In a world of instant gratification, requesting materials from the library is a pleasantly slow experience to me.
I want to read this book, I want to watch this movie. I don't need to right now, though. Just sometime. There are 0 copies available and 4 people ahead of me in line. I place a hold anyway. Weeks, maybe months later, I've all but forgotten I placed any request in the first place when suddenly, surprise! Your book is ready! You get to read a book! What a beautiful surprise! Or maybe I didn't forget I had a hold placed, maybe I've been looking forward to this book for weeks, eagerly checking the status in my library portal like a kid waiting to open Christmas presents, and now, finally, it's ready!! It's time!!!
Often I place several holds at once, and sometimes they trickle in steadily, and sometimes they fall on me all at once like a waterfall. I don't want to be selfish by keeping things for too long, so I actually sit down and read these books, too, rather than letting them collect dust unread on the shelf. And I hear about more books or movies that sound interesting, and so I place more holds, and when I come in to the library to pick up the new materials or return old ones, I may as well browse while I'm there, y'know? And so the rhythm of checkout-return continues, this peaceful ebb and flow continually bringing me new stories to enjoy.
I love you, library. Your emails telling me my holds are ready for pickup are perhaps the only emails that do indeed find me well.
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