Today I walked into our local library and signed up for a library card. The librarian asked me if I had ever had a library card with them. I said when I was about ten. I don’t think she believed me because she looked me up in the system. And, lo! I wasn’t in there. Yeah, I was ten in 1978. No one has that kind of archive.
The local branch isn’t very big but it is pretty and is laid out nicely. When I used the self-check and saw the return dates come up on the screen, I laughed to myself. I had forgotten what it is like to take out books from a regular library. I mean, it’s been awhile on my part (see the above paragraph). I’m used to taking books out of university libraries when you have either staff or graduate student privileges. In other words, you take them out for practically forever.
I’m most excited about the access to the e-library. I didn’t want to look like I was cruising for my fix so I did check out two physical books. I’ll probably do that on occasion in the future, because, as we all know, physical books are pretty awesome. E-books? Stellar. I didn’t think I’d be like that but it’s like sucking down a Slurpee and getting a brain freeze. It hurts so good and I can’t wait for the next brain freeze. I’ve had my iPad since May 11th and I’ve read four books so far. You can see why I needed to go with a free option. I told the better-half last night that I can’t transfer my $60/week lunch budget of my working life to a book-buying habit. The piddling amount of money I’m making now would not sustain this habit.