Setting up.

[hannah]

Day 12

In your own space, create your own challenge. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

Sometime in the coming week, use your local library.

Get a card if you don't have one already. Use it to borrow something you've been meaning to get to for a while now - an album by a band you've been meaning to get to, a novel by an author you've wanted to try, a movie you saw a while back and want to see again. The book of concept art from Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse - which I got today and is utterly fabulous, well worth the short wait time it was on hold.

See what else they offer besides traditional media: book sales, film screenings, craft classes, gaming afternoons. Have they got a special set of collections that aren't allowed offsite but are worth the visit, like a fabulous map room or vintage children's books? Set aside a couple of hours and indulge yourself. Maybe you've got a Library of Things nearby - go and see what's on offer.

If you can't make it to the library: see what online services they're hosting. Ask a reference question. Borrow an ebook. Watch a movie. Get a recommendation for something in their collections and then place a hold on that so when you've got time to head over, there's going to be something waiting for you.

Comments

[catdetective]

Ah, a challenge I can meet! I've got a trip to the library on my calendar for Wednesday.

[hannah]

Excellent.

[sixbeforelunch]

This is a great challenge!

[hannah]

Hopefully both doable and enjoyable.

[dreamkist]

I borrowed an ebook (Codename Villanelle)!

[hannah]

High five!

[dragonyphoenix]

Well that's an easy one for me. I'm at the library multiple times a week. ;-)

[hannah]

Glad to hear it.

libraries

[oldtoadwoman]

My local library was undergoing renovations for the longest time. They were still open, but the sound of power tools echoed through the building. I got in the habit of avoiding it and opting for ebooks as much as possible or just putting books on hold and only staying long enough to check out my books and leave. Now that it's quiet again, I need to get in the habit of poking around and exploring a little.

Re: libraries

[hannah]

I hope it's gone well.

Re: libraries

[oldtoadwoman]

...and... I've misplaced my library book and have remembered why it's a bad idea for me to borrow things. (I keep requesting an extension online, but eventually I'm going to run out of extensions.)

Re: libraries

[hannah]

Take a deep breath, think about where it could be, and it's sure to turn up at some point.

Re: libraries

[oldtoadwoman]

Found it! (The annoying thing is that it was next to the basket full of books that I'd already checked three times because I was so sure I had put it in that basket, but it was turned sideways so it nearly invisible.)

[sasha_feather]

I love my library!

[hannah]

We did a good thing with libraries. Just having them.

[silveradept]

Thank you for promoting public libraries. They're an underused resources, and great for all sorts of fannish pursuits.

[hannah]

You're welcome. They're a pretty great thing to have access to.

*sigh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

I used to love libraries. I spent a ton of time in them.

But the last time I checked about getting a library card, it was $60. We live outside city limits, so we have no library access for anything more than looking at things under their roof.

Also, I don't like modern libraries. They're too bright, too loud, too metallic. I grew up in libraries of wood and carpet and books, smelling of vanilla. The current one is metal shelves and clattering computers. It reeks of gun oil and burnt rubber.

Fortunately I have a library in my house, the old wooden kind. Or more accurately, a library with some beds in it, there being books in every room.

Re: *sigh*

[hannah]

I can't speak to current architectural trends one way or another, just that so long as they safely house the materials I want to access, I'm fine with just about anything.

[angrboda]

This is especially a good idea if you live in a place where the library is quite small. True, their collection is smaller, but if you want something they haven't got, chances are they can get it for you. In this country, libraries are generally much larger than just your local, because they're all under the council, so it's really one library with a lot of locations. But if the council doesn't think the small local library is being used, they might decide to cut down on funding for that location, maybe shorter opening hours, or maybe closing it completely. So, it's THERE. It's FREE. USE it. :)

Husband and I have got quite good at using ours fairly regularly. We could totally still be better, but especially if we're looking for non-fiction, we'll see what sort of books our library has on the topic. I read a couple of rather interesting history books last year, for example.

[hannah]

I keep reminding people that inter-library loan systems are a thing that exist. Maybe it's not right there on the shelf, but I'd nearly always rather pay in time than money for access to a book.

[spikedluv]

Great reminder! We have a small local library that my s-i-l uses all the time and the other night I was tempted to stop in and sign up for a card. But I put it off. I'm going to do that this week.

[spikedluv]

I didn't get it done that week, but I finally got my library card ~last week! I haven't used it yet, but I'm all set. And I'm making a list of things I want to see if they have locally vs requesting them. Also, they're offering a knitting class which was on my list of things to do this year. o_O

[hannah]

High five!

[dragonofeternal]

Excellent! I really need to go get a library card for my local library... I've used some of their other services, gone to a few writing meetups there... but I've never actually stopped by the desk and gotten a card! Definitely making a mental note to try to do that sometime this week or next week.

[hannah]

Here's to you enjoying it.

[musyc]

This librarian's daughter says YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs. :D

[hannah]

Excellent!