I haven’t had a library card for a little while and when I mentioned this to Jim he was kind of astonished. I countered that I had a library in my house and he said that only emphasized it.
This conversation came about because I decided to get a card at the local library – which in turn came about from killing time at a library recently and reading a book that I might have liked to take with me and continue.
I think that was a run-on sentence, but you get the idea – I hope.
So, after work and a haircut, I headed to the local library to get a card and some books.
I went up to the front desk and got started with the process. There was a little form to fill out while they entered my information from my driver’s license. The form said (over) at the bottom and I turned it over and read it and signed. I always look for “your immortal soul” – just in case.
I turned the form to the front and passed it back. The clerk looked it over – then flipped it over and raised an eyebrow.
“You signed the back. No one ever knows to do that,”
I shrugged and made some comment about reading directions. This is also why I never have problems at the BMV.
I have my shit together.
Anyway, they gave me the provisional card good for 2 weeks and only letting me check out 5 items at a time. If everything is good at the end of the two weeks, then I can upgrade to a regular card. I guess I looked shifty.
Card in hand, I got directions to Fiction and headed over.
And while I perused the books, I realized how – in some ways – I’m really old fashioned.
For me, a library (or even a bookstore), should be a place of quiet respect. In those pages on the shelves are countless stories and worlds without end. Adventures and epic sagas. The ancient past and the far distant future.
How could anyone be in a place with all that wonder – and be noisy?
And it was noisy. Loud conversations, music, and kids running around through the whole building. You expect that in the kids section – even appreciate that – but in Fiction?
I got my books and returned to the front desk to check out. Then home for some dinner and reading. I’ll be back – likely many times – but it doesn’t quite feel like a library to me.
Maybe I am old fashioned. Or maybe a book snob. But those books – all those wonderful books… Well, I’m quieted by them, even if that’s just me.