Libraries

I love a library. I love the rows of books, the people milling about. I crave the quiet, the serene, the focused atmosphere in the library. I love the summer reading programs and the author book signings.A few years ago, Brandon Mull came to our library. Our library!! I could hardly believe it. Since we LOVE the Fablehaven series, we took the whole family to get those books signed. My library love was at an all-time high.What's not to love, right?Well, there is one thing...or maybe a couple of things. Late fees. Late fees and lost books. And then, if I'm being completely honest, late DVDs. That's really where a library rakes in some cash. Don't turn those in late, people. Have you never checked out a movie from the library?? If not, don't start now! The risk is too great. No movie is worth the late fees from the library.I don't ever INTEND to get those pesky late fees. They ask if I'd like a reminder of the due date? Yes, thank you. What a great idea. I'll take their printout with the return date on it and use it as a bookmark! No, I'll put it on the fridge so we can all see it. YES! Wait...is that the reminder? A printed receipt of all the books we borrowed?? It's still printing! My reminder is the clown car of receipts! I watch in disbelief as they hand me a paper nearly 3 feet long. I fold it and fold it and fold it until it fits in my purse. I also wave goodbye to it because we all know I'll never see that thing again.At home, I try to keep all the books together in one basket. This never works. Not EVER. We start out strong, but inevitably gravitate towards utter chaos. "Make sure all the library books stay here," turns into "Does anyone remember what books we checked out?" And then we get late fees because we JUST. CAN'T. REMEMBER. Sigh.On one occasion, the librarian was feeling some serious Christmas spirit, because she offered me a donation-to-the-library card. This magical card cost me $20, and it would forgive 10 late returns! Oh boy. I jumped at that chance. I handed her the $20 and took my card, thank you very much. I also used my first free late return, saving me about $25. This was amazing.Sadly, my card expired after one year. The lady didn't tell me that part. I did get to use it three or four times, so I was still grateful. But I haven't been back. I decided it was cheaper for me to leave the library altogether and just buy the books instead.The library and I broke up.But I'm sad and regretful. I want the library back. So I've decided to go this summer and try one more time. Any advice on how to break the late fee cycle is appreciated---unless you're going to say you've never paid a late fee in your whole life. Those comments can be kept to yourself.