Library reflections

I sat here this evening in my pajamas and bathrobe and renewed five library books, two of which are books on CD.. I also noticed that I have a 25 cent fine due which I will pay the next time I am actually physically in a library. I love this modern convenience. I like to be able to check out books quickly on their nifty machines, return books at the downtown drive through, reserve books on line and so much more. But I must admit that a part of me misses the little library in the town where I grew up where the only librarian knew me by name and also remembered my father, as a child, "reading every book in the library".I liked to watch her stamp the due date on the card, then slide it back into the little pocket glued into the front of the book, and again and again until all of the books I had selected were mine to take home for a magical two weeks. I generally went to the library while my mother was grocery shopping. She knew I wouldn't get into any trouble there. The closest match I had to that experience as an adult was visiting the bookmobile that came through our neighborhood once a week. I would bundle my two little ones into the big old English baby buggy my sister-in-law had loaned me, add all the library books to be returned and push them the half block to the bookmobile stop. The driver knew me by name I was a regular after all, and the kids and I would spend a blissful half hour exploring the newest offerings. Happy memories, but the most glorious thing about the library, then and now, is that it's all free, free, free (except for an occasional pesky fine). There is just no better entertainment value anywhere than the public library.