The Dream Library - At Last

Another long one.
Ever since childhood, I guess since age of 7 I was imbibed with the love for reading (But not exactly study books. I am honest you see!) All thanks to my mom and the lineage on her side. My collection has always had numerous comics, books, novels in all the three languages I read and speak. I have also been life member of various libraries throughout my life. But all of these libraries had one thing wrong with them - they were Not libraries. They were just a one or two room collection of books of some individual running that humble but God-sent place. Yes some real libraries did exist in some of the cities I have lived but either all of them were too far from my home and hence not accessible to the young and minor myself or they belonged only to members of some universities / societies to which I did not belong. Note that one never belongs to an univerity/college which has best infrastructure. Grass is always greener in the other campus, be it facilities or uhmm, gurls:-) Anyway, even when I was independent and eligible (read "Mr small money bags") to be member of such libraries or owned a vehicle for going that looonnnng distance to fetch a book, I was already entangled in the rat race life of an IT professional which left me with little or no time for persuing this hobby at peace.
Cut to circa 2006, I come and land in a subarb of Chicago and I chance upon this treasure trove and huge building which houses the local county library. More research reveals that it was numero uno library in its category of size last year and this year it still ranks in top 5 in entire US of A!! I lost no time in registering there as a life member and have since (3 weeks) been reaping fruits of this small fortune.
It happens to be that dream library I used to see in my dreams all these depraved years of my literary existence (OK. A little exageration never hurts anyone!) It has just two but really huge floors full of book shelfs neatly organized by every category of books that one can possibly imagine. Rows after rows of shelfs containing reference books, study tables, sound proof study rooms and a eerie pin drop silence litters the vast expanses of the library. Every nook and corner has a comfy sofa or chair to relax and read as long as you wish. No pesky librarian will ever come and bother you. That PC where you can look up, search and explore the online catalog of the library is never too far from you. Just search the call number of the book, wade through the shelfs and reach the book you want! Only a reading enthusiast knows the pleasure that this small treasure hunt gives! I was impressed by the number of PCs they have. They also boast of an internet cafe, a small pantry and a entire section devoted to the library of DVD/CDs of latest movies within the premises!! And the proverbial icing on the cake is that the service is amazing. Each member gets a digital membership card which makes check-out a hassle free process and believe it or not, you can check-out as many books as you want!! You don't need to go to library to if you want to renew the book! Do it from comfort of your bed and laptop through their neat website which does much more than renewals and reminders. And as if all this was not enough the building itself is located in a very picturesque place just 10 min drive from my home! I am simply in love with this place and dread the day when I will have to bid goodbye to it. There might be better libraries in the world than this, but it happens to be my first real library.
Since I have devoted so many pixels to this new abode of mine, a few words about "what I am reading" currently are also due! Well my current fav section in the library is "World War 2 Literature". I have read quite a few horrendous and rare books detailing the holocaust in last few weeks apart from some other. Then Asterix and Calvin N Hobbes are my other constant companions. Right now I have checked out "Tales from Arabian Nights" to lighten the dark mood which these war books have created and I have blocked Parvez Mussharafs latest: "In the line of fire" for my next check out.