My Problem With Library Books
So when it comes to books, my eyes are bigger than my, er, reading capacity.
So when I see a book that looks interesting, I usually put it on hold at my local library (unless it's a low priced indie book, or on sale, and then I buy it for my Kindle! I am a starving artist...). Unfortunately, I seem to be only drawn to books that have catastrophically huge waiting lists. 157 people are ahead of me, 266 people are ahead of me...a message informs me of my fate, and I resign myself to waiting another two months for the book. So I put more books on hold. I stagger the wait times. This book has 52 people waiting for it, that book has 75, and this other book has only 15. Should work out perfect, right?
But somehow, inevitably, they all become available AT THE SAME TIME.
Eek!
At first, it's kind of like Christmas. I ooh and ahh and stare and drool.
But then, I have to actually read all these books. I take them home and pile them beside my bed in my "reading basket."
And that's where it gets ugly.
You see, when I have a lot of books to read my ADD and procrastination skills and all sorts of other troublesome tendencies sort of kick in. I feel pressured. I feel anxious to finish them all. Somehow, this means I read slower. And then I get really busy. And then I get the urge to revisit my lonely current manuscript, because reading makes me feel like writing. And then, inevitably...
I log into my library account and see that I have fines. Massive fines, multiplying like rabbits!
My library actually now has a rule that you cannot check out more books if your fine is over $15, and I sometimes wonder if they made that rule because of me and my mom (I'm not the only one who suffers from this affliction of too many library books).
And it's a vicious cycle, because I have a reading addiction, ya'll.
The good news is that I am helping my local library stay in business...
* sigh *
So when I see a book that looks interesting, I usually put it on hold at my local library (unless it's a low priced indie book, or on sale, and then I buy it for my Kindle! I am a starving artist...). Unfortunately, I seem to be only drawn to books that have catastrophically huge waiting lists. 157 people are ahead of me, 266 people are ahead of me...a message informs me of my fate, and I resign myself to waiting another two months for the book. So I put more books on hold. I stagger the wait times. This book has 52 people waiting for it, that book has 75, and this other book has only 15. Should work out perfect, right?
But somehow, inevitably, they all become available AT THE SAME TIME.
Eek! At first, it's kind of like Christmas. I ooh and ahh and stare and drool.
But then, I have to actually read all these books. I take them home and pile them beside my bed in my "reading basket."
And that's where it gets ugly.
You see, when I have a lot of books to read my ADD and procrastination skills and all sorts of other troublesome tendencies sort of kick in. I feel pressured. I feel anxious to finish them all. Somehow, this means I read slower. And then I get really busy. And then I get the urge to revisit my lonely current manuscript, because reading makes me feel like writing. And then, inevitably...
I log into my library account and see that I have fines. Massive fines, multiplying like rabbits!
My library actually now has a rule that you cannot check out more books if your fine is over $15, and I sometimes wonder if they made that rule because of me and my mom (I'm not the only one who suffers from this affliction of too many library books).
And it's a vicious cycle, because I have a reading addiction, ya'll.
The good news is that I am helping my local library stay in business...
* sigh *
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message 1:
by
Ollie
(new)
Jul 06, 2012 10:57AM
Hi Kate! Just curious, how many books do you read per month (average)? *
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Susana wrote: "Hi Kate! Just curious, how many books do you read per month (average)? *"When I'm reading lots (which I'm not right now because I'm working on a new book), often 15-20.
LOL, Kate! I've been there. I've had to make myself only check out a couple at a time. Lately I've been listening to books on my Kindle while traveling to and from work using the voice to speach mode.It's weird having a computer read to me, yet it's also been great to get more reading in. :) Good luck!
Many years ago every time I went to the library I had a fine...I've never been good at doing anything in a timely manner! I solved that problem about 10 years ago and became a library employee! I feel for you Kate! Now the problem I have is seeing too many wonderful books and not enough time to read them! I shared your blog with my co-workers, I know they will appreciate it!
Debbie wrote: "Many years ago every time I went to the library I had a fine...I've never been good at doing anything in a timely manner! I solved that problem about 10 years ago and became a library employee! I f..."Oh, thanks for passing it on. :) I bet my problem would be even WORSE if I worked at a library. It's bad enough being around books all the time online as an author :)
