In a previous post I mentioned that I constantly keep a stack of five to a dozen library books by my bed and that this stack rotates extremely quickly.  In this post I will describe the system that allows me to maintain and replenish this stack with books from libraries all over the Atlanta area for a time cost of about ten minutes once a week.

The system revolves around a new conception of the library: instead of a place to go to find and read books, for me a library is a delivery box.  I use the catalog on my library’s website to place books on hold from my laptop at home.  If the books that I want are available locally, a librarian will pull them from the stacks and place them on a holds shelf near the entrance to the library.  If the books are not available at the local library, the computer system will send a request to another library to deliver a copy, which will then be placed on the same shelf near the entrance.

About once a week I visit the library, drop off any books that I’m finished with, pick up the books that have been held for me, and use the self-checkout computer next to the holds shelf to sign out my books.  I’m rarely inside the library for more than five minutes, and I never pay a dime.  I get movies and audiobooks the same way; in the past two years I have only purchased three DVDs, and all three were gifts.

The library emails me every time a new book arrives, so I never waste a trip.  In addition, I am notified if a book needs to be renewed, so I never have to keep track of due dates. Not every library system will do this; if yours does not, sign up for an account with Library Elf.

If you don’t know where to find your local library and you live in the United States, find out by visiting publiclibraries.com.