Tuesday, July 28, 2009

La Bibliothèque

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I admit it. I know I have yet to talk about Paris. It’s coming. I know I’m still telling stories from a vacation we took in April. I’m sorry. Despite these declarations, I’ve decided to comment on a completely unrelated and out of the blue discovery. Well actually, a rediscovery. I have recently rediscovered… the library. Yes, la bibliothèque (an ode back to Paris), the public library, or in my case, the Ramsey County Library.

I don’t know if it’s memory loss (I did frequent the library as a kid), the previous economy of buy, buy, buy (as opposed to rent or check out) or simply a stigma, but I hadn’t been to the library in ages. I do know that if any of these were true, they no longer matter. I (re)love the library.

I can’t come up with one reason someone shouldn’t immediately head to their local library, apply for a library card and then stop by a couple times a week. Books are FREE. Granted I’m paying $0.25 a day to rent, “Always Looking Up” by Michael J. Fox but that’s because it’s a best selling, new release and when compared to the $27.00 price tag a new copy costs, I’m getting a fabulous deal (granted I can get it read in 108 days). I could wait until it is free, however, I just finished his first book, “Lucky Man” (which I bought for $2.00 at Half Price Books annual warehouse sale, before my rekindled relationship with the library) and liked it so much I couldn’t wait.

What’s almost as great as reading books for FREE? Renting DVDs for $0.50. Prior to a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t even know you could rent DVDs from the library. Not just old DVDs either, new releases. Now again, that’s $0.50 per day, however, you could have it an entire week and not reach the total for a Blockbuster rental. If you’re diligent, it’s pretty easy to run to the library after work, grab a movie for the night and return it the next day for little to no gas money. Also, even though it’s a lost format, you can rent VHS movies for free. Did I mention they also have the Internet for free?

Maybe I’m alone. Maybe everyone has always known (or remembered) the greatness of the library or has already rediscovered it in this economy. If that’s the case, I apologize for being so slow. Luckily I have a frugal husband who happens to teach AND go to school and therefore visits the library constantly. With his persistence and encouragement, I’ve seen the light. I’ve drank the Kool-Aid. I’m ready for my library card.

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