Welcome back to another conversation over Anne Bogel's delightful ode to all things bookish, I'd Rather Be Reading!Our last session featured musings that ranged from your love for Anne of Green Gables to Narnia to the Bobbsey Twins ... from the book of John to a wealth of favorite bios and best reads for teens.
Such good stuff, you guys! If you missed this session, it's right here.
Today's theme? Libraries! Since childhood, one of my favorite public places where young and old can quickly feel safe and at home. I can't wait to hear about your own experiences ...
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'You check out more library books than you can carry. You check out more library books than can fit in your tote bag. You forget your tote bag. You visit the library in rain that is coming down so hard your tote bag is powerless against it. You don't live next door to the library anymore, so you don't pick up your reserves every day. You don't pick up your reserves for a week, and your stack is enormous. You pile the stack in your passenger seat, and your car yells at you because it thinks you have an unbuckled passenger.'
- Chapter 10, page 66
'As deadlines go, library due dates aren't particularly frightening, but they still impose a clarifying framework on my stack of books to be read - especially if the book in question is an in-demand title I've waited months for. The library will deliver those requested titles to me, free of charge, but not without a price. Once they arrive, no matter when they come in, I have only three weeks to read them. If I've been waiting months for a popular book, I need to read it immediately or lose my chance.'
- Chapter 12, page 84
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We have two more Friday book club sessions to go, so it's not too late to grab your very own hardcover {$9.13 at time of posting}, the Kindle edition {$2.99 at time of posting} ... or head on over to your local library to scoop up your copy there. {As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.}
Let's chat about your own personal love affair with the library ~
Linda
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I love visits to the library - any library! I travel alot for work, so if I have an extra 15 minutes, I will put "library" into my GPS and end up at local library. Whether it is an inner city library or one out in the country - one thing is the same. The librarian always has a welcoming smile and there is a feeling of "being home". If I'm having a rough day and I am away from home, I will find a comfortable chair in a library and just sit for 10 minutes - there is a sense of comfort amongst the book shelves, even if I'm not looking for a particular book.
ReplyDeleteGosh, Marilyn, I had absolutely no idea that you were a library enthusiast and were checking them out {no pun intended} when you travel! This has gotta be yet another chapter for your book.
DeleteCan you believe we're actually related and I had no idea about such a basic part of your routine? Makes me wonder what else I don't know!!
xo
I don't remember much about going to the library as a kid, but I remember the joy of getting my own library card. I worked in the campus library through college, so it was interesting experiencing it from the inside. My favorite library times were when my sons were small. Our library had a good variety of children's activities and reading challenges. Even if they didn't have anything going on, we faithfully went every few weeks, came home with new treasures, and then glutted ourselves with reading for the afternoon. Bliss!
ReplyDelete'Bliss' is the perfect word, Barbara. Any memory I have of the library as a child or with my own girls could be coined the same way.
DeleteA quiet haven, a refuge from all the rush and tumble of errand day, a treasure trove indeed.
I remember a family story about my brother, also a book lover. One rainy Saturday morning when he was young, he went to the library and took out their maximum number of books (10, I believe). He went home and immediately started reading so he could return them before the library closed so he'd have a new batch to read on Sunday. But when he brought them back that afternoon, the librarian informed him that the rule was 10 per day and it was still Saturday so she couldn't let him take or any more! Was he ever mad!
ReplyDeletePoor little guy ...
DeleteTo penalize him for his enthusiastic planning seems so wrong!
I bet he's making up for it by reading by the bushelfull as an adult!
There was absolutely NO money for books when I was a kid, so the library was my oasis in a desert. I can remember taking stacks of books and plowing through them, particularly during summer vacation.
ReplyDeleteAnd, more recently, my four kids and I used to carry an extra large LL Bean bag to the library every Tuesday. We'd listen to the read aloud, and then cram the bag full. I read myself hoarse almost every day.
Good good memories.
I can just picture you and your gang, Michele, lugging that big ol' LL Bean tote overflowing with books back and forth on Tuesdays.
DeleteThis, the stuff of some of our best mothering, yes?
It was worth it all.
There was a scary place in town,
ReplyDeletethough its call to me was clarion,
that I must soon walk on down
and face Conan the Librarian.
She stood five-one in her flat shoes,
her hair tight in a bun
of various puzzling shades of blue,
with eyes just like a nun.
Not the sister you could like,
but her oppo, rather crueler,
who had the voice of hunting shrike,
and in her hand, a ruler.
No, Conan did not look mild,
but that all changed when she smiled.
Not to blow my own horn, Linda, but if you drop by my blog you can see my very first music video!
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/10/your-dying-spouse-692-my-first-music.html
Well, readers, if you ever wanted to meet Andrew, this is your BIG opportunity to celebrate his musical debut!
