10 responses to “The public library: a new look”

1. 

   Kate April 16th, 2009 at 07:17

   I have to admit, I hate the library. I’m glad it’s there, but I hate going.

   I usually love my books. I mean, I love them to death. I read them, usually several times; I wear them out; I love them; I return to them again and again; it comforts me to know they’re there and I can return to the same characters over and over again.

   Weird? Probably.

   I can’t really do that at the library. If I finally manage to get my butt in there and take out a book, I usually a) forget to take it back at all (let alone on time), or b) am too heartbroken to see it go. What winds up happening that is that I get late charges high enough that I may as well have bought the book in the first place.

   *sigh*

   I do have a certain fondness for the academic library at my alma mater though. It’s a reasonably limited library, but they allow alums to have free access. Access to the online journals is key (I usually need to look an article up once every 2 weeks or so, and those can be $40 a pop otherwise). I also find that if I go to the stacks, I look up one book, and spend hours perusing all the ones around on the shelf- since it’s the DD system, they’re all related! Usually more on topic than the original book I was looking up, actually…

2. 

   Bee April 16th, 2009 at 10:57

   I looooove going to the library. I go there all the time and always take the maximum amount of books out. Some of them I don’t even read, but just to have a selection at home to browse through and try is wonderful. And then I don’t have to feel like I wasted money when I return them without reading. I also love taking cookbooks and get a few great recipes out. I figure that if I love love love the book and would rather not return it, I could always still buy it.
   Sometimes I do find it difficult to think of new titles that I wanna read so I now have this system: I have a little moleskin notebook which I always carry with me and whenever I hear someone talk about a really good book, or read about a great movie, or see an ad for an exposition I would like to go to, I write it down or cut the article/ad/review out and stick it in my little book. That way I always have inspiration in the library or video store….

3. 

   CanadianSaver April 16th, 2009 at 13:45

   I just went back to the library a few months ago after not visiting it for years and years. I’m excited when I can do the inter-library loans (otherwise my poor little library wouldn’t have many of the books that I read in it).

   I always visit the new books shelf… I keep an open mind there, and I have found some different books that I wouldn’t have read otherwise there.

4. 

   Catherine April 16th, 2009 at 13:51

   My Mom taught me when I was very young that ‘books are your friends’. I get upset when someone mars a book - especially dog earring corners!
   I support the library 100%. I am a voracious reader. Can only imagine me in a city library - just drop me off with a sleeping bag and food. We have a small one here, but, I order books online and they are shipped here. I go every week, usually Friday or Saturday to pick up my friends. The library usually has anywhere from 4-9 ready for pickup - the largest number was 13 a couple of months ago. I get to keep them for 3 weeks - funny though as sometimes I have 8 here at home and get a call that there are 5 more to pick up that week. I read 4-5 books a week, and yes, I do have a life besides reading…..

5. 

   Maddy April 16th, 2009 at 16:34

   I like academic libraries, but I prefer to get my day-to-day readings from used book stores. It’s not as frugal as libraries (nor as environmentally responsible, I suppose), but I love books that I can mark up and take into a steaming bubble bath and not worry that I’m ruining the pages.

   Also, less worry about my Gingery girl eating it

6. 

   Brenda April 16th, 2009 at 18:51

   I love the library, and visit at least once a week. I take my two girls, and they always check out the books, and return home with at least 5 each! They like to play games on the computer, and bring home movies as well. I enjoy going to the new books section to see what there is, and our library always posts a list of what is new, and what is on order. Of course, I always come home with a few books. I enjoy getting non-fiction books out too - things that I want to read up on, or am just curious about. So much cheaper than buying a book and having it sit on my shelf. I also read the magazines - again, cheaper than having my own subscription. I use the inter-library loan for anything that they don’t have on the shelf. I also donate books to the library that I don’t find myself using. Might as well share!

7. 

   Amber April 16th, 2009 at 19:27

   I visit the public library very regularly, pretty much every Tuesday afternoon. But we rarely venture outside of the children’s section. Wandering through a public library with two little ones in tow and no purpose scares me a little bit.

8. 

   C - The Asian Pear April 16th, 2009 at 21:33

   I love my library. I don’t visit it often though. But when I want to read something, I just order it online and have it delivered to my closest libary. I’ve also been borrowing pedometers from the library. SO handy! I’m so glad my city introduced it through the library as a health initiative. Saves me the money from buying one!

9. 

   K-money April 17th, 2009 at 00:22

   I am a regular library visitor - I read too many books to buy them all, besides the library is free! I sometimes wander the shelves aimlessly, often I find something fun. My local branch is small so I really appreciate ILL!

10. 

    Nathan June 13th, 2009 at 02:36

    Sometimes our family goes to a “new library” (different branch) as a special “frugal luxury” treat - the kids love it.

    @Kate - if you forget to return items, you might try RenewBot.com - it makes us feel more free to use the library because we don’t have to think about due dates.