30 days :: 21

at the library.

{and for those of you long-time readers with good memories, I'm pleased to tell you that our current library balance is $0.00}

Comments

[heather]

... as the sky parted and the heavens opened... bloggers everywhere stood in awe...

does it feel as amazing as we all imagine it to? ;)

[Jen]

Ah...library fines. Those have become infamous with us...I think we may have some again. Due dates are overrated.

[jean]

sweet. hour after hour after hour ahead of you.

[sarah]

If you moved to my town, there would be no fines....then again, there aren't a lot of books to choose from :)

[emily]

oh! so good. i owe so much that i'm afraid to go to the library to return the books that are way, way overdue.

[asti]

Sadly, I've actually stopped going to the library because I'm incapable of taking the books back on time. (we're talking months here..at least)...and then the avoidance because the fine's too embarrasing etc, etc. They've bought in on line renewals now, so at least I'd not have to look anyone in the eye !

[Alicia G.]

I'm in awe. Then again, I just paid a $90 fine myself.

[lyn]

Mine are about 14 months overdue. Isn't that dreadful. I'm now in the position of being too scared to take them back.

[Nadine]

I am at a zero balance with the library as well for the moment, but for who knows how long. It's the most precarious feeling, wouldn't you say? Nice red/orange carpet.

[Suzanne]

I just paid mine--$20.00. Can't remember what each individual child owes!

[Maire Stafford]

Well I suppose that is one advantage to Dyslexia, no library fees. Would I give this up for Beth to be able to sit and read a book like that. I am not sure, dyslexia has it's advanteges too, wouldn't want to lose them. Nice perspective and colours.

[Laurie L.]

Ahhh! Library fines! Thankfully once a year our library system has a "forgiveness" day wherein if you bring back the late, overdue, fee-laden books, the accumulated fee is waived. I love the look, feel, and smell of row upon row of books!

[julia]

i'm very impressed! i wonder what he's reading- looks like a good one.

[Mama Urchin]

$0.00 - now that's a feat. Our library system abolished late fees but I think I still have some in the next county over where I lived 10 years ago.

[betsy]

i'm loving that orange carpet!

[Linda Miller]

Oh my that reminds me, I think I owe about $6.00, but going through the bookshelves to find the books that belong at the library is always my hardest chore :).

On another note, I have lots of books for smaller children that need a place to go. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Melissa]

Oh what a fabulous photograph!

[Mandy]

If my library didn't use the Elf thing (heard of it?) I would have many overdue fines. They email me when my books are due!

[annette]

Love this photo. Can't even wait to get to a seat before he digs in!

[brandie]

a zero balance...really? congratulations!!

[coffeechris]

Congratulations on the zero balance, I'm so envious. We LOVE the library, but can't seem to return those books on time...I'm with the other comments afraid to go in, as I think are faces are on a poster in the back room ....WANTED overdue fines...help.

[christina]

a boy after my own heart. I think Ive paid enough fines to OWN the library! I might as well just go in with a mask over my face, huh?
Happy reading!
Christina Gomez

[QALBALLAH]

Ah so they allowed you back in huh? :P

[Kate]

Ahh, the fines. I'm not proud to admit this but once, long ago during my days as a starving student, my library fines grew so large that they refused to let me check out any more books and instead of ever paying them, I just moved to another state.

Thankfully I'm much better now, but I don't think we have ever had a $0.00 balance!

[MelissaS]

As a Librarian, I'm so proud of all of you for paying your library balances! (The only reason I don't have a balance is because staff here are exempt ;)
Lovely photo!

[Sherah]

When I first looked at this post there was one comment... a few hours later... A TON! Such a popular mama. Congrats on getting your fines paid!

[gnarly nanny]

totally awesome shot... love the lighting, the lines, and the colors. amazing as usual!

[susie]

Oh, how I love my public library, but hate the 3 week checkout time! We have books due today, come to think of it! I always end up owing a fortune, since my kids (5 of them) all have their own library cards, too. Every year before Christmas, our library will forgive fines if you bring in a canned good to donate to the local food pantry. So, for each fine, you donate a can of food. I say that is a great bargain, since most of my fines per book were at least $2. Maybe you could suggest something like that to your library. It would get people to bring their books back and also help out a worthy charity!

