Summer, when it finally rolls around these parts, is a very nice time to be in Madison—truth. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the lakes are shimmering, the custard is … rich. Everything is awesome!
Except for the mosquitoes. Which goes to show you that I can find the cloud in just about any situation. Yay, me! Still, even I am not immune to the pleasures of, umm, looking at the great out-of-doors when everything is fresh and green. Hence, I’m all in the mood to tell you about another favorite place in town, especially for those of you on the LBYM spectrum. What, you didn’t know there was a range?! Muse on that later.
For now, let us extol … the public library.
Some of my fondest memories growing up involved the public library in my hometown and in the town where my grandparents lived. My grandfather was a librarian and in the summers, when I’d go and stay with my grandparents, I’d while away the days at his branch, reading just about everything I could get my hands on. Around noon, I’d duck away to the employee break room for lunch, still deep in a book and munching on the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and peach my Po Po had packed for me. Man, those were the days.
I don’t buy a lot of stuff, period, but one thing I don’t buy at all anymore—thanks to the Madison Public Library—are books. This isn’t to say our family doesn’t read books or doesn’t love books or isn’t surrounded by books. We definitely do and we definitely are. We just don’t purchase them.
LBYM pro tip of the day: as a test prep instructor for mostly teenagers and young adults, let me recommend to those of you with younger children the BEST thing you can do for your progeny in regards to their performance on future standardized tests—get them reading. As early and as often as possible. How does this help LBYM? Yo, I’m gonna cost you a fortune otherwise to prep them later!
But back to the library. The Madison system is a gem. As was the one in Queens, New York where we used to live. I’d think twice before moving somewhere that wasn’t relatively close to a decent library. And librarians! Best. People. Ever. In another life, there I’d be, with my pince-nez, starchy collar, and stern demeanor, guardian of freedom. Books, ebooks, periodicals, movies—the library has them all, and not only in English. And if they don’t have a particular title at my local branch, they’ll ship it in from another branch that does. No cardboard box required. Take that, Amazon!
In addition to books, our library system offers job search and resume assistance (more means!), computers, desks, and wi-fi (free office!), early voting (better leaders, better health insurance!), Pokemon games (free kid entertainment!), chess club (free other kid entertainment!), help with your taxes (self-explanatory!), blood drives (free juice and cookies!), and knitting nights (micro-vacation!). LBYM, Dewey Decimal-style.
The library is probably the only place on the planet from which late fees are met not with self-flagellation, but with glee. Maybe they can get another copy of Pitch Perfect 3!
I am at our local branch two or three times a week. The kids love it there. I stopped into the library midway through writing this post. Long before AirBnB, Getaround, and other “sharing economy” companies, there was the humble library, the original killer app. I’ve often thought public libraries are in the perfect position to start lending … other things. Why limit it to books? Why couldn’t I go in and borrow a stand mixer (homemade pizza night)? Or a hydration pack (hiking with outdoorsy hubby)? Or anything else I need that one time a year when I accidentally feel ambitious?