I know, I know... unrepentant thief, that's me. But come on-- the book hadn't been checked out in ten years before I got it.

Heh. Buffistas are notoriously bad library patrons, and often use this excuse. Or, once they rack up the fines, they go into avoidy/denial mode.

Ha. Yeah, after about 4 years of an $80 fine, I finally return some "missing" books and paid the rest of the fine, and it is LOVELY to be able to go into the library again.

Previously, I would use my school's departmental card and slink over to the self-check machine, so no one would wonder why a high school English department would need to check out so many books on apartment decoration and paranormal romance.

Zilpha's homepage

With an interesting piece by her on how she writes.

She uses the "Notebook Method."

Buffistas are notoriously bad library patrons, and often use this excuse. Or, once they rack up the fines, they go into avoidy/denial mode.

I am shocked! I guess my guilt complex outweighs my bibliophilia. I'm incredibly anal about returning my books on time, and I would never take a book from the library because it would keep other people from being able to read it. Although the "hadn't been checked out in ten years" argument may hold some sway.

My best story about such things is as follows: In fifth or sixth grade, there was a book on the chalkboard, placed there for the Lost and Found. It was Bury Me Deep, by Christopher Pike. It looked really interesting.

So I, um, took it home and read it and then brought it back. A day or two later, when the owner of the book was identified, he let me keep it. And that's how I became a Christopher Pike fan.

I have been pretty good about my current library use, because it is SO CLOSE. Though I do have currently about $5 in fines, just from day or two late things, and a book here or there that got lost under the sofa or something, and ended up being a week late. But I figure that's how the library makes money, right?

But I admit, in the past I have definitely been one of *those* buffistas. I may in fact still owe the DC library money, and never went there for years and years because of it. And I might still have a book that I've been meaning to mail back to another, ahem, university library for years. That was in my car for literally years. That I kept meaning to drive by and secretly drop off in the night. That accidentally got packed with my stuff when I moved cross country and now has to be MAILED. IJS.

I regularly use the library for books I don't feel the need to own. Right now, I'm using it to have a class set of books for Literature Circle at school. I ::heart:: the ACPL, especially the downtown branch.

But I figure that's how the library makes money, right?

Absolutely! I always tell patrons, we don't care how big a fine you rack up, as long as you pay it, you're golden. We LOVE when people pay fines.

I will, from time to time, go in, not checking out any books, and say, "I think I owe you money" and pay my outstanding fines. They do always seem pleased about that, and surprised, as I'm not over the "can't check out books" limit.

Hil, have you read The Men of Mathematics by Bell, and, if so, do you think my 12 year old nephew would be able to read it?

Sorry, I haven't read it.