I’m in mourning. Due to this horrible virus, the Vancouver Public Library closed all its branches for unspecified time. I know I should be concerned about sick people around the world, the ones at risk, the ones dying, about my own health, but all I can think about: how will I survive without new books to read? For a month? For two months?
Of course, I have some books I bought and haven’t read yet at home and many old favorites I own, but for how long would they last? Maybe a month: I read pretty fast. My average is 2 days per a novel. My local library has been my guilty pleasure for years. I reserve new books all the time. And old books I haven’t read yet. I get books there from all the branches of the Vancouver library and from all the provincial libraries too through the inter-library loans. So many books came my way from the library. So much joy. And now, it’s been denied me because of the damned virus. I’m in mourning.
Olga Godim writing 
Our libraries are still open (but for how long is anyone’s guess). I mourn in empathy with you – despite having what some would consider a well stocked library at home.
Not sure if ours are open. Wish I could share some of the eBooks on my iPad. I have hundreds. And as a slow reader, I’ll never run out.
Ours closed here, too. My kid was pretty worried at first before realizing he had checked out 5 books last week. We also have way too many books on our shelves and I’m hoping he’ll actually start reading them, too, during his break since school is closed for the next 5 weeks, at least.
I have books on my shelves and so many I’ve downloaded – plus more submissions coming in, so a lot to read. You should still be able to check out ebooks from your library.
Are they still loaning out ebooks?
Where there’s a will there’s a way! I’m sure some kind of sharing program will come out of this as many others love the libraries and especially the books! Hallelujah for books, a true escape from the crisis.
I’m with you Olga. I buy a lot of books, read some on my kindle, but nothing like a library to discover new authors and talk to like-minded souls. All our libraries closed a week or so ago and there were queues you wouldn’t believe. ‘Panic borrowing’ became a term. We were allowed to borrow 60 books! You should see my bedside table! But many libraries are opening up digital collections. I hope you find something to soothe your soul.