The Library

I recently saw this quote on Twitter from Neil Gaiman:  "Don't ever apologize to an author for buying something in paperback, or taking it out from a library (that's what they're for. Use your library.) Don't apologize to this author for buying books second hand, or getting them from Bookcrossing or borrowing a friend's copy.  What's important to me is that people read the books and enjoy them, and that, at some point in there, the book was bought by someone.  And that people who like things, tell other people.  The most important thing is that people read..."

Thanks for the reminder.  I love buying new books, especially beautiful hardback books.  I love the hunt for a cheap treasure in the dusty stacks of a used book store.  I love the ease with which I can have an e-book on my kindle with one click, any time, day or night.But I can't afford to buy every single book that looks interesting.  I have to make choices.

When I was little, books were maybe bought at Christmas or Birthdays or Scholastic Fair Day.  The mall with the one bookstore was far away.  There were no used bookstores.  We went to the library all the time.  I remember checking out more books than I could carry and reading (well being read to) them all as soon as we got home.

As a teenager, the mall was closer but books were too expensive for my part time job.  I would still go to the library and check out the limit on each visit.  I also did a brisk business with the used book store buying and trading.

This morning I woke up and it was raining.  A perfect day to cuddle with a kitty, a cup of tea and a book.  I have books waiting patiently on my shelves, in my bed, on the nightstand and the end table, and on my Kindle.  But I wanted something different and a seed of memory had been planted and watered.  So I drove to The Library, renewed my expired card, spent a couple of hours browsing, and checked out an armful of books.