Delete;-)
I was blessed as a child (age 10 to begin) to have a library within walking distance of our house. My friend, Anne, and I would often cut through the back yard, through a gate, in the doldrums of a Georgia summer, to trek to the air-conditioned heaven that held treasures immeasurable. Oh, those joyous adventures we found through the words of others! Yes, often my arms would ache with the prizes I lugged home, but it was worth every effort in the long run. I hate to admit it, but we've had a new regional library open recently in Kennesaw, and I've yet to visit. Maybe it's because it's just so much more convenient to use Amazon? Oh, but then the shelf space!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Linda!
Martha, you've painted such a sweet picture of two lovely little Georgia peaches, hand in hand, finding refuge from summer's heat as they passed through the back yard gate to the library's awaiting air conditioned sanctuary.
DeleteYou made me smile with this one, friend ...
Going to a library for me is like being an alcoholic going into a bar. I haven’t taken the time to linger much lately at libraries cause I may never leave...it is a joyful place but can be overwhelming if I don’t have a specific plan.
ReplyDeleteOur library has a new rule. No more fines and if you miss your due date, the book auto renews. As a senior citizen, they used to forgive all fines anyway so I have no boundaries in the library world. Hooray or NOT.
I'm absolutely loving your new library overdue rules! Such sweet grace, such an invitation to keep on coming back no matter what your transgressions.
DeleteKinda like Jesus, yes?
We have lovely librarians here in town ... except for one who never fails to remind me that I owe 40 cents from an overdue book 2 years ago. Maybe I'll surprise her next time and bring in my meager offering.
;-}
Oh, those monogrammed library bags. So special! Anne's section on libraries brings back many memories, and brings on watery eyes as my best friend and I spent hours and hours at the library, including the walk to and from (or on bicycles). She is now passed away. I still come home with way more books than I intended to take out! I'd love to visit libraries across the world. On my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteLibraries across the world. That's a wonderfully creative bucket listing, Lynn. I'd love to follow your travels and hear what and you you meet along the way!
DeleteFascinating ...
And I know you'd bring your camera which would make those visits even more remarkable.
This brings back childhood memories, Linda. We lived on a farm, but when Mom went to town, I got to go to the library. It wasn't big, but I remember the shelves of books and the smell. :) I identify with the quote about requested titles. We don't get them delivered, but we only get three weeks for ones in demand. Sometimes it ends up that two or three are ready at one time, and if I don't get enough time to read them, I have to put one back on the waiting list. Love and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, that scent. The newer libraries don't seem to have it. I wonder if it could be piped in. Or maybe Yankee Candle could do their magic.
DeleteAnd yes, I hear you about them all coming in at once. I try to stay on top of freezing the ones I don't have time for, but every once in awhile there'll be 5 or 6 that somehow appear waiting for pick up ... and then I'm in trouble because we can usually only get them for 2 weeks at a time if they're new.
* sigh *
What's a girl to do?
Oh how I love the library! My son even works there now which I am thrilled about. He can return my books so I don't check out 5 more to add to my unread stack. I'm a big fan of our online library too where I can check out ebooks or even the audio versions. But the online experience never quite compares to walking into that big building filled with paper books. That's the best. Another beautiful conversation you've started here, my friend. Always a pleasure to visit you, Linda!
ReplyDeleteOh I love that your son works at the library! Perfect!
DeleteAnd you're right, I hear about the ease of Kindle and audio books. But nothing can match the feel of the heft of a book in hand, and pages that turn with the flick of the wrist.
Bibliotherapy, for sure ...
Can anyone love libraries more than me? ha. I have been a frequent library patron for as long as I can remember, even back to the days that the only library near us was the bookmobile that would roll into the IGA grocery store parking lot once a week. I would check out every Nancy Drew book they had, again and again. :)
ReplyDeleteOh a bookmobile in the IGA parking lot! Nancy Drew again and again!
DeleteYou've taken me back in time. And left me longing for the simplicity of those days ...
A bookmobile. Love love love that, Lisa.
I adore libraries. My oldest and I love to check them out when we visit places. There's something so comforting about being in a space completely devoted to free books!
ReplyDeleteI never thought of checking out other libraries until the discussion this week, Rebecca. Don't you just love when your kids end up sharing your interests and passions?!
DeleteLinda, I could walk to the library when I was growing up too. We didn't have a television, so books were a primary form of entertainment back then (still are, though we do have a TV)! I've taken my girls to the library all their lives, and now they often go together themselves. Our city just opened up an amazing new state-of-the-art library (with a coffee shop and fireplace) and it makes me very happy! :-)
ReplyDeleteA coffee shop! A fireplace!
DeleteBliss!
Especially on a cold dreary day like today. Wish I could meet you there, friend ...