I am an obedient person most of the time, but I often bend the rules of my local public library system. I have a few confessions to make.
Although they have eliminated fines for all children’s and YA books, I do like to return my books on time. If I haven’t finished with a book and it has no holds, I just hit the renew button. Unfortunately, you can’t renew books that have holds. But a few years back I have discovered a work around. When it says a book is due on Sunday, I can return it Monday morning on my way to work and it won’t be considered overdue. And not having overdue books is important to me.
If I were a superhero, my library card would be my superhero gadget. In fact, I have two library cards. I have my everyday, regular person card. My superhero library card is an Educator Card. It allows me to place more holds, and keep things twice as long as my regular card allows. I use my Educator card for print and audiobooks. I use my regular card for print books only because I have given my password to my twin sister. She uses my library card to access audiobooks.
I live in a large urban area with a great public library system. In fact, the Multnomah County library always scores high on “best of ” lists. My sister lives in a small town with a perfectly adequate library system. But her access to audiobooks is more limited, so I share.
As bibliocrimes go, these are pretty minor. Maybe that’s why I feel more proud than embarrassed about them.
booksandbassets 
The tone of this writing is engaging and I love the lines, “If I were a superhero, my library card would be my superhero gadget. In fact, I have two library cards. I have my everyday, regular person card. My superhero library card is an Educator Card.” You’ve given me inspiration for thinking about another slice, and the Leonard Cohen picture, with the title reminded me of “High School Confidential” which made me wonder if that was a deliberate allusion.
I, too, have a very involved relationship with my public library! We have a standing date every friday. The stacks are my favorite place to be!
Oh my gosh, Leonard Cohen is my hero, and there he is! Your bat mobile is your library card. How cool is that—and free to boot. I have written about the wonders of libraries many times, but never in such engaging prose. Love this post and the topic! (No fines here either, but like you, I want to return books on time, especially YA books that I know I’m depriving hungry readers from accessing.)
Love your superhero gadget. Everyone should have one…and use it. I can’t imagine being in a place without a library no matter how small that library might be.
The library card is a great superhero gadget! You should write a book (or comic) about this! It would be great!
I love this confession! I currently have a book on loan from the Ontario College of Teachers that I am using for a course! I was allowed to have it for 6 weeks, but have managed to keep it for the entire course. I can’t renew it online myself because I’ve renewed it so many times so I have to keep asking them to help me. It’s actually due this week, but this is also the last week I’ll need it for my course so I am returning it next week (I hope I can find the return envelope!) Saved myself $140 by not buying it, and my yearly fees are $170 (I think) so I only need to borrow one more book to make my membership worthwhile.
Two highlights in this slice for me: Your opening nine words and the super-special powers you wield courtesy of your educator library card!
Your library is a special library. How do I know? When we lived in Portland, my husband worked there!