Appreciation for Libby!

I was lucky to have boarding pass B2 on Southwest this afternoon, and as I settled into my window seat, I grabbed my water and stuffed my well-traveled LL Bean bag (with a zipper!) in the overhead bin, checking to make sure I had my phone.

My reading life has undergone a major change in the past three years. I still read physical books all the time and have delicately balanced "To Be Read" (TBR) stacks in several places across the house. But I finally made a habit of reading on Libby (the library app for reading on your device), and that has made all the difference!

Today as I fly, I'm reading the excellent middle grade mystery A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga, in order to be ready for a coaching conversation tomorrow, helping to plan a mystery unit. We really need a strong mentor text to hook the kids, and although I know Jasmine is an excellent author and the book has starred reviews, being able to read it in full allows me to dig deep enough into its match for being the right anchor for the first-time teaching this unit. (And the answer is a resounding YES!) With Libby, it was two clicks and absolutely no driving.

I'm also working hard to wean myself away from Amazon, which has been my go-to addiction as a literacy coach (who is always a day behind in her planning). I know it's bad for the environment and not the economic contribution I want to make - but so darn hard to give-up the convenience. With Libby, I've been able to skim quickly through picture books for read aloud, find a poem for a small group lesson, and even preview the audio version of a novel to make sure it's read with enough expression to hook reluctant middle schoolers. While I detox from Amazon, Libby is an always-there partner.

And my aching shoulders are also grateful for Libby. Fast forward to today, on the plane: I dig into the mystery for 30 minutes. Then I treat myself to a few minutes of food beauty, because I checked out Aran Goyoaga's lush Cannelle et Vanille, a 2019 cookbook full of family stories and memories of places I've never been but can now smell and taste through her pages. After making myself hungry, I click away and realize I downloaded the audiobook Small Things Like These by Clarie Keegan. A book-brilliant friend mentioned it, and I downloaded it that moment - it's due in 13 days, and today's flights give me an excuse to start it. Best of all - these books are not in my LL Bean bag - they are in my hand, on my phone, and I can skip through the airport with ease! (OK, yes - there are two hardcover books in my bag, but that's another post!)

So while I've always loved libraries, today's trip reminds me how taking a chance on Libby has made my life more book-filled, even if the books aren't filling my house.