Musing Mondays: Libraries

Here's today's Musing Mondays hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. For the full meme and for everyone's responses, click here.

Do you have a system for borrowing out books from the library? Do you know what you're going to borrow before you get there? How often do you borrow out books?

I never thought about it before, but I don't really have a system. However, I use my library in a few ways.

Digital downloads. The most common way I borrow books from the library is by downloading audiobooks directly from its website. I try to remember to see what's new at least every couple weeks.

Online searching. When I discover a book I want to read but don't want to buy, I search the library's online catalog. If they have the book, then I place a reserve on it. That way, I can pop into town, run in to the front desk, and pick up my book. Easy as can be.

Monthly newsletters. My library has monthly email newsletters highlighting books in various genres. I get the YA, historical fiction, biography, and mystery newsletters. They come out once a month.

Challenges and activities. My library also hosts challenges and other activities. I always sign up for the reading challenges and sometimes sign up for the activities.

Interlibrary loan. I take advantage of our library's free interlibrary loan service. I can make a request through email. Once the book is found, the library informs me via email, and I can go in to pick up the book. I use ILL for both print books and audio. It's a great service.

Used book sale. Whenever I'm at the library to pick up or return a book, I try to remember to scope out its ongoing book sale.

I rarely just roam the stacks in the library because I don't seem to have make the time to do this. But I do check books out several times a month using one of the means I listed.