My Love of the Library

I have always loved the library. I mean, what a genius idea the library is… A great big building dedicated to reading? Where people come together to enjoy books, appreciate quiet, and steal some slow and peaceful moments away from the hustling, bustling world? It should come as no surprise that a girl like me loves the library so much. That’s the perfect place for an introvert with nerdy tendencies and a passion for literature.

Come on.

But there is another weird reason why the library has become my go-to spot when the kids need to get out of the house (seriously, I’m in there a couple times a week during the school year). It’s not having kids, although I do love to bring them there on rainy days so they can play with the toys, pretend in the puppet show theater, and pick out a few good bedtime stories to bring home. It’s not the ever-growing list of movie titles (including documentaries, mainstream flicks, kids’ programs, series, and even exercise DVDs).

So what is it? The library has cured my need for compulsive shopping. Yes, I will admit it: I have a bad compulsive shopping habit. Now, it is a mild habit in comparison to those people you see on Hoarders or Intervention or something. I don’t have thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. That’s where I curb my problem. However, I can drop a pretty penny faster than most people I know if left off the leash for too long. But the library is my outlet now.

When I visit the library, I can scan shelves galore until my heart’s content. I can grab a bag and fill it up. Fiction, nonfiction, DVD, you name it. Then when I go to the checkout register, there’s no bill. I take everything in my bag and my little receipt with the due dates on it and I go home. Not a penny spent. See, for me, it’s always been about the acquisition, not the spending. Now, I can take home whatever I want for a whole month (usually) and not be worried about a credit card bill.

Ahhh, pure bliss. I don't think it gets more magical than that.