Magic Library

ALL libraries are magical. Mine is just more magical than most.

First, there is the Shire in the parking lot the moment you pull in. They had an event where kids came and helped create it.

Second, they have children, teen and adult programs for every season. The programs could be anything. For example, every two years in the fall, they do cemetery tours around our town. A local historian guides the tour and the cemeteries date back to the 1700’s. Another example, there was a class on how to make steampunk jewelry.

Third, they have a used book shop within the library. Books range from $0.25 to $1.00. All proceeds go to the library.

Fourth, they have a paperback book swap within the library as well. Take a book, leave a book.

Fifth, every summer they have reading programs that kick off with an ice cream social. When you turn in your first list of 6 books read you receive; a coupon for a free book in the used book shop, a free book from the basket on the information desk and a $5 coupon to a local business. (I always choose the one for the local, independent coffee shop.) When you turn in your second list of 6 books, you’re entered into a raffle for a prize basket that changes every year. Every list of 6 after that, gives you another entry into the raffle. (The raffle is tomorrow so I wait with bated breath.)

Sixth, the second Saturday of every month, they have a “Bagged Book Sale.” For $5 you can fill a bag (any size)  with books, every bag after the first one is free!

Seventh, there are rain gardens outside of the library and nature trails into the woods behind it.

Eighth, Tuesday nights, the Farmer’s Market is in the parking lot. Homemade jams, breads and locally grown veggies and fruits.

There is literally no reason not to like this library. So, when I move out of town next year, this will be the thing that I will miss the most. IF I don’t decide to pay for a membership, which is $135 a year. I will check out my new town’s library but I doubt that it will compare. How could it?

 

Book Wyrm

I have to say that books could very well be the best invention ever. No joke.

Maybe it’s because I’ve always had an overactive imagination. I’ve never read a book that I didn’t finish. Whether I like it or not, I have to know how it ends. It will seriously bug me if I don’t know.

So the second best invention ever would clearly be the library. Now most books I read within a couple days (a couple hours if I’m uninterrupted) so this would make frequently buying books quite the expensive hobby. But some beautiful soul out there decided, “Hey. Let’s get a crap ton of books and let people read them for free.”

My favorite genre would probably be fantasy. This is a pretty wide category but so many things I like fit into it.

The very top of my list; George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. (Also known as the Game of Thrones series.) But no matter how good the HBO show (and that can be debatable in itself this last season) the books are even better. I couldn’t even begin to describe all the reasons that people should read this series. Just go buy the first book, read it and understand every single thing I just said.

Chuck Palahniuk is also a favorite author of mine. (Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Choke, etc.)

In the last few months I’ve been trying out a lot of new authors. Laurell K. Hamilton and Charlaine Harris for example. Both have two or more series going and I can’t decide which series I like best.

I could probably talk books forever. Which would be why I am so damn excited that my local library is having a “Bag Sale”. This is where you bring a book bag and for $5 you can fill it up with all the used books you can fit! Second bag is FREE. You bet your sweet ass I’m bringing a second bag.

What are your favorite books or authors or genres and why?