Dewey Belong Together?

Library love, my best library tips + the Weekly What

In honor of February being Library Lovers’ Month and yesterday being Valentine’s Day I thought I’d take a moment to recognize my love for my local library. As a self described library enthusiast I’m sure it comes as no surprise when I say: I love my library.

Libraries are fundamentally democratic institutions, one of few places serving broad, diverse swaths of the population and they do it for free.¹ In a world of vanishing public spaces this is increasingly important.

At the library you don’t have to buy something to hang out, you don’t have to be a member, you don’t even have to possess a library card unless you want to borrow something; libraries are a welcoming space, open to all. Not to mention, library workers are largely the kindest, most service oriented people on the planet. They just want to HELP! Help you find your next great read, access technology, connect with community services, find the answer to obscure questions, and more! I could go on and on, I really could.

As a lifelong, avid, enthusiastic library user I want to celebrate libraries by sharing my best library tips.

Now, I only have firsthand experience with my very awesome local library system, so it’s possible not all my tips will be applicable to you, but I think most of these will be relevant.

Place Holds

I love book browsing, or at least I love it in theory. In practice I tend to get overwhelmed by choice and the number of books I’d like to read, so placing holds and picking up books as they become available is primarily how I use the library. Not only should you place holds, make sure you place them EARLY. If you wait until a book comes out popular titles can have a waitlist hundreds deep, but if you get there early you can often read titles as soon as they release. This is probably my number one library tip.

Digital Content

I borrow plenty of physical books from my library, but don’t forget about ebooks and audiobooks! Libby is one of my most used apps, I primarily utilize it for audiobooks, but occasional ebooks make their way to my account as well. Libby is a popular digital library app. Hoopla is another one. Check to see what your library system offers.

As above, place holds early and often, but be sure to only checkout what you’re really planning to consume. Unlike physical books where checkouts help boost circulation numbers whether you read the books or not, libraries may be charged per borrow or may have a limited number of borrows for digital items. The content is there because they want you to access it, just be a good patron and borrow thoughtfully.

On this note, the Libby feature I love and frequently utilize is “deliver later”. You can waitlist for titles in the Libby app and when they become available you are given the option to borrow now or deliver later. Delaying your borrow until you’re really ready for it is so nice. There’s no pressure to borrow titles you may not get to.

Don’t forget about other media offerings

Libraries offer more than just books. My library also offers Kanopy, a video streaming platform for film and TV, and PressReader, for magazines and newspapers. And really, they have other digital services that I don’t even know about and that’s great. And don’t sleep on things like CDs and DVDs! It’s been many, many years since I borrowed a CD but I absolutely take advantage of the DVD offerings.

Multiple memberships

I’m lucky to live in a state where residents are permitted membership at any public library across the state because they’re funded by state taxes. Different libraries set their own rules for obtaining membership. Some require an in person visit to obtain a library card, others offer online signups. Being a member of multiple library systems can expand access to digital services or it may be worth a drive to access a larger collection or services offered at a particular branch.

Even if this isn’t the practice in your state you might have access to various local library systems such as a city and county library, or your library might offer reciprocal memberships, partnering with other area systems. Explore your options!

If you are in a location with limited options there are libraries that allow non-resident membership for a small fee. If I did not have the wealth of access I do I would absolutely consider a non-resident membership.

Book sales

Twice a year my library holds big book sales, the proceeds of which help support library programs and services. All the books are in good used condition, just being purged from circulation and only cost $1-2. These sales are the BEST! Additionally, every branch I’ve ever visited always has a small selection of books available for purchase. Sometimes you can find a real gem just waiting for a new home.

Libraries offer more than just media

Several years ago my library system began offering culture passes to various events and attractions around town, things like the ballet, theater, art museum, zoo, conservatory, even minor league baseball games. It’s an incredible way to make our city accessible to all as well as encouraging residents to partake in various experiences. I know there are also libraries that offer checkouts of things like board games, tools, puzzles, and more so be sure to look into all your library has to offer.

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Tell me:

• Do you visit your local library?

• Does your library system offer anything unique or fun?

• Do you have any questions about using the library? I have decades of experience! I like to think this qualifies me as something of a library expert ^😊

• Anything, let’s chat!

