Issue #28: This One is for the Bibliophiles
Public library love, my experience at the Silent Book Club and the importance of preorders
Reading is usually the first hobby I tell people I have. I almost always have a book with me. I aim to finish one book each week and am usually close to that. Now, I have friends who read hundreds of books each year and others who might finish five or six. Reading should fit however it can into your life, so today, I wanted to share a few things about books that I have been loving lately.
If you missed my list of favorite books from 2023, you can click on the button below and see the full list. I read more celebrity memoirs than usual, but that wasn’t all. I had a few standouts in other categories that I highly recommend.
Make the Most of Your Public Library
Public libraries are one of my favorite places. Every time I’ve moved, acquiring a library card is one of the first things that I do. That is why I’m still shocked every time I talk to someone who loves reading, and they do not have a library card.
Getting a library card and checking out books helps your local library branch receive funding. Many people need the library's resources, including free internet access and printer services. So not only are you helping your own bank account (if you are a serial book buyer like me), but you are also helping your community.
If you need more convincing, here are eight ways to use the local library:
Physical books - This is the obvious one. The library is filled with books that you can check out. I take advantage of the online holds. I get on the list, and when the book is available, it gets put on a special shelf for me to pick up.
Audiobooks - I haven’t always loved audiobooks, but recently, I’ve been enjoying them for two different situations. Long road trips are perfect for audiobooks. I’ve also loved listening to nonfiction on my mid-day dog walks. It’s helped me add extra blocks to the walk, and the dog loves it, too. The library pairs with the Libby app, and then you can download them to your phone.
Kindle/e-reader books - Stock your Kindle with library books instead of purchasing them. The library website can connect directly to your Kindle or e-reader account and send the books whenever you connect to Wi-Fi. This came in handy while we were on our yearlong trip because we always had a book on hand.
Museum passes - Each local library has different offerings, but one of my favorites in Seattle is the museum passes. Using the website, I can select a date in the next 30 days and snag free museum passes to a dozen of the city's most popular museums. I’ve been to the aquarium twice and the Nordic Museum for free so far. Many of them come with four passes, so you can bring friends along. That’s saved hundreds of dollars.
Free classes and lectures - The library invites authors, lawyers, and experts to give free lectures. Last year, I joined an online class about estate planning and wills. There is also free tax help, language classes, and tutoring. I’d like to attend an author series this year if any catch my eye.
Inspiration - Each branch of the library is different. Some are in historic old buildings, and others are in giant, beautiful modern buildings. Whenever I’m feeling a little writer’s block, I like to go to a library and wander around a little.
Books that aren’t for you to read - I’ve been reviewing cookbooks more for the Cozy Chill website, and the library is the perfect place to get my hands on them. I can test them for two weeks and then return them. The ones that we absolutely love, we can purchase. I also stocked up on children’s books when my nephews visited last fall. It saved my sister-in-law tons of space in her suitcase and allowed them to stick to their evening routine of reading a book before bed.
Community resources - Our branch offers free masks, COVID tests, and a whole section of community information. You can figure out bus schedules, check the bulletin board for community events, and more.
Hopefully, this gave you some ideas of ways that you can utilize your library. I’m all about supporting local bookstores, too and my shelves are full, but the library helps me find books worth buying and allows me also to afford my rent each month. And this list doesn’t even include all the incredible events for kids.
Please get your library card. Bring your kids to get their own library card. Tell your friends to get a library card. Love the library.
Have You Heard of Silent Book Club?
I have always been obsessed with the idea of a book club. I started one when I lived in Minneapolis, which I absolutely loved and looked forward to. Since moving to Seattle, I’ve been thinking about it again. When I saw a post about a Silent Book Club, I was intrigued and confused, so I started googling.
A couple of friends in San Francisco came up with the idea. They would meet at a bar or restaurant and bring along a book. After catching up for a bit, they would sit together, open their books, and spend some time quietly reading. There were no requirements on what they read—each could bring their own book. People started to hear about it and wanted to join. Now, a few years later, there are over 500 chapters worldwide.
The one in my neighborhood takes place once a month, and there are usually five or six locations. I went last week and absolutely loved it. I arrived a few minutes before 7:00 and grabbed a beer and a seat alone.
After a few awkward minutes of looking around, two women seated near me invited me to join them. We chatted about books, the neighborhood, and the venue we were at after some quick introductions. One of them had been going to these for a while, and the other was a newbie, just like me. A latecomer joined our table, and at 7:30, the whole place quieted down, and everyone started reading.
For an hour, a group of a few dozen people just read quietly. There were sounds of shuffling, orders of additional drinks, and pages turning, but everyone stayed quiet. At 8:30, the place came alive again. One more person came to our table to chat. We spent another 30 minutes discussing books, hobbies, and how we all wish this were something that happened more often. The host gathers all the books and snaps a quick photo (see above.) And then, at around 8:50, people just started clearing out.
It was a wonderful experience, and I cannot wait to return in February.
Would you go to a silent book club? Check out the website. If you’ve been thinking about a book club, I wrote a whole post last year about how to start one:
Preorders are such a help to authors. I’ve preordered a few books this year and encourage you to do the same. Plus, it’s like you’re sending your future self a gift. You’re Safe Here is the first book by one of my favorite Substack writers, Leslie Stephens. Our friend, Anna, has two more books coming out this year, and I preordered The Misdirection of Fault Lines. I also preordered this poetry collection and this book about grief.
When we were on our “gap year,” we read a lot, and it’s fun to see what our favorites were during that year in this recap post. Plus, I love how we laid it out, and I might need to try this again in 2024.
Dive into the TikTok depths of library joy. I love the library, and it brings me joy to see other people.
I am about to start reading this classic. It should be a quick read, and I’m excited. I’m also curious about what constitutes a “classic.” This article sets out to define it, but it almost leaves me with more questions.
This library is still one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a house. I think I have shared it before, but I need to reshare it so you don’t miss it.
I’d love to know what you’re reading. Comment and tell me what book you’re in the middle of or which one you’re thinking about starting. And as always, “like” this post to help it find more readers and share it with your friends who might need Silent Book Club in their lives.
Cheers!
Steph