I recently rediscovered the wonders of the local library.
When I was a kid, my library had a summer reading program. For every book you read, you got a star. An overachiever who loved to read, my nametag was filled with more stars than a box of Lucky Charms.
As I grew up, I lost interest. Libraries became more about homework and less about entertainment – more work, less relaxation.
So, instead, when I needed to get my book fix, I would head to my local McBookstore. While I would wander through the aisles and sip a Chai Tea Latte, J would set up camp on the cushy chairs and flip through countless books and magazines. Invariably I would leave with a book -- or three.
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to read more for enjoyment but, at the same time, spend less money on books. (J and I are house hunting, so every dollar helps.) So, I turned my attention toward the sale racks. Sometimes I would discover some great stuff – The Bread Machine Book, acquired for the low price of $1.75, has become a staple. Other times, I couldn’t find a single thing I wished to read.
So, a few weeks ago, I decided to get a library card.
My town’s library is on a one-way street, right across from the elementary school. Obviously built during the 70s, it is a one room, ranch-style building, devoid of both windows and charm. (Mike Brady may have been the architect.) Despite its less-than-attractive appearance, the library boasts a staff of exceedingly friendly librarians. (Their only fault is referring to themselves as “li-BEAR-ee-ans” and the structure they work in “a li-BEAR-ee.”) Also, considering its size and location, the library boasts a pretty impressive collection.
Yesterday, J and I stopped in and took out an armload of books. He’s reading about con artists and American exploration. I’m reading about Caesar, casseroles, Indian vegetarian cooking and A Girl Named Zippy. I can’t wait to whip up some naan and read about Cicero!
I’ve always had this strange quirk with library books. One of the first things I do after checking out a book is flip to the back cover. I am always curious about when the book was last checked out. I like to see how many people read it before me and speculate about what drew them to the book. I like that library books – in and of themselves – have a rich an interesting history.
I was sad to see that many of the books I’ve checked out, some former best sellers, have only been checked out once or twice. In some cases, I’m the first one to check them out in a decade.
People are really missing out. Makes me sad.
Well, happy reading!
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