Imogen's Rules for Library Trips

Being the book-loving person that I am, I occasionally visit this lovely little place called the library. It’s a wondrous building full of hundreds of books that you’re allowed to take home for free. That sounds pretty much like heaven. Of course, being a rather strange book-loving person, there are a few rules that accompany such library trips. Today I’d like to share my top four rules for library trips, in no particular order.

Rule one: Always bring another book-lover. In my case, my sister Charlotte. No library visit is complete without cracking a few hundred book related jokes with my crazy sister. One simply must have a fellow reader to cringe at cliché romances, giggle at overdramatic book titles, and obsess over favourite books with.

Rule two: Play the title game. Have you ever noticed that titles seem to follow a trend? Like they’ll all be about swooning, or blood, or have the word ‘keeper’ somewhere. The title game involves counting up all the titles that contain a particular word or phrase. My favourite word to look out for is ‘Alaska’. Apparently either John Green’s ‘Looking for Alaska’ has influenced the current crop of titles, or it’s a very popular place to set a book.

Rule three: Choose books based on random plot elements. Who to know what a book is about anyway? As long as I know that someone has amnesia, or that there are fairies in the book, what else do I need to know about the plot? Admittedly, this method doesn’t always guarantee a perfect selection of books, but it is highly amusing and makes for a varied stack at the end.

Rule four: No book is too young. Don’t believe the judgemental looks the other library patrons might give you. There is nothing wrong with browsing the kids’ books when you’re in your twenties. Good writing knows no age limits. Go thou and read all the MG books you like. Be a book-loving, library visiting rebel.

So there you have it, my top four rules for visiting libraries. What rules do you live by when you visit this wondrous place? Have you ever played the title game? And what was the last book you borrowed from the library?