Sometimes you need a break from life’s main missions, so we have side quests! I’ve assigned myself some bookish side quests to accomplish by the end of this year.
Near the end of last year, I finally got around to getting myself a local library card. One of my friends is a massive proponent of libraries, and, though not her intention, her advocacy of them made me feel a bit ashamed that I have had a library card in… um… hmm… decades?
Having secured a card, I promptly set up a Libby account and was suitably impressed by how easy digital borrowing is. I don’t read physical books; I’m an eBook devotee.
The downside to libraries — versus buying books or subscription services like Kindle Unlimited — is book availability. You could wait for weeks or even months for a copy to be available. So, I started looking for ways to improve my access.
I started out by looking for free non-resident cards. There aren’t many, and you usually have to apply in-person or go pick up the card. So, I went looking for a way to see what libraries around me had the best digital catalogs — with regard to my interests. If you’re wondering, Fairfax County and Arlington County.
Next up, researching the fees and requirements for both. And that’s how I discovered library reciprocal agreements.
I grew up in Southern California. I don’t know if things have changed or if I didn’t understand all of the library benefits as a kid, but I never knew about reciprocal agreements between libraries. If you’re also unfamiliar with them, they are partnerships between library systems; some allow direct borrowing, others allow non-residents to get free library cards, and, seemingly, everything in between. Apparently, virtually all California libraries currently have reciprocal agreements.
Through my research into the Fairfax County library system, I discovered the extent of reciprocity in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area. Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Loudon County, and Prince William County in Virginia; D.C.; and Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County in Maryland all have reciprocal agreements with each other. On top of that, Maryland library systems all have reciprocal agreements as well.
And here enters my bookish side quests. I’m on a mission — technically 10-12 life side quests — to get a card from the DMV library systems listed above that are in areas Jim and I generally travel through in a year. Then I can go back to searching for libraries that offer online-only application processes.
For now, here is my side quest progress:
Virginia
☑ Alexandria City
☐ Arlington County
☑ Fairfax County
☐ Falls Church City
☐ Loudon County (maybe)
☐ Prince William County (maybe)
☐ D.C.
Maryland
☑ Anne Arundel County
☑ Baltimore County
☐ Howard County
☐ Montgomery County
☑ Prince George’s County
By the way, did you know that the Baltimore Pen Show hotel is 5-15 minutes away from three different library systems? I get to check off more side quests.
Do you have a library card? If yes, how many? If no, are you interested in getting one? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
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Attribution: The image I used in the share images for Instagram and Facebook is an amalgamation and edit of several different images by Matt Cole, licensed through Vecteezy.
