This isn’t a rhetorical question. Quite literally, why don’t i used the library more often?! I took a trip to my local library while killing some time in the town center today, and was amazed at what i found on the shelves in there.
I’ve always avoided the library because i like my own bookshelves. I like the fact i can stay in my house and choose a new book from my shelves, knowing that if i love it i don’t have to give it back any time soon. The joy of going in to your bedroom and having a lot of books to choose from to read next is wonderful.
That means that i rarely pop in to my library for a look around. Once or twice during University, i checked out a few dissertation books or literature books, but i never really browsed around the fiction. Today while i was in town i figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a look what they had available. To my surprise, there was a lot available for young adults.
The town i live it isn’t the greatest (to say the least, it quite literally was named one of the worst in the country) however, they do have a fantastic library. I went to the YA section and saw The Lux Series by Jennifer L Armentrout, everything Parick Ness has ever written and whole host of YA contemporaries that are on my ‘wishlist’. Not to mention in the fiction section, The Sudden Disappearance of Hope by Claire North amoungst others that i’ve had my eye on for quite a while. My library also has some graphic novels, not the greatest selection but an effort was made.
It made me realise how lucky i am to have those facilities at my finger tips. I don’t need to purchase book after book and continue spending money on something that i don’t know if i’ll enjoy, or i own three books that are similar. There are plenty of books that i have taken an interest in while browsing bookshops in the library, and now is my opportunity to check them out (ha) finally.
I don’t think this will be the start of me solely using the library to obtain my books, i still like treating myself to a book every now and then. However, i want to start making use of it as it is local. I found so much just today that i want to read, and had to stop myself from pulling most of them off the shelf and bringing them all home to read.
I’ll keep you all posted on my next trip to the library, and i urge you to go check out your local libraries (if you don’t usually) and see what you can find!
Happy reading!
The Little Contemporary Corner 
I thought this to myself the other year, so I went and took out some books. Read them all and instantly was like well damn I wish I owned these though. I’ve seen bought one of the books but other than that I’m still wishing for them. So I’ve kinda not been back cause my existing TBR pile at home is like, v big. heh. I’m glad that people do still wanna go and support them tough, its v important.
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The one thing putting me off using the library more is that my home TBR is huge, so i want to make my way through that first? But yes, i agree i’m glad people still support libraries! – Sarah
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I practically live in the library haha! I think it’s great for giving books ago which I’m not sure if I’ll like because I don’t feel like I’m wasting money. Also I’m guilty of reading a book from the library and then I end up buying it for myself anyway
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I feel like I’ll definitely be the person who ends up buying the book for myself in the end! I’m hoping using the library will help me to minimise the amount of books on my shelf to ones that I absolutely loved – Sarah
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When I was younger, I was at the library ALL THE TIME. Whether it was the county library or the school library, I was there reading or looking for something to read. At both libraries, all of the librarians knew me by name and for a couple of years I even volunteered in the school library before classes started for the day and after they ended.
Then I went off to college where sometimes I even slept at the library (usually on accident from late study sessions or to grab a quick nap so I didn’t fall asleep driving home).
After graduating college…I stopped going. I donut know if it’s because I had a job where I could afford to buy books (not many, but more than I could in school) or if I was just haunted by all of those late nights.
Even now, I go to the bookstore over the library and it makes me sad. I even have a post I want to work on about my county library (I no longer live in my home town so it would be part nostalgia piece, part “save the libraries”).
The county I live in now has six libraries….I really should go more often!
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*do not
Not “donut” ugh. Typed that on my phone and I have clumsy fingers!
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I used to go to the library a LOT as a kid – like once a week – and come out with 5 or 6 books. I adored the library, and we always did their summer reading challenge where we collected stickers and prizes for books we read. But as I’ve got older and started buying my own books, I can’t even remember the last time I went in the library apart from the uni one. I really should start going again! Now that I’m putting less pressure on myself to do blog tours, review copies etc, I can’t wait to go to the library to pick up a new book if I fancy reading it!
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When I was younger, I went to the library ALL of the time but recently I’ve found I prefer to buy them and keep them – I think it’s something to do with not having the pressure of a date when its due back!
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