Saturday I went to the library for fun and browsing. No, not my library, but the Salem library. My roommate needed a book and I had to pick something up that the consortium where I work doesn’t own (I hate making them send it to me at work, using up all that gas and time when I could just walk two blocks to get it!). The sad thing about this? I was super excited to go to the library.
Yes, I was super excited to go to a library on a Saturday even though I work in a library. And I’ll admit that there are days when I am not super excited to be there. Like today: I have a big program that I need to do some prep for in about an hour and then I’m working until 9pm, so I’ll be partially missing watching the Patriots game with my friends. And I’ve been up late (like past midnight!) for the last two nights in a row and I’m tired already. But most of the time, I really love my job.
But it’s not the same as going to a library where you don’t have to work and browsing the shelves. I can sometimes browse the shelves at work when I’m organizing the YA section or putting up the new books, but it’s also my job to help people if they ask or do all the other things that make up my job. I never really get to just browse around the library on my own without any obligations.
Despite the Salem library being strangely set up – though they have more shelves than tables for displaying books, now – it was so relaxing. I felt like a patron, albeit a very informed, kind, self-sustaining patron. (The best kind.) I kind of forget how great libraries can be when you’re not working there.
Anyone else miss experiencing their line of work as a patron or customer?
lcarslibrarian 
Absolutely!! This is why I always visit libraries while on vacation. I get to be a patron for a little while. Lovely post, Anna. 🙂
Visiting other libraries is one of the BEST things about vacations!