If you're lucky enough to live in a place that has a library, I strongly recommend you to visit it.
No matter whether you're a (legal) resident or not, access is usually open to the public.
You can walk the aisles in search of a specific book, or simply get lost and let fate take you to your next narrative adventure.
If you can, I also highly encourage you to get your library card.
As much as I want to support writers and creators I do not necessarily have the budget to buy a copy of every single book I read or the shelf space to hold them.
Why I love libraries in general
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they're free
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they're accessible to all
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they offer free (or affordable) culture in so many forms: books, films, music, classes, reading sessions, workshops.
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they usually offer free (limited) Internet access.
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they are a great place to visit or hang out in while in a new city.
So today, here's one thing you could do, visit your library's website (or give it a call) and see how you can sign up to get your card - most require a photo ID, others a proof of residence.
Why I love the Multnomah County Library System in particular
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it's free (besides the fact that some of your tax money supports this system)
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you can order books online, then pick them up and drop them off at the library location that's closest to you - no need to travel across town!
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you can request books and pause a hold if you're not ready to pick or read them just yet. I do that a lot since some books I want to read are very popular and I might be # 52 on the wait list.
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you can borrow e- and audio-books online and synchronize them with your device (phone, tablet, reader).
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similarly, you can access the Hoopla Digital Audiobooks library with your library card.
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you can also stream movies for free via Kanopy - limited to 6 movies per month.
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you can listen to Portland-made music via the Library Music Project - accessible to all.
If you live in the Portland, here's how to get a library card.
Get yours and send me a picture of you with your new card, or the first book you borrow (or tag me in it so I can see it). This would make me so proud and happy!
Free online books for all
Books I'm currently reading
- Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
I heard someone read some of Rilke poems at a conference and have been so moved that I decided to read everything the poet wrote that I could put my hands on. This book is a correspondence between the author and a young poet, or are those letters he could have written to his younger self. It makes me want to write more, to loved ones, to strangers, to myself.
- The Modern Enneagram by Kacie Berghoef and Melanie Bell
I have a slight obsession for personality tests. And the Enneagram was high on my list since everyone I know or follow talks about it. I borrowed this book because it was on the library shelves but have not been very excited by it. I'm really just only waiting for this one to be available so I might soon figure out what personality type I am.
- The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
Starhawk is regularly mentioned in La Poudre, a French feminist podcast I listen to so I decided to read her bestselling classic. I'm very excited to read about goddess worship and witchcraft.
You can also check out my feminist reading list for more book recommendations.
- Garbology by Edward Humes
Everyone interested in sustainability, circularity, consumption habits and evolution should read this book. I've been reading it slowly, as I want to take the time to reflect in between chapters. After the story of a landfill, I'm now reading about the so-called plastic garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean, microplastics pollution and its impact on our environment and food system. It's really eye-opening!
You can find more Zero Waste book inspiration over here too.
Tell me something about a book you read, a library you visited, or a great resource you'd like to share with all of us.