Suggested by Barbara:
I saw that National Library week is coming up in April, and that led to some questions. How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? Did you go to the library as a child? Do you have any particular memories of the library? Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?
Last night I dropped by the public library on my way home from work at the university library to pick up a hold (the newly-published Etta for those interested in that kind of thing). I had to manuever past a library aide adding a cartload of books to the hold shelves who was in conversation with a library patron, but no one was in the self-checkout line, and I fingerpoked in my 14-digit library card number (actual library card is rather fragile, so I don't normally carry it) and was back to my car in a couple of minutes.
And that's usually how my trips to the public library go these days. I place holds online, nowhere near as many as I did before I started at the university library a decade ago, go in to retrieve them, and unless one of my former co-workers is at the circ desk (only one is still at this branch by this point) to catch up with, I'm out of there.
The parking lot is always full, though--I often have to park in the overflow lot--and plenty of people spend more time inside than I do. I usually feel a bit silly leaving one library and driving to another--I always tell myself I ought to wait for the university to get the new books I want (usually a lag of a few weeks, but occasionally several months) and use it only for the books too low-brow for it purchase, but I don't always listen.
Booking Through Thursday
I enjoy browsing through the shelves, running my fingers along the spine and wait for the books to call out to me. I found a heap of new titles that way. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is funny that you drive from one library to another to get your holds!
ReplyDeleteI do exactly the same thing. I work at a university library, but put books on hold at the town library and get them on Saturday. Between the 2 libraries I can pretty much get anything.
ReplyDeleteI was such a magnet to libraries when I was young. I still remembered that sensation of getting my library card---that felt so privileged and special!
ReplyDeleteI love reading my own books at the library these days! :) That said, I'm justified to visit my favorite bookstores almost every other day.
Maybe working in a library is what makes you able to resist browsing when you get to the public library. I never can.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do all my browsing in the university library where I work. And I'm pleased as punch that our "browsing collection" is being moved upstairs practically next to the service desk where I work. Squee!
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