This weekend I helped a family member move a bookcase so they could get new rugs. It wasn't too much work. The books came down in order laterally and I lined them against the wall, then after moving the bookcase, they went back in the order they came down again. This explanation seems excessive, but it's amazing how people can be funny about little details. Things like the order their books sit on the shelf. In this case, the books belonged to a now deceased relative and were kept in the order of their favorite books from left to right. Although I don't believe that the order of books has any meaning, it is a good way to keep them around the house. Which brings me to this weeks subject: The library.I used to have lots and lots of books. There wasn't any organizing, what I was reading was on the floor by the sofa or bed, what I had finished were tossed into the pile, and what I didn't like was leveling a table, holding open a broken window or in the bathroom to save money on TP. It's nice having books in the house, its a good way to broadcast a love of knowledge. Visitors can quickly get a sense of who you are by what books you have. Interesting people tend to have interesting books. I still have a few favorites around to thumb through, but mostly they are for show. All of my serious reading comes from the library.
My local branch is very close, so I make more use of the library than most people. The library is not behind the times either, they have good web integration where books, movies and CD's can be requested online. There is no reason to spend hard earned cabbage on DVD rentals or books. You can even use the Internet for free.
It is not enough to simply use the library, you must participate. Every branch has a "friends of the library" group or civic equivalent and I recommend you join. For instance, my library was not current with its wireless Internet service and the old ladies that traditionally respond to such things didn't know the difference between 802.11B and 802.11G - indeed, it would be unreasonable to expect them to. I joined the library club and got smoking fast connections and now more people go to the library. A good library is a sign of a good community.
As for me, when I die and relatives are trying to find my ghost in the books, they will have to go to the library.
