My gorgeous, unforgiving library

I am extremely fortunate to live so close to my library.  I wrote about my first visit to the Minneapolis Central library back in July!  

It is a gorgeous building inside and out.  Though I prefer a traditional library's creaking hardwood floors, dusty sun-faded curtains, and cozy, worn leather chairs, I have made an exception for the sleek, modern architecture of this very urban library. I wish I had a more loving relationship with my library but in our 4-months I've known it, I've caved to paying the library's ridiculous fines for overdue items.

You see, I get greedy and borrow tons and tons of books (the first time, I forgot to bring a bag, so I clumsily walked home with a stack of books supported between my arms and chin).  The crazy thing is that I actually get around to reading all of them fairly quickly, but it takes me FOREVER to return them.  I live less than a mile away, and it's not a bad walk from the Mill District to Downtown.  However, I always forget to return them whenever I'm in the area, so I rack up a huge fine by the time I haul the stack of books back to the library.  It's so silly - the amount I spend on library fines could have meant a new book or two to my personal collection!  What a shame, tsk tsk.

Does anyone else have this problem? Also, I never seem to learn my lesson, because it is apparent that I continue to borrow books at my inevitable expense. Looking forward to reading my haul of Guy DeLisle travelogues, graphic novels, and Japanese psycho-thrillers... and returning them on time for once.  Crossing my fingers and toes this time.