What I’m…

Reading

• The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke. This book caught my eye due to its gorgeous cover and synopsis which suggested an atmospheric winter fantasy. I don’t always love a short story, but I adore an atmospheric winter read and I enjoyed Clarke’s Piranesi so I thought I’d give this a go. This story is very, very short. Accompanied by illustrations (which I really enjoyed!) it’s really more of a grown up picture book. The story itself is something of a parable, which I did not understand at all until I read the author’s afterword and even then I’m still unclear. It’s short, whimsical, and definitely atmospheric, but I don’t think I’d really recommend this unless you’re a Clarke fan, specifically of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, which I believe shares the same world.

• The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry. A western set in 1890s Montana about two lovers on the run making their way west as winter sets in. Another one where the striking cover caught my eye. I remember reading about this book before it published last summer and though I was intrigued I never picked it up. I saw it on an end of year “best of” list and was sucked in by the atmosphere and novelty of a winter western. I enjoyed this; it’s written in a very interesting style, sort of lyrical and often funny.

• History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund. This book hit by TBR by way of a backlist recommendation from Annie B. Jones on an episode of her podcast From the Front Porch. This is a slippery story, part coming of age, part mystery suspense told from the perspective of a woman in her 30s, Linda, looking back primarily on the year she was 14. Set in the woods of northern Minnesota the story opens in winter and though spans seasons that stark, cold atmosphere never seems to really let up. Linda lives remotely with her mother and father, the last vestiges of an early 80s commune that missed the hippie’s back to the land heyday. Linda becomes entangled with a family who moves in nearby. The summer she babysits for their 4-year-old son will have long lasting reverberations on her life. I really appreciated the style and setting of this one.

Listening

• Bibliophobia: A Memoir by Sarah Chihaya. Marketed as “an alternately searing and darkly humorous story of breakdown and survival told through books.” It is more accurately a memoir of mental illness written by someone searching for meaning and identity through books. As a Reader I found this fascinating and relatable.

• The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kolawole. Another Aspen Words longlister. This follows the harrowing migration journey of a young Nigerian man inadvertently embroiled in a crime while working at a hotel who flees to protect himself and his family, but ends up in dire circumstances due to human trafficking and desperation. This really built as it went along and will fall among my favorites from the books I read for the longlist.

• The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. Breaking down the Disaster Capitalism Complex was probably pretty groundbreaking when this book came out in 2007. In 2025 I don’t really need convinced of the book’s thesis - the chaos of disasters (war, natural disaster, etc) is exploited by politicians and corporations to push through unpopular policies such as deregulation and privatization in order to make profits - I just figured it was finally time to read the primary text given current events.

• No One Gets to Fall Apart: A Memoir by Sarah Labrie. Appreciated this reflection on having a parent with untreated/undiagnosed mental illness and exploring the ways this shapes reality, identity, and relationships.

Watching

• Only Murders in the Building, Season 3 (Hulu). Still going strong. Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep have entered the building.

Eating & Drinking

• Cheeseburger Sliders, Smoked Wings, and Buffalo Chicken Dip for Super Bowl snacking (I’m just here for the food, though I’m loving the critical analysis of the half time show.)

• This White Bean and Potato Soup was delicious. I only had to grab a couple cans of beans and was otherwise able to use up ingredients I had on hand. I’ve been enjoying leftovers for lunch all week.

• Crispy Beef and Bean Wraps were an easy crowd pleaser

• An early family Valentine’s dinner because we have a very busy Friday. Cheese Fondue is an annual tradition. I serve it with steamed potatoes, broccoli, and asparagus, tomatoes, green apples, bread (of course), and sautéed sausage. It’s a fun meal!

• I’m still enjoying those Sourdough English Muffins from last week. They’re almost as good as fresh from the freezer. I’ve been eating them with my version of cottage cheese eggs (1 whole egg + ~1/4 cup egg whites, scrambled, with a healthy spoonful of cottage cheese mixed in towards the end. I like to sprinkle some Trader Joe’s Cheesy Seasoning Blend on top.)

Links + Loves

• I picked up a few reusable bags from the Stasher warehouse sale. Full disclaimer, I haven’t yet used said bags yet, but I’m eager to and upon first impression I’m pleased with the quality and perceived functionality. There are some good deals to be had with the sale and I don’t know how long it lasts. I purchased 3 sizes of the stand-up bags. This design seems to me to maximize functional space. I will report back once I’ve had a chance to try them out.

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Until next time!

1. I mean, they’re funded by taxes, but you know, you aren’t charged at point of service. It’s something we all share the cost of because it’s good for the community. Fancy that.