Where everyone knows your name

No, not our local bar...our branch library which is 1/2 a block away. (It was one of the selling points about our house.) I feel somewhat famous whenever we go in. I guess a family with 7 children, who comes during school hours and checks out no less than 70 books a visit is somewhat memorable. I know most of the librarians who work there, but today there were two whom I didn't think I knew, or who knew us. That is until one of them asks me if we're still homeschooling and then in a separate conversation, the other asks how we manage to keep track of all the books we check out each time. It makes me feel badly that I didn't know them.

About the number of books...everyone around here likes, no loves, to read or be read to. (I think the younger ones decide to learn to read as a defensive act. Sometimes when all the bigger types are involved in their own books, the only course for non-readers is to learn to read themselves.) Plus, because the city is always threatening to close the branch libraries to save money, we like to help keep circulation levels up. The city doesn't need to know it's all one family. And I know what you're all dying to ask. Everyone does. How on earth do I keep track of all those books? All I can say is thank goodness for online library accounts where I can see what I have out and when it is due. Weekly monitoring is mandatory. Even then I don't have a perfect track record. I still have to pay the occasional fine, or pay for a lost book. Sometimes I get overly enthusiastic and try to return a book that actually belongs to us. (It happened just today, in fact.) That's when I'm really glad the librarians all know us, because then they can return my books to me.

Comments

Ann said…
Okay, so I have to share my guilt. I wasn't too jealous of the new kitchen, even tho it is beautiful with a huge pantry, I WAS a little jealous of the big playroom and I am insanely jealous of you living half a block from the library! How cool is that?

Any houses for sale on your street? :-)
8/26/2008 10:44 AM
Anonymous said…
Your family sounds just like ours, except we only have five kids. We keep track of the books by keeping them in special tote bags (mostly the free ones I've gotten from the Office Depot Star Teacher days). If a book is taken out of the bag it is supposed to be in someone's hands at all times. When they are done with it, it goes back into the bag. It's not 100%, but it works for the most part.
8/27/2008 6:12 PM
Lara said…
We almost bought a huge old house that was directly across the street from the library. I could have gotten books as easily as I got the mail, but alas dh said the house needed way too much work. He is probably right but I was willing to overlook everything for the library access.
8/30/2008 12:53 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Making bias tape... otherwise known as the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway

Image
( Sorry, the contest is now closed .... though you're welcome to leave a comment if you like.) [This picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but is here solely to give Blogger a different photo to post in the thumbnail.] It's Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway time again.  I love bias tape.  It is so useful and so easy to use... finishing edges ... finishing seams ...  And while the pre-packaged stuff has it's place and I use it often, I really like to have patterned bias tape as well.  Enter one of my favorite little tools: the bias tape maker.  This one make 3/4 inch bias tape and I will be giving one away at the end of this post.  But first, I thought some of you might like to see what it does if you've never used one before. I don't have a rotary cutter, nice cutting mats, or even a proper cutting table (I cut-out things on my floor), so if I can do this, so can you.  Here is my admittedly quirky method. Step 1:  Lay out the fabric an...
Read more

An uncomfortable post

I hope it comes as no surprise to my readers that when I vote early next week I will be casting my ballot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Being in a blue state this feels as though it is a very little thing in the effort to bring our country back past the brink of no return . I'll be honest and say that I am feeling such stress and fear about this election that I can't listen to any news or look at social media for very long. The radio is pretty firmly set on our classical music station even though they are in the middle of a pledge drive. The pledge drive is preferable.  But for those of you who are supporting the other side, if there are any of you left who continue to visit my blog, here is what I need to say. When I drive around and see signs in people's yards supporting that man, I treat it as an early warning system. The people who live in this house are not safe for my family to be around. This is far more than a difference of opinion. That worked for all the preside...
Read more

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway

Image
Sew, Mama, Sew! is hosting another giveaway day , the day where many bloggers giveaway things they have made or supplies to make things or both.  It is great fun to visit a lot of blogs and try to win cool stuff.  So fun that I thought I would participate this year. I had great hopes of making a set of coordinating mother/daughter aprons.  But reality reared its ugly head and I came to terms with the fact that my time is not limitless.Instead of aprons,  I must continue to spend quality time with yards and yards of red plaid flannel.  What am I making?  Well, as I tell my children, it is the season not to ask questions... I will be able to let you know sometime after the 25th. Instead of making something, I went to my favorite thrift store and found some supplies in the form of sheets and pillowcases (some of my favorite raw material).  I'm giving away three pillowcases and one twin flat sheet. I decided to go with bright, springy colors...
Read more