Countdown to Mockingjay...And I have to Work?

Just like many of you, I am anxiously awaiting the release of "Mockingjay," Suzanne Collins' last book in The Hunger Games trilogy.  As if you couldn't tell by all the previous blog posts on the book/series/author, or the countdown clock not-so-subtly placed on the right-hand side of the blog.

Here's my problem--I have just realized that the book's release day is my FIRST DAY BACK TO WORK.  What?!  This must be some kind of joke, right?  How can a librarian be expected to work on what is likely to be the biggest "book party" of the year?  And I thought having curriculum night on the premier evening of "Survivor" every year was bad.  This is a whole new level of torture.

So, while I contemplate if this type of event is what sick days are for (joking Principal Olson..he, he, he), I am reminded of a perk of working at the public library through all the years of Harry Potter releases.  Since I worked many Saturdays (and Sundays, it was an awesome work schedule--not), and Scholastic finally got smart and released the books on Saturdays or in the summer (as kids were skipping school to get/read the books), I would have a copy of the book waiting for me when I arrived at work.  And since it was release day, all the library patrons were home reading their own copies.  The library was a quiet, peaceful place to sit with a good book...say, for example, one by J.K. Rowling.  I could make quite a dent on the book by Monday, when all the kids would finally start rolling in again and want to talk to me about what happened to Harry.

But my public library days are long behind me.  In fact, I did get to spend a few joyous days in July 2007 savoring the final Harry Potter book at home, trying not to ignore my own children, and not worrying about work.  "Mockingjay versus Work" though is a whole new dilemma, as I can't imagine anyone being too pleased about my sitting through all the staff meetings with a book in my hand.

So, the work day ends at 3:30pm (I am very grateful I live a mile from the school).  Do not call me, do not text me, do not expect me to cook you dinner.  I will be curled up with a good book, reacquainting myself with my friend Katniss, hoping life works out for her just as it did for my friend Harry. 

Where will you be on August 24th?  Will you be reading "Mockingjay"?  Did you buy a copy, or will you get it from the library?  By the way, there will be multiple copies at school on the first day...in case you haven't read it by then...