A place for people to go and just borrow books...

"Reading is such an expensive hobby. There should be a place for people to go where they can just borrow the books instead of buying them." Sister #1
"You mean like a library?" Sister #2

We recently had a friend over to dinner who recounted this conversation with her sister. We laughed really hard, but it reminded me of this moment in my life when I rediscovered the library.

After too much time in a little bitty town going to college surrounded by all the joys and sorrows of Christian culture, I'd forgotten that there were books to be read that didn't come with a syllabus attached or had to be purchased at a store with a fish next to it's name. In a flash of genius one day I wandered into the Ventana Canyon branch of the Tucson Public Library (I was living with my parents at the time) and wandered out with a stack of 12 books in hand. I was so excited that they were all for me to read, absolutely free! I wanted to reach across the circulation desk and give the librarian a kiss. But I refrained, because after all, I did want to be allowed back in to check out more.

When I think about things I'll miss no longer living in America, the library is definitely in my top five. I'll miss it's shelves and shelves of books that I can borrow...for free! I'll miss the new books section and staff recommendations that always hold new finds. I'll miss the religion section that allows me to avoid the fish bookstores. I'll miss wondering through the stacks of books with a Boba in had since the library in Richardson allows drinks with containers. (Note: I'll miss the stacks of books, not the Boba, I'm sure I'll be able to find some of that deliciousness where we're headed.) I'll miss the smell of library books...even though that's really gross because it actually is the smell of lots of people reading.

So over the next four weeks I'm giving myself full permission to head to the library as much as I possibly can. Even though there is much to be done, there's always time to grab a Boba and stop by just to browse through the shelves and see what's new at the library.