Reading, and Rims!

This fall a great travesty befell the people of Beaverdale. The Franklin Library, which possesses the largest circulation of books in the system, closed and relocated to the Merle Hay Mall. They are building the new library, and they don't need a bunch of books and toddlers running around amid the support beams and sheets of glass, I guess.

I am partial to the Franklin Library; a good deal of my book was written at a square table near the one and only outlet. My friend Nikki worked there, and it is just blocks from my apartment. I am partial to the Central Library (though I miss the old building on the river), though I hate the parking--who wants to spend only 2 hours at the library?

There is a library hole in my life. I need books. I need media. I don't need Mall-time. I've heard the temporary location in the mall is fine, but I just can't bring myself to stop by. Who wants to pick out books in what used to be a Gap? Forest has done in a pinch, but there is about one work table in the entire joint, and the South and East side libraries are just too far away.

Nowadays (my students love that word), I've been driving to work on 2nd Avenue through Highland Park, which has opened up a whole new neighborhood for me. Chuck's is practically a haunt, and so, I figured it was about time I found my way to the North Side Library. Do you know what they have plenty of at the North Side Library? Rims. There were four cars in the parking lot with extra-fancy rim jobs. But, they've got a lot of other stuff as well: plenty of books on CD, which I listen to in the car, plenty of books in general, a handful of tables, too little space for kids to get a running start, and a meeting room with historical displays. I was charmed.

Perhaps, this would be my library of choice from now on? Perhaps all along, I've been compromising on my library choices (parking versus books versus tables versus mall-walkers), when no compromise is necessary. Perhaps that is the lesson of adventuring--perhaps, waiting out there for you is what you've been looking for all the time. I can see that this is going to be addicting.

PS: If anyone is interested, I will be at the Central Library this Wednesday night for the Iowa Library Association Iowa Writer's Fair (6-8). Come by the table and say hello. There will be candy corn.