The other week, Patrick and I made the bike journey to Duke's humongous library. I had but one purpose - fill my arms with as many books as I could carry, bike home, and plop on the couch with the first one in hand.
This was a Friday. Apparently, that alarm-like sound is the library's way of letting people know that they are closing. How would I know that? None of the students studying in the little cubbie-desks along the wall seemed particularly concerned when it first sounded, and I didn't see any flashing lights or smell any smoke, so I figured all was good. I proceeded to the alternative education section, which I wasn't surprised to find less peopled than the other areas. I was, however, concerned when I finally made my way down to the main floor to check out and there were no lights on. Hmm. I wondered if the other side of the library (they are connected by a third floor bridge) might be more, ahem, open. And then I see Patrick waiting outside. I open the door and ask him what's going on just when the alarm sounds. No biggie, noone showed up, but I had to leave my pile of un-checked-out-reading-bliss on a countertop and make my way out sans books. How odd. I mean, isn't everything in the U.S. supposed to be open 24/7? And how justifiably ridiculous I felt. An outlaw in a library.
Fortunately, I did make it back just as they were opening the following morning in order to snatch my book pile before it was reabsorbed into the ginormous book mass!
Speaking of books, you might have noticed my own little book store in the left side bar. Way back when, back in the days of Montessori By Hand, I put together a list of recommended children's books and resources. I never did bother transfering that over to this blog because the process would have been so tedious. Then I noticed that some of my other blogging friends had set up their own Amazon associates store, and I jumped on the boat. Now you can find all those books and more (I've also added a section on recommended music for children, which I'll constantly be adding to) in one place. Put them on your library list, find them used, buy them at your local bookstore ... but if you do end up purchasing from a link in my store, thanks for putting a few pennies in the "keep Patrick reading obscure history books throughout grad school fund!" I mean, really now ... three to four books a week? If he doesn't need glasses now, he will soon!
