Hi. My name is Lark and I'm a library book-a-holic.
I didn't use to be one. Before the pandemic I went to the library on a regular basis, but I never felt a need to check out extra books "just in case". And I'd wait until my books were due (and all read) before going back to check out more. But then the pandemic hit last March, and my library closed unexpectedly, and I suddenly couldn't get any library books at all. For 75 days. It was terrible.
I think it did something to my psyche. Because now, even though my library has reopened, and library books are readily available once more, I find myself checking out more books than I can possibly read. Take last week: I already had five unread library books at home, but I still stopped at the library on my way back from work to pick up a few more. And that's not all. I've got several more books on hold that will probably come in sometime next week. How will I ever read them all? I don't know. But I think a part of me wants to be sure I'll have enough books to read over Christmas break. Which is still weeks away, I know, but still...
They say admitting you have a problem is the first step, but I don't think I'll stop checking out too many library books any time soon. It's a harmless addiction. And I've never even come close to maxing out the 50 item limit on my library card. So that's good. Besides, it makes me happy knowing I have lots of books on hand to read "just in case". Maybe when the pandemic finally ends I'll try to cut back on my library usage, but until then....
Happy Reading!
I do NOT want to be caught without books. "Just in case" books are good for your mental health. I get nervous when my book queue on my Kindle gets low.
ReplyDeleteRight?! I'm already anxious enough these days, I don't need to feel anxious about running out of things to read! So I keep checking out books. :D
DeleteHas your library changed their loan system to accommodate readers in the pandemic? Ours does automatic renewals now (three times in a row, unless your book is on hold by someone else) and while having something overdue can freeze up your account, they don't do fines anymore. I find this all makes it much easier to have more books at home than I can ever get through!
ReplyDeleteMy library just started doing automatic renewals. And they're not charging fines this year unless you lose a book. Which I like. Though really, I never have overdue fines; I'm too OCD about getting my books back on time. :D
DeleteBetter library books than store-bought! At least some day you can think about returning them...
ReplyDeleteThat's true! I hadn't thought of that. And I'm not spending any money either. So that's two good things! :D
DeleteI'm so glad libraries are back open, but it's always good to have "just in case" books. You never know what's gonna happen, especially this year.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth? I never expected my library to close last spring so suddenly, but it did. I don't think that will happen again, but you never know. :D
DeleteSame here, Lark, but I had the problem way before the pandemic - although the pandemic probably made it worse.
ReplyDeleteOur library is still closed except for curbside pick-ups, and I really miss being able to browse the shelves of my favorite library sections. It's harder to stumble on books that I didn't already know about via the library internet site, so my actual reading is more predictable this year than in prior years.
Just went by there this morning, in fact, to return four and pick up one new one. And one of the four didn't get read before all my renewal-time ran out, meaning that I had the book in the house for six weeks and didn't read it. It was a HUGE book on Texas history that I did browse the pages of several times, but I never got serious about reading the whole thing...and I still enjoyed having it around and seeing it on my desk. Addicts are funny that way. LOL
:D We do love having our books around, even if we're not reading them! I feel like I've forgotten how to really browse the shelves at my library. I wander for a bit and pick up a few books, but after awhile I start feeling like I need to leave. Plus, they limit everyone to just 30 min. these days. So mostly I put on holds. Too many! But I don't know what I'd do without my library.
DeleteIt's a *very* harmless addiction. I had it just the same before the pandemic, always had way too many library books on the pile and reserved. Since March that's been pretty much impossible though so most of the books I've read this year have been my own. You just wait until the end of the pandemic though... I'll be back to my old ways. LOL
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one addicted to library books. I'm sorry your library is still closed. I don't know what I'd do without mine. I do have many unread books on my bookshelves, too, but not always ones I'm in the mood to read. :)
DeleteIt's so nice that your library has reopened. I miss going to the library on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI'm very grateful that my library is opened again. I did not like it when it was closed earlier this year!
