About 30 seconds after my husband texted the possibility of moving our family to South Carolina, I opened a new tab and began to Google.
- Do Publix grocery stores exist in South Carolina? And is one close to our new home?
- Does our bank have a branch nearby, as switch banks is annoying?
- Does a Lowes/Home Depot exist in the area?
- Were there enough restaurants to keep my taste buds content?
- Where’s the closest airport?
But, let’s get real. A very high-priority search involved the local library system.
My children and I visit the local library at least weekly, and if I sneak a free moment away from the kiddos, I normally find myself browsing the shelves at my leisure. I need a good library in my life–mostly for the health of the family checkbook, if you know what I mean.
So, when a bibliophile like myself digs up her roots and heads north, what are those most-important questions she needs to ask?
- When looking for a new house, how close is the neighborhood to a local library branch?
- Can I obtain a library card early in order to get on the waitlists for the books I’ve patiently been waiting for at her former library? (This is really stressing me out!)
- Are there established (i.e. awesome) book clubs in the area open to new members?
- Does Amazon Prime deliver to the new homesite, as I’m guaranteed to eventually purchase a new book?
- Can I really give away some of my books, as boxes full of books are super heavy to move?
- Will I remember to reset my Amazon delivery address so any pre-ordered books will find their way into my loving arms?
- Are there any bookstores nearby? Any used bookstores? (I’m itching to visit M.Judson Booksellers and Chocolate Moose Bakery in Greenville. Doesn’t that just sound glorious?!)
- Can I convince my husband to give away some of his decade-old college text books? (Answer: Yes! Yay!)
I’m on the library hold-request list for more than 30 items (DVDs and books included). I’ve been waiting for some items since August! AUGUST! There’s a bit of a pain in my side when I think about losing my place in the queue.
Ah well, there are more important issues in life…
…like, where are all of the other book-lovin’ mamas, how soon can we hang out, and when can we swap books?
Currently Reading:
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – I’m still plugging along. I’m enjoying it a lot more now that the girls are out of the concentration camp. Yikes.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo – This book helped me weed through baby clothes today. It’s so hard to go through all of those teeny weeny clothes!