You know what they say about the tyranny of the urgent, right? It’s bad news to put important things on the backburner because something more pressing–but less important–grabs our attention.
Well, book lover that I am, I experience my own unique brand of the tyranny of the urgent. I’m calling it the tyranny of the library.
My library’s reserve request system is magical. Any book that I want to read in the whole library system is mine for the asking–delivered straight to my local branch next door.
But this incredible resource gets me into trouble, because I don’t control when those books come in. Once they arrive, I only have 3 weeks to read them. If I’ve been waiting for months for a popular book, I need to read it immediately or I’ll lose my chance. Long-awaited library books often become “urgent” items on my to-read stack, jumping ahead of books I’m more interested in but don’t have a deadline on.
I recently realized that I’d been putting off two high-priority books–7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess and Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture–because of the tyranny of the urgent. These two titles were my top priorities, but they were getting bumped because long-awaited reserve items kept arriving for me at the library. Since I owned 7 and Introverts in the Church and could read them anytime, I kept putting them off in favor of the less important–but more urgent–library books.
Consistently putting the urgent above the important is never a good plan, not even for library books. Because truly, it’s not the library’s fault! The problem is with my own poor planning.
Here’s what I’m doing to make sure I’m reading the books I want to read, and not just because the library demands it!
1. Prioritize what’s important. When I clearly articulate what I want to read first, I can consciously plan to make that happen.
2. Don’t request library books that aren’t priorities right now. I’ve been guilty of requesting a library book because I was interested in it, without stopping to think whether or not I wanted to make the time to read it that month.
When a popular book comes out, like Susan Cain’s new release Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, I place a request right away, so I don’t have to wait a year to get my hands on a copy. (And when Quiet comes in, I’ll drop everything to read it.)
But the library has many, many books that I’m interested in reading eventually, but aren’t in high demand. I can have a copy of these titles within days, or even hours if it’s sitting on the shelves at my local branch. I am breaking my bad habit of not requesting books that I want to read someday–just not necessarily right now. For these books I recommend…
3. Get a Goodreads account. Several of you readers recommended I get a Goodreads account to help me meet my goal of keeping track of the books I read. I did, and I’ve been faithfully recording what I read. But it’s also been helpful for keeping track of what I want to read in the future. (If you want to connect on Goodreads, you can find me here.)
I did finally read 7 and Introverts in the Church!
Do you suffer from the tyranny of the library? How do you stay on top of what you’d like to read next?
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What a timely post! I went to bed last night with this exact quandary on my mind.
Thanks for the tips.
Our library is still using a card catalog system like the one in your picture.
Not a lot of “new” books in these parts. Do understand what you are saying though.
I remember when my library ditched the card catalog. That was a sad day for me, but I’ve adapted…finally! Perhaps you’re still able to request books? (Though I understand it’s much harder to know what’s available when the system isn’t so easily searchable.)http://modernmrsdarcy.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
I live in a very small town and they have often gotten a book for me that I wanted. If you go often you might be surprised at how helpful and willing they are to buy a book you would like.
This happens to me ALL THE TIME. The worst is when I have several “high-priority” books that I want to read, I request them, and I’m waiting for weeks. So I start reading other, lower-priority books and am in the middle of several of those and then SUDDENLY all the high-priority books come in ALL AT ONCE and I have twenty books to read in two weeks.
First-world problems, I guess.
Yes, I understand that scenario EXACTLY.
And yup, it’s a first-world problem. Right up there with running out of coffee so I don’t have a hot cup to go with my good book
Oh, I can so relate to this! I’ve recently discovered that my account in my library system has a shelf where I can put books ‘to be read later’, so I don’t need to reserve them, but I can virtually put them there so I don’t forget them and can reserve them later. Of course, that didn’t help with the 6!! books that came in for me at the library on Saturday. Better get reading!
Oh, I’ve been there with the 6 books at once!