Delete"just in case" sounds good to me lol. After all, you never know. Best to be safe :)
ReplyDeleteAlways better to be safe than sorry. Especially when it comes to books...or toilet paper. ;D
DeleteHi Lark, One of my big regrets is that I haven't used the library as much as I should have and now I think our library is still closed due to the pandemic. Mainly I get free or low priced books on Kindle but still it adds up and so I think being a ibrary addict is a great thing and it can save alot of money
ReplyDeleteNot having your library open is the worst! I love that I can check out books for free, because I certainly can't afford to buy all the books I want to read! :)
DeleteTotally relatable, Lark! I wouldn't know what my life would be without books. I'd rather stock them up than having nothing to read! ;)
ReplyDeleteMe, too! Books are what get me through the bad days. :)
DeleteThe need for books is real, I know if have a lot of books to read but the urge for more is crazy. I was easier for me to stop smoking!
ReplyDeleteLol. I don't think I could ever give up books. :)
DeleteI think this pandemic has brought out the hoarders in all of us. We weren't used to experiencing shortages and shutdowns and now we're all afraid it's going to happen again. Makes sense that you would want to hoard library books. I'm just as bad - I currently have 44 books out of the library! Yikes.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so glad I'm not alone in my book hoarding. :D
DeleteThis is a harmless addiction as you mentioned and one I can understand completely. Plus, if you have extra books you don't have to worry that if you're not in the mood for one you don't have another that might suit your mood better. And who knows, you might get snowed in or something that'd prevent you from refilling your reading pile. Must be prepared for anything, lol! :)
ReplyDeleteI might get snowed in! You're right. ;D You're also right about it being nice to have different books available for different reading moods. Especially this year!
DeleteYou can never be too prepared! :)
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly! :)
DeleteI used to "over borrow" books from the library too. I have calmed down though. I now pretty much use the library to read books that no longer can be purchased because they are out of print.
ReplyDeleteI wish my library did a better job of keeping out of print books on their shelves, but sadly they don't. They're always weeding their collections. And before the pandemic that meant some really good library book sales, but who knows what they're doing with their discarded books now.
DeleteI am good at over borrowing books myself. I hate when I don't get around to reading them, but oh well.
ReplyDeleteAt least you don't get penalized for returning unread library books to the library! ;D
DeleteMy name is Chuckles and I'm a Bookaholic...well, I am when it comes to buying them and hoarding them! Need to do a bit more on the reading side of things!
ReplyDeleteWhen you get your room all put back together then hopefully you'll have some more time for reading. :)
DeleteImagine a circle of people on folding chairs in a church basement with Styrofoam cups of coffee. We all say "Welcome Lark". :D
ReplyDeleteI have to say, that for me, I've only been checking out ebooks and audio books from the library since March. Even though I can now access some of my libraries for hard covers and of course, the whole time on-line ordering for purchase was possible, I have been concentrating on reading from my shelves. I've been doing really well to and read about 90 owned books-many of which are going on the donate pile now they've been read.
So if you need a sponsor for BA (Bookaholics Anonymous), maybe I can help? Hee hee.
Reading 90 of your own books this year is awesome! When my library was closed I read about 20 of my own books. And I got rid of about 5 more that I decided I was never going to read. I didn't free up nearly as much bookshelf space as you, but every little bit helps. And I would take you as by BA sponsor any day! :D
DeleteI never did much borrowing unless it was for my kids but this year...and our libraries extended the due dates for a few months which was great!, I actually finished a few before they had to be sent back. I do find, though, that I tend to read a library book faster & don’t remember as much.
ReplyDeleteI wish my library would extend the due dates. They are automatically renewing books now, so maybe it adds up to the same thing. :)
DeleteI know the feeling. We can renew up to twice for a total of 9 weeks (as long as there are no other holds) so I use that to justify my extreme use. I also have 3 library systems within 5 miles. I use the one in Ohio for overdrive because it has a better selection, and then the two in my county for holds and check outs. Plus all three allow me access to Hoopla. What an addiction!
ReplyDeleteBut it's such a good one!!! ;D
DeleteYou ARE supporting your library, which can never be a bad thing! Our libraries just closed again with the latest lockdown. Online use is still an option, fortunately.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your library closed down again! Are they not even offering curbside pick ups?
DeleteNo, they stopped curbside pick up too.
DeleteThat sucks! I'm so sorry. I hated when they closed my library back in March.
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