I was lucky enough to grow up in a town that got a Carnegie library, and after I was 9 I lived in biking distance. We always went as a family once a week, and when I could bike I went more. I don't think I ever had an overdue book. And I don't know how I would've survived childhood without the library.

Then the long dry spell when, if there was a nearby library, it sucked.

When I lived in Alpena, MI, I could bike to the library from age 9 or so. I practically lived there. We moved to a much larger city when I was 15, and biking places was no longer safe. But once I was in college the libraries (within easy walking distance) saw a whole lot of me again. I'm better now than I once was about getting books back on time.

When I was wee, I camped out in the Swiss Cottage Library, the one nearest school. Wonderful library, with computers and software for borrowing during the mid 80s. Never lived near one like it since. The main branch of the Detroit public library was pretty cool, as is the main branch here. But the branches near me are kinda sucky.

I need to check out the new Santa Monica library. I hear it's cool.

The best way for me to utilize a library is to just hang out there without taking anything home with me. Once a month or so, I go to the bigass downtown library and go absolutely nuts picking out a stack of various, previously unknown to me, authors and then reading excerpts to see if they pique my interest or not. If so, I add it to my wishlist (if only in hardcover or not a well known author) or make a note to look for that author the next time I'm at the used bookstore.

I think I'll need to head downtown this weekend. It's been at least a month since my last library day.

Plus, it's an added bonus that I can shush people in a library. Love the shush.

I used to hang out at the library almost every day after school when I was a kid. Plus when I was really young my mom used to take us to story time on Saturday morning and afterwards we got to pick out a book. Aimee--the Buena Vista library has GREAT programs for kids! Check it out -- [link] They have a TREE in the kids section!

It probbably mattes what you near by branch is like in a bigger city, but with most library catalogs on line - ordering a book and getting it sent to you branch is easy.

I think as a patron, a tree would be cool. But keeping kids from climbing it , would be a nightmare.

I have such happy memories of riding my bike to the library to spend a summer's day among the books. I remember that their a/c was perpetually turned all the way to "frigid arctic blast." So I had to bring my sweater along, as unpleasant as it was to handle wool on a humid, sticky dog day. Even so, I'd have to go outside to warm up, four or five times.

Nicole, I'm gonna start you out with "Wild Seed," and then maybe the Xenogenesis trilogy.

My library was about two blocks from the beach. So I'd get a back-pack full of books and, if the weather suited, sit on a rock by the bay to read them. Hey, Mom had told me to go play outside.

Nicole, I'm gonna start you out with "Wild Seed," and then maybe the Xenogenesis trilogy.

Squeee! Thanks, dearest. I've been eyeing the 3-fer called "Lilith's Brood" on Amazon. If I can find it at my local used bookstore (which I highly doubt but I'm optimistic - even with my pessimism) I'll be a happy girl. Over 700 pages, so that should hopefully keep my greedy Story!Self busy for a bit.

I'm heading to the local branch of the library tomorrow, AIFG! In theory the trip is just to pick up the books I put on hold(some of the Agatha nominees I haven't read yet) but I'm sure I'll end up with a large stack of books...