Everyone knows having fun isn’t hard when you have a library card, but despite being an English Major and an English Teacher, it is time to get rid of libraries.
Though I am fond of the thrill of finding an unknown gem like The Hobtown Mystery Series, tracing the germ ridden cityscape rugs with a car, or figuring out which computer game to spend hours downloading to my mom’s desktop only to figure out we do not have the right computer to install the game, let’s make an executive decision.
Libraries
Need
To
Go
Perhaps you are part of the minority who knows what book they want to read, can dedicate ample time to finishing it, persevere through a book they may not connect with, and recall everything they read after one read.
If you are, stop reading this, you are far too superior for this mouth breathing, knuckle dragger’s hot take.
If you are like the rest of us readers who look at the cover art or cliche tag line on the front, get frustrated at how hard it is to find time to read, get bored by reading one thing for a long period, or simply don’t like reading, come closer: I have a plan.
My One Step Plan To Close All Libraries
Buy Books.
Buy. Books.
Buy the book on the podcast.
Buy the recommended book.
Buy the book that looks cool.
Buy the book that a famous author pitches to you under the guise of a free presentation on their latest research for you to only realize the research is in fact in the book they are now trying to peddle to you: yes this did happen to me and though I stood on principal for a month, I did buy the book and it is one of my best purchases.
You may not read it now.
You may not read it tomorrow.
However, Elizabeth Gilbert, one of my favorite authors says:
Inspiration will always try its best to work with you — but if you are not ready or available, it may indeed choose to leave you and to search for a different human collaborator. - Big Magic
In other words, when the universe decides to come knocking, answer, if you do not, someone else will.
Buy. The. Book.
Don’t feel bad if the book sits on your shelf for ages.
Who are you to know why the universe is telling you to act?
After seeing an B list celebrity post about it and my best friend recommend it, it took me three different times of picking up The Alchemist before I was ready to encounter all that was offered inside that book. In those three attempts, I was not ready for the experience I was being called to. It was only on retreat in the mountains of Colorado that I could be drawn into a story that brought me so close to God, or the Hand That Wrote All in The Alchemist.
Regardless, who are you to know why you are being called to act?
Buy. The. Book.
Do not question why you want a book.
Do not beat yourself up for not being able to get through a book.
Buy the book.
Try the book.
Set the book down.
Try it again.
If you really need to, try the audio-book, but always. buy. the. book.
Eventually you will figure out why the magic of the universe decided to stop at your door.
Buying a book is something you will never regret.
Plot Twist: I love libraries and do not think they should be closed.
I want toddlers to be able to have access to a fresh set of books everyday, or my sister to be able to read about the world and meet her reading tutor. I want kids to make friends as they peruse the seemingly endless array of shelves. To play with the blocks, listen to a read aloud, get their first library card.
I want adults to have a space to meet, work, and otherwise have access to the tools they might not otherwise have access too.
For the elderly to have a place to gather and read the paper and talk shop.
Yet, I do think that people need to buy books and invest in a self that may not yet exist. People need to be able to mark a book. To look up from their computer and stare at their shelf of books, tracing the spines with their eyes, following the letters, pondering what these book could tell them.
You cannot do that with a library book in the way you can when you own it.
But won’t I feel guilty for having all these books I have not read?
Yes, maybe, but no one ever thought bad of someone with a shelf full of books.
Won’t people judge me for having a shelf of books I have not read?
Yeah, maybe, go with The Rock on this one. I give you permission to take a deep breath, look that person square in the eyes, and tell them:
At the end of the day, people need to buy books.
People should buy books.
If you do not like the book, keep the libraries open and donate it to them.
HI!
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