Kat with a K: Booking Through Thursday: Library Week

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April 02, 2009

Booking Through Thursday: Library Week

Bookish , Jumping on the bandwagon

Today's question:

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?

Okay, let's take these one by one . . .

1) I use my public library a few times a week. I tend to request lots of things online and then go in every few days to pick up the ones that have come in and return things that are due. I take out way, way too many books. Way. I only end up having time to read a fraction of them. It's a sickness, I tell you. I'm working on it. Seriously. Sort of.

2) I love coffeehouses and bookstores but they have in no way replaced the library. For one thing, you can find books in the library that are a) old and b) free. Both of which are very good things, at least in my book. (Book! Hah! I'm cracking myself up here.)

3) Yes. Often. My dad once told me that the first place they took me (other than, you know, the hospital and then home) was the library. I'm assuming this is because my mom needed things to read, not because they wanted to make me a library addict from day one, but hey, it worked.

4) Particular memories? Uh, yes. Too many to count. I'm having trouble coming up with any interesting enough (but not too personal) to share, though. But hey, I saw Bill Richardson speak in a library.

5) I love pretty much all libraries, but honestly, I do prefer the older ones.

Posted by Kat at April 2, 2009 12:57 PM

Comments

It's true the Silas Bronson Library was your first trip out of the house after coming home from the hospital. (When we got home from the hospital, I said to Mom, "Well I guess we won't be taking her anywhere for two or three weeks," and she replied, "No, we're going to the library today.")

I remember that Mom went in to get books and I held you on a bench in Library Park. A black ant crawled over your head and I heroically brushed it away.

Posted by: Dad at April 2, 2009 04:54 PM

1. i get leisure reading from the public library, and usually have a book or two (or four) out. i actually was just there returning books and pulling two, and then i had a surprise request waiting for me! i had completely forgotten! altho the reason i went *today* was that i needed tax instructions in print.

3. all the freakin' time. we could walk there by ourselves, or ride our bikes, and we did.

4. i remember writing a report (about otters?) in fifth grade or so, and my dad taking me to the public library at night (possibly even after dinner!) and teaching me to use both the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature and microfiche.

Posted by: kate at April 3, 2009 12:13 PM

Thank you kindred spirit for reminding me that i'm not the only one taking out more books than I can read and still keep my sanity. i'm looking forward to completing my masters because soon borrowing privileges at the Uni will dry up and maybe -- just maybe -- I can get it under control.
That said, I'm a patron of my local public library. No seriously, that's what my membership card says. I figure if I added up the cost of all the books I had out at any one point in time, it would far surpass that annual donation amount.
as for the other questions? I think I've written enough for now. I <3 libraries.

Posted by: penny at April 5, 2009 10:25 PM