On loan
My first visit to a public library happened in the early part of the ’60s; I was so impressed that I’ve never stopped making periodic visits to whatever branch happened to be closest to my reading nook. Seriously. Hard to argue with the fundamental concept of books, for free.
Let’s face it. Most books don’t belong on my personal bookshelf, nor do I have the means to own a home with that kind of excess of storage. The library permits me to borrow, read, return… in that order. Along the way, I’ve learned the value of a good catalogue.
So, in keeping with that, I headed over to my new branch, this afternoon. Freshly pierced with a needle of flu vaccine, I was game to pick up the “order” I’d made just about a week ago. Five volumes of a genealogy resource set; useful and too expensive to “own”. I mean, at a sticker price between $40-$60, I know my financial limitations. Now, at home, with supper out of the way, I’ve been a busy researcher.
Outside, the wind is up, again. Chairs tapping at the door to come in – I refused and piled them neatly against the wall out of sight and mind. After all, I need time without distractions. Those books are “mine” for about three weeks more; barely enough time to scratch the surface. This sort of research is non-linear, which means a lot of back and forth between the various covers. However, I’ll manage to unlock the “who are you?” mystery for others in my neighbourhood.
