My technology overrunneth

I went to the library to check out a book. That's pretty straight-forward, right? At least, that's what I thought. As I was scrolling through my choices on the library database, I found that my book wasn't available in what I consider book-form (you know...actual paper pages with numbers and a cover), but it was immediately available as an e-resource. Interesting. If I only knew what an e-resource was.

I headed over to the reference librarian for a complete and mind-puzzling lesson on the various and sundry ways in which books are available today. I could download a book to my e-reader (such as a Nook or iPad) or even to an iPhone, Blackberry or other types of smart phones. Now, if I had such a device, I'd be psyched...but I don't...yet. When I informed the librarian of our pending trip and the usefulness of free, downloadable books, her eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. She began thinking out loud of all the ways we could access books for the trip and play them through any of our devices (which we don't own).

As I sat there thinking about all of these devices and their usefulness, I did my own thinking aloud and said that I didn't think my 2004 Honda Civic even had a plug for such devices. "Of course you do," the librarian said. I assured her that I didn't. "But you must," she added. Again, I noted that my car was not technologically equipped unless, of course, you consider a CD player advanced media. She did not, but felt that adding a player to the car that could plug into our non-existent e-reader, etc. would be cheap and helpful. I agreed.

I am now adding up the costs of listening to assorted materials while on this road trip: an e-reader of some sort, new audio equipment for the car, a mobile modem, and anything else that is a "must".

Can't we just get do things the old fashioned way? Get some used books and share the responsibility of reading them aloud to one another? At this point, creating CDs of our favorite tunes is considered out-of-date, but a whole lot cheaper than what I see coming.

All of a sudden, my trip to the free, public library isn't so free afterall.