Libraries Rock! Free Books, Movies, and Entertainement For All
Have you been to a library lately?
For those of you who were scared off by the Dewey Decimal System, it’s time for a visit. You might not recognize the place.
The card catalog is long gone, it’s been replaced with banks of computers. The scary looking reference section has been transformed into the video section. The hard wooden tables and chairs have been replaced with soft comfy furniture.
It’s a whole new world.
I have to admit I missed the transformation. It wasn’t until I had kids that I decided to see what the library had to offer me. And boy am I ever glad I did.
It started one Saturday when my wife was shooting a wedding. She had the van, and I was cooped up with two little kids. It was a nice enough day out so we decided to pile into the stroller and go for a walk. Luckily for us our local library is only 2 blocks away (living “downtown” has some advantages).
We headed straight downstairs to the children’s section and I don’t think we’ve ever left.
My kids went right to the puzzles and toys, but I headed right to the movie section. Movies are big in our house (no cable) and I think we were all starting to go insane from watching the same ones over, and over, and over…Now I’d be able to check out 5 videos for 2 weeks. Hallelujah!
We also get 10 books. Which now made reading stories before bed a little less monotonous as well.
Going to the library quickly became our favorite part of Saturday (after cartoons of course). But then it got even better when we found out about…
Story Time!
Every Tuesday night the library hosts story time. This is where they read a couple of stories, then make something in craft time, and watch a short video. Each week has it’s own theme. So now we routinely go to the library twice a week. I don’t know how’d we function without it.
But the library is not all about kids.
At ours they have various book clubs and writing groups that meet monthly. I’ve always been tempted to join these but my plate is pretty full now (going back to school and all), but someday…
A couple of summers ago when my tennis game needed a boost, I made a trip to the library and before I knew it I was reading about doubles strategies and having Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith give me private lessons in my living room.
I’ve gone on long enough now professing my love for libraries. How about you share some of your favorite things about them.
Until next time,
-DD
The Library Isn’t Free When You Pay $17 In Fees
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Some libraries are like this, but some are still living in the old days. We’ve got libraries in my town that do both. Of course right now I prefer the old ones. I don’t use their computers and I don’t have kids. I just need a kiosk that lets me search for the book I want, and thankfully this is available online.
The funny thing is libraries are being asked to remove books printed before 1986 (or may 84) because there are potential unsafe levels of lead in the ink. Who is eating the books?
The library is great. Watch the fines, though.
I wrote about the library elf site that reminds you when items are due to help save you fees.
I love the library – though I currently owe some fines – that was my own fault though. My only complaint about the local library here is that they don’t get new releases and I’ve read almost everything in my genre of choice. I can reread many of these books of course, but I generally have to wait about 6 months before I can get a new release. That’s hard, particularly when I’m waiting for a book in a series. So, I’ve just resolved myself to the fact that there are some books it is better for me to buy as opposed to checking out. Harry Potter and Twilight were among them…yes, I’m a big kid. So what? LOL.
I don’t have kids, so I don’t attend the story time sessions, but I’ve always thought that would be a fun volunteer program. I love to read and to share that with others would be cool. I might look into that, but I’m shocked there are libraries out there that don’t do this. Seems like it should be a given to me.
I haven’t been to a library in ages – this comment makes me want to get back in there and check them out again. Thanks for the reminder!
My library is very small and rarely carries the authors that I like to read. I lived overseas for over 5 years and fell in love with some foreign authors. Now I have to wait additional time until the authors are even available in the states and they never show up in my local library. Every year the local library holds a book sale to raise money for itself, and every time I donate books for the sale, I find them on the shelves for others to borrow instead of in the sale. I guess I am helping in my own way even if I rarely check out any books. Plus the majority of their books are out dated. I tried to find a book about running and the ONLY book they had was from the 60s. Same with books about finance, etc.
I sincerely feel sorry for those of you with lackluster libraries. I’d never have guessed that small town South Dakota would have it so good.