The public library. She and I have had a long and emotional relationship. The first library I remember was in my Catholic elementary school, St. Ann's. For some reason many of the books had been re-covered in plain, red vinyl covers which did not tell you even the name of the book. You had to open the book to the first page to even see what it was. They were not the least conducive to browsing, but I remember picking one out at random, reading it and finding it so unexpectedly entertaining that I had a revelation. I was about six years old and remember going home and telling my mom with absolute solemnity, "I KNOW why they say, 'don't judge a book by its cover.'
My next library was in Maple Grove and it was here that things got messy. I loved the library. There was not another place on Earth that I would have chosen over it. For some reason, my family didn't go there often -- not nearly as often as I wanted -- and so I had absolutely no self-control when I did go. It was not uncommon for me to leave with 25 books (lots of Sweet Valley High and V.C. Andrews.) I usually only read a fraction of them, lost a greater fraction and never, ever returned them on time.
This resulted in a very long stretch of my being deprived of the joy of the library because I had accumulated such excessive fines. I pined for it. I felt sick to my stomach when I thought of it. Years passed.
I heard a rumor when I was about 13 that Amnesty International had paid off everyone's library fines. At first I didn't -- couldn't -- believe it. But the rumor grew in strength and credibility until finally I made the phone call to check. I can't tell you how agonized I was as I dialed the number. If it were true, I could go back to my favorite place on Earth! If it weren't true, not only would I be bitterly disappointed, but I'd have to face the ultimate shame of owning up to my past to the librarian who checked my account. The librarian breezily told me that I had no fine. Amnesty, indeed!
Unfortunately, that was not the end of my irresponsible ways with the library. At 18, I went on a library book binge and then decided to leave the state for the summer. By the time I got home, I had destroyed my good name with the Hennepin County Library yet again and had accumulated a $200+ fine that I STILL OWE TO THIS DAY!
So, not only do I owe the library for all of the joy that I got (inbetween my self-imposed banishments) from visiting them, I literally owe the library. You'd think I'd pay my debt, wouldn't you? But, as is typical of her gentle nature, the library is very patient. She doesn't send bills or accumulate interest. So it is much easier to ignore her, especially now that I don't live in Minnesota.
The point, that I've taken a long time to reach, is that I would like to publicly promise that after I've finished my project, I will pay my fine at the Maple Grove, Minnesota library!
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So what's the book you're reading now? You're clearly a much, much faster reader than I, so I need a little head start.
ReplyDeleteYou know, that when you indulge in something that I am usually all about diving in with you. It's fun to obsess about things that give you a good ride along the way. Like the Oscars... sometimes you have to invest in and endure unpleasant, sometimes boring hours of your life, but overall I think this endeavor is something worth getting involved in.
I remeber the Amnesty Internation time. I think I might have actually been the one who told you cause I vaguely remember your disbelieving response. I think I might have been at the library and was told that and relayed it to you? You know my memory, sharp as a butchers knife!
The most I've ever owed the Library is about $20 or so. Not so much to owe... at the time Amnesty came through I might have owed more... who knows. When I tell the story to people they sometimes don't believe me, and if they do they think it's weird since it's known to support so many more worthy causes than irrisponsible citizens of stable and thriving communities such as Maple Grove.
But, whether it's a thriving or poverty stricken community, I am a firm believer that the library is one of the best ideas any one ever came up with in all of human history. Free knowlege with a restriction of resposibility.
Thankfully the libraries around my place don't ever charge you more than the book is worth. I hope it's that way everywhere now-a-days.
I was just at Half Price Books today and I bought a few books in the list actually. Little Women, Sophie's Choice and Huckleberry Finn. All for $13. And prior to that we were at Unique and I founr Cold Mountain for .80 Cents, and a book on Melaleuca for .80 cents as well.
And one more comment on what you had said in another topic about the red covers. At Half Price books, sometimes they have about 3-4 different versions of the same book. And it was funny cause I was so drawn to the antique versions, they looked like they'd be more fun to read. But I made a point to open every one of them and see how the print was laid out and with every one, except for Huckleberry Finn, I ended up choosing the cheapest version, based on the print and how I would be reading it. Huckleberry Finn section had this $30 version that had a case and everything like the Hobbit that my mom gave to me with a sleve. I don't even know if I like Huckleberry Finn so I got the $2.95 version. Of all the books I got, the covers are the ugliest of the choices, but the print is far more easy on the eyes, and that's what really matters.
Funny how it's so much cheaper if you aren't superficial about it.
What happened to your blog?
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