Simple, right? However, if you should seek out the wrong book, you will find a fake Puzzle Patrol Badge that subtracts Points. Be careful, now. Hahahaha!"

Meta
Attached to this video was a picture of a young man walking into a library. (Picture currently missing.)

Hints

 * "I believe I've read about a 'Reed-Kellogg' somewhere. Have you tried looking him up on the internet?"
 * “What crude branches those trees have.”
 * "Those leaves look suspiciously like numbers. Perhaps there's a hidden message in this tale?"
 * “Diagram the sentences and match the diagrams with the trees. Something about those words might yield a message.”

Solution
The trees along the road are Reed-Kellogg diagrams of the sentences in the story. The numbers correspond to letters that make up the phrase "Willow Hall Bus Stop."

Unfortunately, there was no bus stop there - organizers had mistaken a bike rack/cover for a bus stop, which understandably caused confusion for some teams.