Library Criminal

I have always had a deep love for the library.

I assume it began at an early age. From as far back as I can remember my mom would take me to the library where I would partake in story time and the beautiful thrill of looking at book covers, picking which illustration stuck out to me and was worthy enough of going home with me.

I love the smell of books, the feel of books and the excitement you get knowing there is a world waiting for you in between those two covers.

As I got older I would venture to the local library and pick out research books to look at. I loved researching the Titanic, meercats (this was after Lion King came out and I had a strange obsession with Timon) and any other topic that struck my fancy.

Obviously I was the most popular kid growing up, you should be jealous.

I was even a summer volunteer at the library for a few years during my teen years.

Again, coolest kid ever.

I have maintained my love affair with the library as I've gotten older. I got a library card after Luke and I got married and moved into our apartment and have enjoyed the thrill of checking out books since then.

Two years ago Luke and I moved into our house and I never changed my address with the library. Our house was in the same town as our library, same zip code but different county, I saw no reason to notify the library. Who knew a simple county change would be so important to the library gods?

One day in preparation for my beach trip I decided to check out some books. I began looking of rmy library card and realized it was missing. I searched high and low to no avail. I knew I needed to go to the library and get a new card, which meant I would have to tell them I changed addresses.

While getting my new card the man helping me asked if I lived in the same county, realizing that this was obviously an important factor in my relationship with the library I simple gave a nod of my head. It isn't lying if I don't verbalize the lie...right?

Three minutes later I walked out of the library, card in hand, happiness in heart. I passed the "county" check and I had a new card.

A week later my library days came to a screeching halt.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning when I received the call. A lady was on the other end and asked to speak to Megan. Not knowing this call held the future to the end of my library days I gleefully responded that she was speaking to Megan.

She then told me that I was no longer able to check out books from their library,

It was traumatic. I actually, ACTUALLY begged and pleaded with her. Trying to find every reason in the book to let me check out books. I explained that I was a good citizen, that I loved the library, that I lived in the same ZIP CODE as the library just not county.

It didn't work. She apologized and said my library card had been revoked.

Revoked? Those are some pretty strong words for a library card!

A couple of days later I got a message at work that I needed to call the library.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

So I called thinking maybe, just maybe they were going to tell me they looked up my past criminal record, discovered it was NON-EXISTENT and I was free to check out books.

False hope.

I was being called by the man who issued me the card to remind me I cannot check out any books.

Awesome.

I had a nice conversation with him and asked if he got in trouble for issuing me the card and he said yes he did indeed get "his hand slapped".

Snap. Our library takes itself seriously.

I'm sure there is a library located somewhere in our county that would accept me as I am, but for now I will sulk and pout about about how I was revoked from my library were I spent so many faithful years of my life.

Good thing I have about 200 books on my bookshelf that I bought but never read.

Thank goodness my own personal library accepts me as I am.