September 09, 2005

Dear Alderney Gate Public Library,

We've been together now for about four months, and it's been a great summer, really. Lot's of good memories. Anytime I was bored or... bored, you were there for me. I would take the 54 bus down to the harbour and spend a minute or two browsing the shelves or picking up my orders. It was great! And when you introduced that self-scanning kiosk, I thought I was in heaven! No more greasy weirdo librarians. I know you like them, but that's where we could never agree.

But listen, Alderney. Over the past few weeks it feels like you're just trying to get rid of me. I go away for one week and all I come back to is fines and blocks on my account. That's why I haven't been around lately! But it's alright, I can understand that, I even paid most of the fine. It just that it kept getting worse. You started canceling my holds before I even had a chance to pick them up. And the fines kept geting bigger and bigger. I needed more time, but you wouldn't give it to me, even when I tried to renew.

I'm sorry that it's gotten to this point. I know I need to come see you, but you still have these fines on me! I don't even know if I want to take these books back, especially if it just means more fines.

I thought we had something! I really did! I was getting so smart, reading books I had only heard talked about before. Heck, you even inspired the title of this blog!

It's really not you, it's me. I'm moving on, Alderney, and as much as I want to I just can't take you with me. So, I've decided that I'm just going to cancel the rest of my reservations and bring back what I have. I know, I know... I really wanted the first season of McGyver too, but there's 76 people ahead of me and it's just not going to happen in time. It's going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you.

I'm sorry it had to end this way, but I just had to tell you how felt. We've had a good run, you and I. And I can only hope that someday I'll be back and maybe then we fix this relationship.

Namaste, Alderney.

Evelyn

5 comments:

Shannon Skafte said...

Oh Ev'y you are so funny. And I so love your wit. And your humor, it's joyous. You are so very wonderful.

Promise me you will never lose that.

Ciao

Bryan Edward Hill said...

Great voice in your posts. I've been enjoying surfing through your archives.

Ah, the dramatic power of the library.

Keep at it.

Cheers,
BH
www.aggressivefiction.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

ummmm evelyn? it's been two days. update.

Rebecca Jane said...

Evelyn Downie? Library fines?
I remember dreading every time I was working and you returned books - only to have to tell you that your fine had gone up to well over a hundred dollars... It made me sad as I knew your relationship with the Rawlyk was floundering...

Unknown said...

haha, I'd forgotten about that!!! I really haven't had a good track record with libraries...