Your Local Library Doesn't Trust You

A few months ago, a major life event occurred: I GOT MY NYPL CARD!!! For those of you who suck at acronyms, NYPL stands for New York Public Library. It was not as easy as you might think.

Words of wisdom for those who wish to follow in my footsteps:

1. Bring proof of address. If you don't, you will have to get permission from a supervisor to bring said proof upon return of the book. And the girl at the desk will basically make you feel like a homeless hoodlum.

2. When they give you that little receipt with the name of the book and its expected date of return, do not crumple it up and toss it in the trash after a brief, perfunctory glance at the due date; if you do, you will not make it through the security line at the exit and will be forced to return to the front desk where they will have to print you another copy. This time, you may not feel homeless, but you definitely feel like a hoodlum. And an a-hole.

The things I do for the A.B.C. And because I totally not-so-secretly love libraries and all the germs and weirdos that come with them.