Sssshhh! It's a library!
Today marks the one year anniversary of the date when I stopped needing to wear pants to work. I am celebrating by getting dressed like a normal human being (well, one that wears jeans, a sweatshirt, and running shoes) and working in a new venue: the library. I know! Can you even handle the excitement?
I'm staring across the table at an entire wall of magazines (including "Chess Canada" and "Arthritis Today") and wondering how I ever got out of the habit of visiting the library. I was a library fiend as a kid and I have some warm, fuzzy memories of spending the odd weekend afternoon at the Aurora Public Library with my friend Renee, hanging out in the YA section and reading dozens of back issues of YM and Sassy (neither of which exist anymore, I believe, and the latter of which was my first taste of any publication with a distinctly feminist flavour to it). Once I was gainfully employed and had money to spend, I started buying books and never really looked back. I somehow managed to graduate from university with a degree in English without setting foot in the library more than twice (once to take out a book I needed for a class, and a subsequent visit to return that book).
So far, I have identified a few pros and cons to working at the library:
PROS
CONS
I'm staring across the table at an entire wall of magazines (including "Chess Canada" and "Arthritis Today") and wondering how I ever got out of the habit of visiting the library. I was a library fiend as a kid and I have some warm, fuzzy memories of spending the odd weekend afternoon at the Aurora Public Library with my friend Renee, hanging out in the YA section and reading dozens of back issues of YM and Sassy (neither of which exist anymore, I believe, and the latter of which was my first taste of any publication with a distinctly feminist flavour to it). Once I was gainfully employed and had money to spend, I started buying books and never really looked back. I somehow managed to graduate from university with a degree in English without setting foot in the library more than twice (once to take out a book I needed for a class, and a subsequent visit to return that book).
So far, I have identified a few pros and cons to working at the library:
PROS
- It's quiet. Like, really quiet. There are people, but they don't talk. Cellphones are strictly verboten and the only noise in the area I'm in is the sound of shuffling pages and the almost inaudible scratch of pencil on paper.
- Free wireless internet.
- The musty, dusty smell of books. (I know some of you would put that in the cons section but I consider you crazy and might be forced to sever our relationship if you were to tell me you don't love to breathe deeply the unmistakable odour of literary genius.)
- They're recarpeting! (Further library excitement.)
CONS
- It costs $2/hour to park here. I will not be staying long, and next time I will find somewhere better (i.e. free) to park. They will give you stacks of books for free but you can't leave your car in the lot for an hour without paying? (I suppose the library patrons who are here to read "Yachting Today" can likely afford to spare $6 for a few hours of parking, but I would hazard a guess it would be more of a hardship for others.)
- There doesn't seem to be an area with newspapers on giant sticks. Apparently technology has advanced to the point where the sticks are no longer required.
- The giant rubber tree in the corner is making me feel bad about the one I have at home that is dying from some mystery ailment (which may or may not be neglect and/or caregiver disinterest).