I have an obsession with libraries. I love them. I have library cards/borrowing privileges in five cities (Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Boston, Lincolnwood, and Chicago). Whenever I travel, I try to collect more.Chicago is my favorite. I cried the first time I walked into the Harold Washington Library because it was so beautiful. I love the marble floors, the sweet quotes about reading etched into the walls (my favorite is the Groucho Marx quote* in the Popular Library), and the rows and rows of books.As you may have guessed, I heart reading big time. Seriously, I choose purses by making sure there’s enough room to carry a book (or two or three). Even if I’m just going to the grocery store, I carry a book with me because you never know when there will be a wait long enough to capture a few more pages.The pleasure I get from reading is always juxtaposed with the pain I feel every time I walk into the library. You know it — that sinking feeling because you won’t ever be able to read all of the great books lining the shelves. Most of the books taunt me, as if they know that I’ll never even peruse their spines, let alone their content.So being the proactive gal that I am, I started The Library Project. My plan: I will read (and write about) the books of the library.I began at the Rogers Park library branch.Here’s why:• it’s close,• the collection is smaller (read: more doable) than the main branch,• and most importantly, I was there when I conceived this plan.The rules:I’m only going to read fiction. I will start with A and work my way through Z, one shelf at a time. I’m allowed to read as many books that interest me from a shelf, but I have to read at least one. I will document my progress.As this could be a longish project, I am also allowed to read non-library project books, just to keep myself entertained.For the record, the Rogers Park Library has 216 shelves of fiction. Good thing I like libraries.* The Groucho Marx quote that I love: