Monday, January 5, 2009

Musing Monday

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about library books…

Do you have a system for borrowing out books from the library? Do you know what you're going to borrow before you get there? How often do you borrow out books?

I love my public library! This love affair has been going on since I was 8 years old. Over the past 40 years, our library has grown and expanded and we are looking for the future remodeling project to start late this spring - it will be doubling in size!

I typically go to the library 2 or 3 times per week. Because I am a book reviewer for the public library, I'm always putting books on reserve or the librarians are calling me with a new book. I always go to the library on Wednesday afternoons; this is the day I take my youngest daughter.

I usually know what I'm going after before I get to the library. Our library system is on-line, so I can check to see what new books are available. The on-line system also allows me to reserve books and to check my reading history. Checking the reading history comes in handy after you've reviewed so many books - sometimes I'll have a "senior moment" and forget what I've read.

I typically have 6 to 8 books out of the library at any one time. Of course, this counts children's picture books and young adult books in addition to the adult fiction and non-fiction. I do reviews weekly, so I try to have a balance of reviews to appeal to a wider range of people. My usual "book nook" column will have 2 children/young adult reviews, one adult fiction and one non-fiction.

Of course, I also love the interlibrary loaning. This makes it possible for me to read books my library doesn't have. Occasionally I will read a book our library doesn't have and if it is a great book, I'll recommend it to the librarians.

All in all, the public library is my favorite place to be. Not only can I check out great books and DVDs, but there is a large research area and a section for newspapers and magazine.

I think everyone from - no matter what the age - should have a library card. Libraries open up opportunities you never thought possible.


(The first picture is the actual logo for the Mercer Public Library in Harrodsburg, Kentucky)

5 comments:

Beth F said...

Wow! Our answers really overlap!

Natalie said...

I too am in love with the library. I do not make enough money to keep myself in books so it is my favorite place to go!

Anonymous said...

I run so hot and cold on using the library. Half the time, the books I want are not there. (I'm impatient; I want it to be there.) The other half, when I go through the library like a shopper with a credit card, I end up toting them back three weeks later rather than the allowed two weeks,and end up with really awful fines.
I know. Pathetic.
So, I haven't been there in a long time.
But you have me re-thinking my approach to borrowing. And if I did run up a wee little fine, it would at least be for a good cause.
Happy New Year, and here's to libraries (something which I totally believe in, by the way. It's just that I can't always read the stuff in a certain timeframe.)

Janet said...

I have a feeling this is where most of my books will come from in future. I've always loved the library!

Jams said...

Oh, my goodness, I used to go to the library so often. I loved it. Then we moved a bit out in the country....not so much, but the library was not the greatest. I missed it.