Everywhere I have lived has had fantastic libraries, or at least that is what my memory is telling me. Shortly after we moved here a neighbor informed me the local library was the size of a book mobile, so I hadn't bothered to check it out. I also knew the neighboring county had many great libraries.

This week Liam and I took the trip to one of these fantastic libraries, which I was so excited about. I even told Liam before we went in how wonderful libraries are and how this would be a place he would hold special for the rest of his life.

This very special place would like $80 for a library card. More accurately, they would like $80 per year for me to have a library card. There is another county where we just happen to be weekly, and checking them, it is $50 per year. Note that this is for me, a non-resident, not for people actually living in either county. In a way, I do understand why this is.

What really gets me is that these two counties have great library systems. They both have online sites, many branches, and large branches. These counties also have a reciprocal lending agreement, so if you live in either, you can check out books from either (at no cost). Great, those with great libraries to access get to access more great libraries. My county, on the other hand, which has this very small library, has no reciprocal agreements, no online access and a children's section not much larger than a bathroom. There appears to me one other branch in this county, in a smaller town, and I'm betting it is an even smaller library.

I'm telling myself I do not need to have a library card to take Liam to story times, but now I'm not so sure. Each "children's program" has a size limit and requires registration.

On the bright side, we did check out the local library and they were having a book fair, with half off on scholastic books. We picked up two, including my new favorite Skippyjon Jones.