Did you know that it is Library Lovers' Month? I didn't until I came across this meme via Library Queue (my public library isn't taking part alas). As you know I am a great fan of libraries, so I have to answer these questions, too. Quite frankly I'm not sure what I would do without access to a library.
How do you plan on celebrating Library Lovers month? I know I have a book or two about libraries, which I should pull out and read in honor of the celebration, but I'm not sure I'll get to them (my reading card is pretty full this month), but maybe I can fit in a short story or two? More about that this weekend.
How often do you accidentally spell library as 'libary' when you're in a hurry? Probably every time I spell it when I'm typing. I'm a horrible typist and continually have to backspace to fix words or sentences. And spell check has made me lazy.
What is the most amount of books you've ever had checked out at one time? Easily upwards of 20 (the limit at my library is 40). I do try not have more than ten as I know I can't read that many at once and still return them before the due date. Of course if I can renew books I am very good at juggling--figuratively speaking of course.
What is the longest you've ever gone without visiting the library? I've always used the library, since I was old enough to have a library card. However, when I was working full time in a bookstore I probably didn't use it very often--too busy working on creating my own library...Once the bookstore closed I was back to being a regular visitor.
What is the biggest fine you've ever had? There's a story behind this one. Never say--'I am absolutely positive I returned that book'. Well, 99% of the time (at least now) I am sure. Several years ago, however, I borrowed an Elizabeth George book. I also borrowed a VHS set of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries when they first came out. I knew I had returned the book. I sort of stowed the boxed set of movies behind some magazines and forgot them there. When the library asked for them back I was vehement that I had returned them. They accepted my word, and took the fine away. Lo and behold when I was doing heavy duty cleaning and moving things, I found the tapes. In my defense I did return them and explain what happened. I can't remember the fine amount anymore, but it was at least $10.00. I can't complain--the fines in an academic library can be massive--scholarly books and tapes can be very expensive to replace. I see what students sometimes pay and shudder. Be very careful with your library books!
When you go to the library, do you plan ahead and make a list? Or do you browse? I do both. I tend to go at least once a week, but browsing doesn't always net many new and exciting books. These days you really have to get online and request books if you want the really new ones. Usually a virtual line forms and it never sees the 'new books' shelves until months later. They do offer 14 day books that can't be renewed, and sometimes I can find something new there, but you have to get it read very promptly. I do occasionally browse the older books, which are on a different floor, but there are so many ranges of them, there is just too much to look at at once.
Have you ever been shushed by a librarian? Probably in high school, but not recently. The public library's main floor can be sort of noisy, which is where the new books are. I work in an academic library, but I've never shushed anyone, though there are moments when I'd like to. The third floor is meant for quiet study, but students will still pull out their cell phones make calls, which I find annoying.
What is the worst (against-the-rules) thing you've ever done in the library? I can't really think of anything. I once took an ILL book out of the library though there was a restriction on it that it could only be used in the building. Does that count? I only took it home over a weekend (and photocopied most of the needlework charts in it--it was an OOP, very lovely, and hard to find needlework book). I guess I was doubly bad about that one.
What's the worst thing you've ever done to a library book? I'm very careful with my library books. The worst I ever do is turn down pages where there is a passage I want to 'mark'. I always turn them back up before I return them. I've seen some nasty things done to library books, however. I won't go there--you probably don't want to know!
Have you ever had a "favorite" librarian? Not really, though generally I find them all to be helpful. For a long time in the public library one of the librarians who worked on the fourth floor in the fiction and literature area was very snarky and I would try and avoid asking questions. Now, however, there is a very nice lady who works in circulation who knows me by name and will pull out the books I have on hold. I seem to have gotten a reputation.
If you could change one thing about your library it would be... Better funding. I don't think the city's public libraries are very well funded and they've been dealing with budget issues for years now. I think it shows in their collections. Also, even though it's undergone some renovation, my branch seems somewhat shabby inside. Still I always seem to have a stack of library books, so I can't complain too much. I know they do the best they can with the little money they do get. Of course when I think about other public libraries, I get a little jealous. I believe this might just be where a fellow blogger volunteers?
Please feel free to play along.