Summer, sitting outside, and reading all go together in my
mind. Well, so do cold days, snuggling inside with a blanket and reading. So there's always an excuse to go to the
library. Obviously, the free books is
the primary one, but there are others. Here’s 6.
Late fees make you
feel like you are contributing to society. The books are really only free
if you don’t lose them and turn them in on time. Otherwise, you will owe your
library some money. But unlike a parking meter ticket – which feels like such
as waste, because, really, did that extra five minutes actually cost the
city $40? – you can talk yourself into feeling good about your library fine. It
goes to the library, a public good, one that you like.
There’s more than
books to borrow from the library.
Libraries now have audiobooks (our must-have for roadtrips and other
continuous hours in the car), CDs, and DVDs. On the bookshelves, there’s books
in different languages, whether you are bilingual or wanting to learn a new
language. Many libraries also have
computers for public use for internet access, as well as getting documents
done. And I noticed at our new library, you can borrow iPads while you are
visiting.
They are everywhere
(and there’s WiFi.) At least at our
libraries there is. As a mom and busy lady that’s always going from here to
there, I’m often looking for a place to hang out when I'm away from home, that’s not necessarily a
Starbucks because even I can only drink so much coffee. There’s always a
library somewhere nearby, along my route of errands. I can find a spot at the library, do
something quiet – work on my laptop, read, wander around looking for my next
book.
You can check out
books without even going to the library. Need the next book for bookclub? On vacation and run out of reading? Open up your
e-reader and borrow an e-book from your local library. What a life-saver this
was for me. My oldest daughter is a voracious reader. Of course, I’m very
excited about this, but it required me taking her to the library all the time
for her next pile of books.
The library takes your
old books. How about that? Not only can you borrow books for free, you can
take your old books and leave them there. The library will then sell them in
their used book sale to bring in more money for the library. Again- like the
late fees, you can feel good about your contribution to society.
There’s free stuff to
entertain your kids. What tired mom doesn’t love having an activity for
your kid where you don’t have to do anything? The library offers kiddie movies,
music concerts, puppet shows, scientists doing ahh-inspiring experiments, and
read-aloud mornings. Just get there, find a spot on the floor, and let someone
else talk to your kid for an hour. Ahhh!
You will be re-energized, which is a good thing because she’s going to
have you reading those library books about 50 times, over and over, before you
bring them back.
With my love of books, in recent years, I’ve crossed my
fingers and wished – all the library needs is a coffee shop. And I hear that
the new library will have a coffee counter. I can’t wait to get there to buy a
cup of coffee and check out a book.
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