Have you ever noticed that the crazies like to converge at the local library? I write this as I, myself, sit at the library so think of that what you will. Right in front of me, this man reads a book, muttering to himself, shuffling around in his seat as he picks through words and makes notes on the free little sheets of paper.

I love the public library. I remember being in elementary and being so excited when the library opened at the bottom of the hill that I lived at. You know what that meant? Books! And they were at the bottom of the hill! That is only like, a mile away!

This was a very exciting point in my seven-years of living.

In middle school, before I got my license, my best friend (who happened to live across the street) and I would walk down the hill to the library and pour through the books, trying to find random reading materials that we would definitely love. History books on medieval diseases? SIGN ME UP! Fashion from the 20s? Sure, we have no fashion sense but it seems like an INTERESTING READ!

Our local library was in a, frankly, kind of small community. There were larger libraries a little further away that people would go to instead, due to the limited collection available at ours. Given that, the crazies tended to avoid our library and flock to the larger libraries where there was more books for them and people to concern with their mutterings. I think I made it to my senior year of high school without realizing the gems of society hang out there.

I think it also helped my close friend in high school happened to work at a large library, too.

When I moved to Florida, we were without internet for about a week so, in order to telecommute, I’d be stuck at the library for my working hours until the end of my shift. I’d always wonder what other patrons thought of me, sitting at my desk, working in Photoshop and coding websites. I came to realize there are lots of people you will always find at the library, no matter the location.

• The crazy person. These people tend to mutter to themselves and shift throughout the library with their special brand of (usually) good-natured crazy.
• The super-crazy person. You tend to give these ones wide birth since then can occasionally smell and might shank you.
• The screaming child. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids, but if you’re child is going to scream take it outside till it wears it’s lungs out.
• The lady who hasn’t realized 1980 has ended. She usually has a perm of curls and BIG hair.
• Senior citizens. I adore these people. I just want to put them in my pocket and protect them. They come to the library to check their email and check out books and are generally very unassuming and quiet patrons.
• The terminally cool teenagers. Seriously? Why are you looking at them? You’re invading their space with your un-cool genes.
• College students. Usually on the computer or at a table with books strewn about, a slightly panicked or resigned expression on their face as they plow ahead.
• Silicone and bleach beauty. She doesn’t, like, “get” all this reading stuff, but she is like totally looking so totally smart.
• The dude who thinks he’s Fabio. Typically middle-aged with some sort of mullet. Suspect he is there to hit on younger, studious women. See silicone and bleach beauty above.
• The middle-aged (often female) artist. She’s there researching for her craft and hates when you invade her creative bubble.

After seeing this list you will, of course, realize why when i have nothing to do on my lunch break at work I will come down the library to read a book or simply take in my surroundings and observe the world around me.

Technorati Tags: library, crazy people, reading, grouping, people studying, books, social, lists