Booksmart.

 

“The book of love is long and boring

No one can lift the damn thing

It's full of charts and facts, and figures

And instructions for dancing.”

When I was a kid, going to the library was a treat. Our library was a distance away, but of what I remember, we would go find some books, take out our paper card and then the librarian would stamp a sheet in the book—we would then be on our way. What I don’t remember was how they knew who they were loaning the book to ?

While we were there, we would go look at the fish tank which was near the front; I think it just made sense to have something so serene in a quiet place. Of what I recall, some of my favorite books were the Hardy Boys and anything about airplanes—-I don’t know what happen to my passion for reading, but I read very little today. It’s too bad because when you get hooked into a good book, you visit a world between the covers that takes you far away from your every day.

Another way of going to the library was having it come to you. The bookmobile would travel to a specific spot and we would go and check out and return books; you would climb up a few steps, walk inside, and smell the musty scent of books every step you took. 

This is a true story, but to protect the individual I won’t say who it is. I found a book in my parents house that was checked out in 1972. As of 2015, it was slightly overdue. Thanks to a calculator and the internet, I was able to calculate that the book was 15,779 days overdue. If they charge a dime for every day it’s late, that book had a fine of $1,577.90. I am pretty sure that would be more than it’s worth.

The photo above was taken a few weeks ago. Todd Bol from Hudson, Wisconsin created the “Little Free Library” a wooden container placed on a post and filled with books; it was a tribute to his late mother, a book lover and school teacher who had passed away. In our village, you will find at least 25 of these “libraries” available to anyone who would like a book. We’ve come quite a ways from the early days from checking out a book—-I wonder what would happen if that book, which is 49 years, 2 months and 14 days overdue found it’s tardy card holder?

Thanks for stopping by.