Tuesday, May 17, 2011

a tale of banishment and a book bag

I have a confession. I have not checked a book out from our public library in 11 years. I knew it had been a long time, but didn't know exactly how long until I went to get a new card last week. See, I had this nagging feeling that I had overdue book fees from my adolescence that were never paid. I was right.


When I tried to get my new card, the sweet lady behind the desk said, "Oh, my," and flipped the computer screen around for me to see. Across the top of the screen was the word "BANNED" and a note that I owed $30 for late fees that dated back to the summer of 2000. Whoops. At least it wasn't as bad as I thought. But banned? From the library? How embarassing. It was the summer I was newly pregnant with Avery and getting ready to leave for my senior year of college, so I blame it all on a freaked out preggo brain.


Luckily all is cleared up now. I am the proud recipient of a library card once again and plan to take the kids there quite a bit this summer. To celebrate, I made myself a new book bag out of some Alexander Henry Heath fabric and a pack of Umbrella Prints remnants.


It's lined with some an elephant fabric that worked just perfectly and has a dotty pocket just right for my card.


Now to make a list of books to check out! Any suggestions?

27 comments:

felicity said...

Hooray! I HEART the library and so does my kiddo - have fun!!!

Kadybug said...

Cute bag! Book suggestions: Bel Canto - Ann Patchett. I read it recently and thought it was amazing.

Kaye Prince said...

Hurray! You know I love libraries, being a librarian and all, so I'm so happy that you've got a new card. Part of my decision to become a librarian was because of the memories I have of libraries and librarians from my childhood, so I really hope that your kids enjoy it as much as I did!

Love love love the bag too - it's super-cute! Book suggestions, eh? I have a ton! What type of books do you like?

Molly said...

Have you ever read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? I relate so much to Francie's love of reading as a girl and her library visits. I remember that she'd go the library and then make herself a cozy reading nook on the fire escape and settle in with her books.

Ahhhhhh ..... That's always a good summer read :)

Jen said...

Anchorage Library is one of my favorites! So pretty! Bel Canto is a fabulous read, like Kadybug said. for something serious and lyrical and precious, check out Elizabeth Berg. For something a fun and light check out Sophie Kinsella. Just remember to bring it back this time!

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

Only $30? Heck, people rack up much bigger bills than that. Not me, of course! ;)

Books I've enjoyed/am soon to read: Love Wins by Rob Bell, Sarah's Key, The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Have fun!

Poppyprint said...

The Help, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Red Tent, Cloud Atlas. Just a few I've loved in the last little while.

Great book bag. Thank goodness the library doesn't charge credit card interest rates!

Tanya said...

Great bag! Try ROOM. Sad and hopeful at the same time.

DianeY said...

I rediscovered the library about 2 years ago after about a 20 year absence. Since I read a ton, I use all the money I save from not buying paperbooks for fabric! How's that for procrastination! If you like mystery and action, anything by David Baldacchi, Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben & Stuart Woods are my favorites!

Anna said...
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Anna said...

haha, I mean to say that luckily the library doesn't send out warrants! :) love the bag

Jenny said...

your bag looks great! i love those prints!
have your read the Hunger Games yet? that was a good series of reads...my library has such an awesome selection of quilting books! get all theh Gwen Marstons! they are great!
and Cooper will be sure to like Where Is The Green Sheep by Mem Fox...my sons just loves that book!
have fun! we spends loads of time at our library!

Amy Friend said...

Oh, you make me laugh! I am at the library at least 2 times a week with the kids but rarely get to look for books for myself!

**nicke... said...

i would go with a couple oldies but goodies... pride and prejudice and the hobbit. can't go wrong.

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

We will be reading Christy for book club and they (not I)just finished Matched by Ally Condie. I am currently reading The Scarlet Pimpernel. GoodReads is a great place to see what your friends are reading!
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/999749?shelf=currently-reading

Emily said...

haha! I had a fine of a couple dollars when I renewed my card a few weeks ago. I had no cash on me... and the lady behind me paid it. So sweet. :)
As for recommendations -
"the time traveler's wife" by audrey niffenegger
"the red tent" by anita Diamont
"Little Earthquakes" by ... her last name is Weiner I think.
And all the books you can find about Gee's bend - there are some beautifully inspiring coffee table books that you might be able to find... gorgeous pictures and inspiring stories... and lovely quilts! :) Happy reading!

Kirsten said...

Gorgeous library bag - just love those ellies!!

AmandaHall said...

hehe. I have not gone to the library for this very same reason. It has probably been just as long. But with summer coming up and all my girls just about old enough, I might just follow your lead and see what happens. Besides, I could always use a good excuse to make some new library totes!

jmday said...

Hehe... I, too, was BANNED from the public library. I owed over $50 from what must have been my senior year in high school...

Leslie said...

i love this bag...and the elephant fabric is awesome....like a homage to never forgetting to return books!

♥Duff said...

so I'm a little behind in blog commenting--hope you get this at some point! I log on to Amazon, scroll through the quilting books, then copy paste the ISBN in to my library's search engine. this way I can check for it in our consortium (about 200 libraries) and then order it as an inter-library loan. Lots of books, no money! there have been a few I have purchased, but not many.

Trisha said...

What a fun idea to make a library bag! I should do that for me and my kids. We love the library and will probably go even more this Summer. I recommend These Is My Words. My favorite book of all time!

Unknown said...

I loved 'The Help'.

(and I was banned too for a while: my handbag was stolen and the thief went to the library took out a huge number of CDs and never returned them!! I had to show a police report confirming I'd had the bag stolen/cards etc.... it took me ages to sort it out!)

Fifi said...

i totally adore this bag!


And I can't believe no one suggested "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. Hello! Why not read a book that references elephants when you have them in the bag!!

elnorac said...

I adore this bag, which I found in the Umbrella Prints group on Flickr. I'm now following your blog.

Do you recall what twill tape you used for the handles of the bag?

I have a library confession, too. When we moved to SoCal from AZ, I got a library card right away. When I went to check out books for the second time, they told me I had a fine of over $10, and I was amazed! Where I'd lived before, they were happy to have people check out books, and they didn't charge fines, so it hadn't occurred to me that they might charge fines here. Blush! Now I'm more careful. So you're not alone in the library fine department.

It's possible that your library has a books by mail feature. Our county library system has one for people who are disabled or who are caring for someone disabled, including a frail elderly person. That's how I get my books these days, and it's a wonderful system.

Well, sheesh, I wrote a terribly long post, didn't I? Anyway, I'm glad to find your lovely blog...

Bearpawquilter said...

I get ebooks and audio books through the AK state library system and use them on my ipad FREE. Love it! Patricia Cornwell, J.A. Jance, Tess Gerritson, Joanna Fluke, Dana Stebanow, many others Also, Pillars of the Earth.

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