the libraries are against me

It took me a full 9 weeks as a stay home bed rest mom to become reacquainted with book reading. I am now addicted. This poses a problem because in less than 2 months I will begin another long term reading fast. I must make these next weeks count!

While I used to love browsing Borders for hours at a time, assessing various excerpts from the pages of promising novels to make sure the authors write well enough to support my habit, I realize this is highly impractical. David is sure book store days are numbered.

So, the library it is... (I have to add here that I am not a library fan. In fact, I passionately despise libraries. I avoided them like the plague in college. Too quiet, too hyper organized, too complicated, too musty. Somehow that doesn't adequately cover how I feel about them, but words do not suffice.)

Its been so long since I've entered a library that I've recently conjured up allusions of bringing Miles to library events - book reading circles or whatever moms are supposed to do with their kids. But no more.

Today in eager desperation I announced that I wanted to browse library books - I NEED something good to read - NOW. (David quickly weighed his options: 1) allow me a few minutes at the library to find a book and gain game playing time later while I peacefully read at his side or 2) follow his instincts and avoid the library. He opted for braving the library against his better judgement.) In the time it took David to park and unlatch Miles, I had obtained this information: 1) the library is where all the people go on Saturday afternoons at 1 PM. 2) The kids section is void of any actual children and 3) there is no "Christian fiction" section. ("But," said the librarian innocently, "I can show you how to look up a book if you know the author." I'd rather eat a dill pickle.) Result: I was in the library approximately 4 minutes, David and Miles: 40 seconds.

I went home trying to get this library encounter out of my head, but another idea took root: the reservation of books online for pick up at the library. I like online. I could do that. It would still require entering the dreadful place, but might actually worth it and I could probably even get David to do it for me. Upon logging on, I developed an instant dislike for their website that matched that of the library itself - extremely complicated and uninteresting. And as far as I can tell, you can't search by genre - only "librarian picks" and "current world interests" like the swine flu etc. So how, pray tell, am I supposed to "browse" for a book in my area of interest?

Low and behold I still have my King County Library card - with my maiden name. Hm. Will they be able to tell I live out of county? I think I can get that past them. Okay, forget Snohomish County.

Though I found their site similarly complicated, at least KCLS is searchable by genre, as all libraries should be. 3,948 titles fall under Christian Fiction and are sorted by release date. What I find is a gold mine of 2009 Christian Fiction releases - just like browsing at Borders! Unfortunately I am unable read excerpts to see if authors will be holding my interest (understandable) and in many cases there are not even plot descriptions (what on earth?) No matter. I can reserve as many books as I'd like and simply reject them upon receiving them if they lack appeal.

I am giddy about this. I browse 6 (of 248) pages of books finding title after title that I'd give a chance. But I am generous - don't want to horde all the books - so I pick four to start. When I view my "book bag" and try to place holds on these items in Bellevue for David's convenience, there is a pop up: "trouble with your account - see a librarian." Uh...no thanks. I do some further investigation to discover the trouble: a late fee from September 15, 2005. Guess how much - TEN CENTS. Are you kidding me? Anyone thinking Seinfeld right now? So I can't reserve the books unless I opt to pay my late fee online with a credit card. But see, they're on to me. I don't live in King County anymore and to pay with a credit card using my billing address - I think its a conspiracy. So, back to square one.

I ingeniously developed a system of browsing books on the King Country Library System site and then individually searching for those specific titles of choice on the Snohomish County Library System site. (The librarian who suggested such a search would be beaming with pride.)