A “save for later” shelf sounds wonderful. That’s what I’m using Goodreads for, but it’s quite possible that my library account has that option and I just haven’t figured it out
Ha, I agree with the above commenter who says “First World Problems” — but it’s a problem for me too!
I find myself reserving things, and then playing that game where I wait till almost the whole 7 day hold period is used up before I go check them out, so that I can essentially “have” the book almost 4 weeks instead of 3. And yet still I often end up renewing things… and I’m falling behind on the books I got sent for review. I just made a little library ban for myself (no new reserves for at least 2 weeks till I get caught up on those ARC reviews that are due soon!).
Ha! I’ve done that, too
I completely relate to this! The nice part of my library’s request system is that you can save books to a list(s) you create. The last several months I’ve been using my list for books I’d like to read eventually and requesting only the ones that I want to read now. I have vast piles of books I already own (thank you very much, library, for always bumping them until later). I finished Unbroken last night and will return it to the library today and I’ve decided not to request any more books until I’ve made a good dent in the stack in the office. We’ll see how I do.
Yes, you know I hear you on the books I already own piling up! I’m curious to hear how you liked Unbrokwn, though…planning on blogging that one?
I used to suffer a LOT from the tyranny of library fines
Not anymore…but my tendency is to request too many books at once, I don’t read them all. I renew them a few times, still don’t read them because life happens, then I have to turn them in 
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
Haha, I know exactly what you are talking about! None of my friends who live here use the library, so I sometimes feel silly talking about it. I’m so glad I’m not the only one. It actually just happened to me this week. I have a novel that I am reading because I want to. Then there is another non fiction book I am reading for a book club. Then a book I have been waiting months and months for came in for me at the library. Well, the library book just got priority over every other book. It doesn’t help that my “to read” list grows much faster than the list of books I’ve read.
Yes, that happens at our home too. Some of the books, like The Happiness Project can take months and months to become available.
Thanks for mentioning Goodreads. I’m going to check it out.
I like this post! Because I completely relate to it! I am notorious for having like 10 books come in at once at the library and then they are due back way too soon! Ah! And then it gets stressful! But I want to read ALL the books!:-)
Now I’m doing book reviews for my blog as well and it’s adding to the stack of books.
But I love having access to all of these wonderful things to read. I love that it’s free. I love that it’s accessible. I am thankful!
I use my Amazon wish list to help keep track of things I want to read in the future.
I am thankful for all the wonderful things to read, but it does get a little overwhelming.
I run into extra trouble when I’m writing about a book, because then I keep it around “just in case” I might need it again to refer to–instead of returning it to the library and getting it out of the house!
My husband is reading Introverts in the Church right now! He loves it—he feels like it describes him perfectly (but doesn’t give him any excuses).
And I feel the tyranny. It never fails that the books I order come in while I’m on vacation or something. Never. Fails. Then it’s too late to cancel them, and I get charged a fee for not picking them up. Argh!
He’s reading it right now? Crazy! I’m so glad he’s enjoying it.
And you get charged a fee for not picking items up? Ouch! I understand why, but still
I know exactly what you are talking about! I don’t have any solutions, but I’m nodding my head right along with your post.
I do this all the time – don’t read my own books because I’ve got library books that have to go back.
This year I’ve started making specific monthly reading goals, and I’m trying to make sure to include at least one of my books, so that I’ll slowly work my way through the backlog.
I’ve also recently started using Goodreads, as opposed to having an account but never touching it. It has been really handy for quickly adding books to a to read list, as opposed to the numerous slips of paper I was always trying to keep track of previously.
I’m recovering from my old habit of leaving little slips of paper all over the house, too! Thank you, Goodreads
You’ve inspired me to get a goodreads account again! I had one several years ago, but didn’t use it much. This is something I can totally relate to, though. Managing books from the library can get a bit crazy. And now, when I actually get to check one out on my Kimdle (there’s always a long wait for most books), it just adds another degree of craziness!
I tend to go directly to my library account and add any books I hear about that I want to read. What a great idea to track it all on my goodreads account. Thanks for the tip!