Where do you go to ESCAPE?

Where do you go to escape the day-to-day? What do you consider your refuge?

Is a quiet park near your house? A bustling neighborhood pub where you meet up with loads of people?

One's answer will depend on a bevy of factors, including personality, financial resources, hobbies, and so forth.

I'm getting ready to go to the library in a couple of minutes, which I consider my hideaway -- my home away from home, if you will.

At the library, I become one with books. I love devouring, smelling, and taking notes on them. In this age of Kindles and other electronic devices, I remain firmly ensconced in the traditional book camp.

I have an office at home that includes myriad books, magazines, my computer, filing cabinet, and all the other essentials.

As much as I try to do a lot of reading at home, I never seem to get very far. There are simply too many distractions in the vicinity, from my wife watching TV to dogs barking to my comfy bed calling out my name.

Beyond that, I venture over to the library to enjoy peace and quiet. As someone with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, there are very few places around dedicated to the pursuit of it. It's either hit up the library or the museum (another favorite haunt of mine).

If I'm in the mood for a cup of joe, I may go to Starbucks and read there. I try to avoid it, though, as most locations get awfully noisy. If I'm interested in buying a particular book, chances are I'll visit Barnes and Noble and read the first few chapters there. Like Starbucks, though, peace and quiet are sometimes hard to come by there.

It's sad to see that many libraries have gone under due to budget woes. I disagree with those who say that libraries will eventually become a thing of the past, though. They play a pivotal role in the community, enabling people to educate themselves by acquiring knowledge that will ultimately enhance their lives -- whether personal or professional.

Libraries make us more informed citizens. In my view, libraries are here to stay, and, being the bookworm that I am, I will continue to visit them with much glee.

Where do you go to escape? How often do you visit libraries?

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