[erin lang norris/yellow canoe]

That is the best shot ever...

Good to hear about the balance :)

[Bipolarlawyercook]

I love the perspective on these. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

[janet clare]

Thankfully, here in the UK they don't give fines on overdue children's books- it's saved me a fortune over the years!

[Andrea]

I love this shot. It does feel really good to have those fines paid off. We love our library and we love our books. We used to be so good about getting them in on time, but the kids check out so many...Anyway, congrats on the 0 balance

[nina beana]

what a great shot! that would be perfect framed over or near a bookshelf. now if only i could get my kids to sit and read at the library, and not climb like little monkeys all over the shelves! :)

[camerashymomma]

ha! i was hiding from the lady in the leopardskin glasses... had to confess to a $18 fee! yikes, but now we're in the clear too, i can show my face again! :) love this photo amanda, all of it, the length, the perspective of him all alone, the rows and rows of books! it's great.

[Mijk]

Me too me too No fines since november (and still ave books. The librarian informed methat they did miss my contribution though ;-)

[cloth.paper.string]

ah those library fines... here we get cut off if the balance is above $5. with inter-library loan being so key to my sanity these days, i'm kept in relative check.

also, there's something about giving the library money that i actually enjoy -- it's like my little contribution for the goodness the library brings to our lives.

[KievMama]

When I was a kid my mom left the library books (and most everything else) up to me. I ran up a huge fine and then moved to HI for three years. I felt crushing guilt over this the whole time and was scared to set foot back in that library when I came home. Sad. I never got another card there until I was an adult.

I do miss libraries for my girls, though. I ordered books for my 7 year-old; they took one month to get here; and then it took her one hour each to finish them (in other words, 4 hours and she was done!). Argh! Plus, I.don't.think.I.can.read.The.Small.Pig.one.more .time.to.my.2.year-old!

[Danielle]

What a lovely picture. I too would have huuuge fines when it came to library, I was never done on time or I never had the time to return a book. Or I was just too lazy. Did you know there are book rental sites just like a netflix idea but with books, it's fairly cheap and of course it's not the same as walking into a library and paging through a book, but they have a huge selection. Price ranges from 15 bucks (2 books at a time) and 30-35 bucks (11 at a time). And if you want a book that they don't have they'll order it for you from amazon. And of course NO late fees. I sound like a commercial huh? Well my friend just told me about it 2 weeks ago and I've already gotten 3 shipments of books since I signed up. It's called Bookswim, I highly recommend it!

[Sarah]

I feel like a physic weight is lifted when my library fines are paid in full. You?

[tara pakosta]

oh man i am always getting hug fines too! i barely go because i am afraid i will not bring them back on time!!!!!!!!! LOL!
tara

have you heard of the book program
http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

i have heard so many great things about it!
tara

[Lisa Z]

I had no idea so many of you were suffering under the weight of library fines like I am! It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I also think I'm happy to donate to my library, but then if it's keeping us from actually using the library because we're so bad at returning books, what good is that? Unfortunately, I think libraries are relying too much on fines to pay their bills these days. So much for "free" libraries! Of course, we all have the option of being responsible with our book returns...aarrgh!

[Gypsy]

This one is my favorite so far! I can smell the books:)

[simply]

ohhhh what a great shot at the library...so cool!

~simply~

[Molly]

What a great perspective.

My fine at the library was more than $17 last time. Not good. I'm usually so responsible...

[Kristy]

As a children's librarian (& avid Soulemama reader) I have to say "YAY!". At our library we don't charge children late fees because those wee ones need unlimited access to books. No one should ever be charged late fees - look at all of the comments where people don't go to the library because of the money they owe - it's sad.

[Toni]

I've made some hefty "donations" to my library in the past..ahem...but I'm proud to say that my current balance is 0.00 too! At least the money goes to good cause, that's my only consolation for being late!

[Rachel]

Is there anyone out there who actually takes books back on time? If so, I've never met them!

[Grace]

I wish I could say the same about mine. Sigh.

[kjerstiye]

i prefer to think of my fines as 'donations'.

they are my CHOSEN (not accidental, of course) way of supporting the fine institution that is the public library.

[TeenSleuth]

AWESOME photo and congrats on your zero balance!