I stopped by my local library to pick up a book I had reserved (CHINA TRADE by S.J. Rozan...I have been meaning to check out this series). It brought up memories of when I was a kid and used to go to the library every weekend with my mother.
At that time, the library had a limit of 12 books per person. I'm not sure if libraries still have those kinds of limitations (do they?). Anyhow, off we'd go, with our plastic bags ready for the piles of books that I'd chose. They'd never last me the entire week, and I always couldn't wait until the next trip back to the library.
With those wonderful memories, I find it strange that I don't use the library more than I do. I renewed my card a few months ago, and found that I hadn't been there in years! I got into the habit of buying books online (oooh...hear about a good book, then rush off to Chapters or Amazon to order), at my local bookstore, or at used bookstores around town. With ordering online, I'm pretty much guaranteed to get exactly what I want, delivered to my door in only a few days. It couldn't get much easier! My credit card bills, of course, remind me that it could certainly be cheaper.
Do you think that the libraries in general are being used less, or is it just me?
Bravo for visiting your library again - as a public librarian, I love it when people "rediscover" what we have to offer. :-) And just FYI, we have no limits on what how much you can check out from our library, except that you can take no more than 3 books per "subject" - that way you don't clear us out of every book we have on knitting or HTML or skeet shooting or something. ;-) And actually, most libraries get more use, rather than less, in times of economic depression or decline - especially now that we offer DVDs and audiobooks and the like. :-) Love your blog!
Posted by: Marissa | January 17, 2005 at 10:08 AM
I make weekly visits to my library and I do notice that it's crowded but I seem to see people at the computers rather than glancing through the stacks. I think it's great that they offer free internet access but I just wish I would see more people checking out books.
Posted by: iliana | January 17, 2005 at 10:34 AM
In Chicago, there is a limit of 35 books at one time. Which seems amazingly excessive. I don't know if there are limits on the number of books for a certain subject, I'm pretty sure I've taken out 5 craft books at once, but they might have been for different crafts. I also recently began taking advantage of the library again, mostly because of my new proximity to the Harold Washington library. It's massive with a great selection!
Posted by: | January 17, 2005 at 12:04 PM
90% of the books I read come from the library. The way I inhale them, I can't afford to buy them, especially since I only end up liking about 75% of what I read. However, I don't have a library card right now, and it's killing me! I moved to Chicago back in August, and I need to have a driver's license with a Chicago address on it to get a card. I've simply been putting off the visit to the DMV, not looking forward to that at all!
Posted by: Brooke | January 17, 2005 at 04:49 PM
I don't think I've been in a library since I left college. I've gotten into the incredibly lazy habit of just ordering everything off of the Web and, now that Barnes and Noble has free quick shipping, it's even more addictive. I do remember trips to the library with my mom, though, and those were very good times indeed!
Posted by: Denise | January 17, 2005 at 05:23 PM
I used to get books from the university library, but i ended my career in 2003. Limit was set to 4. I won't go back 'cause i found an endless source--it'll take me years to even check everything my mother has got here.
Posted by: Edgar | January 17, 2005 at 07:16 PM
I love our local library - I can browse online, request titles and have them delivered to my local branch, which is probably less than two miles from my house. I get an email when the books are ready to pick up. It's nearly as good as having them delivered to my door. I just now requested Henning Mankell's "Faceless Killers" since next month my book club is discussing mysteries written originally in a foreign language, and I've always wanted to try one of his Kurt Wallander books.
Posted by: Mer | January 17, 2005 at 11:30 PM
i don't know if anyone here is interested in politics or foregin policy but if you are Imperial Hubris is a great book
Posted by: evan | January 18, 2005 at 09:36 PM
Our public library in Singapore only let us borrow 4 books each, for a rental period of 3 weeks. Miserable eh?
Posted by: mel | January 19, 2005 at 12:37 AM
Hi,
I'm so addictive to books and I read all the time. Usually I borrow books from my university library instead of the local library. I live in Honolulu and we have pretty nice libraries here. When I walk into the library, I see people at the computers instead of checking out books like Iliana said. I often buy books online but I still like the cozy feeling of being in the library surrounded by books all around.
Posted by: Shin | January 19, 2005 at 02:51 AM
I tend to feel that if a book is worth reading, it's worth owning. Add to that the fact that the local library doesn't seem to buy many books I like, and you get a predictable result: an unused library card and a house full of books we own.
Posted by: Karen Funk Blocher | January 19, 2005 at 03:14 AM
I actually work in my library at the University I am attending grad school at. Sadly, I think I've only ever borrowed one book from here. In the summers, though, I am a library basketcase! I love lying in the sun, getting lost in a great book that I couldn't possibly put down!
And today is a perfect day for reading too... snow falling outside, warm inside!
Thanks for a great read! <"3 )~
Posted by: Tara Nicole | January 19, 2005 at 09:46 AM
I too visited the library often when I was a child and even through college when I was home on vacations. But after joining book clubs and then the ease of ordering online, I got out of the habit of going. Then too, the library moved and the new place just didn't have that same home-like feeling I remember from when I was a child.
BTW, I love your blog. Voted for you daily in the BoB contest and really thought you should have taken the top spot. :)
Posted by: punditz | January 19, 2005 at 02:29 PM
I use the library about once or twice a month during school and once a week during the summer. I read voraciously and can't afford to buy the books!
Posted by: melantha | January 19, 2005 at 07:06 PM
I love libraries but ... I always worry if I get a book from one, I"m going to lose it or get it dirty. So I find myself buying more books than I borrow.
Still, I visit libraries often as a TESL volunteer.
Posted by: Saint Nate | January 19, 2005 at 08:12 PM
I work in a library too, and I find that library use seems to be on the increase again. I believe people can't afford to buy very many books these days, and they've also gotten over the internet honeymoon. If fact, people have discovered they can put books on hold via the internet, and this has increased our circulation immensely!
Cheers, and keep reading!
Posted by: Librarianguish | January 21, 2005 at 12:12 AM
I'm a book junkie myself. I just found your blog and I love it!!
I try and go to the library as often as I can. My problem is the late fees I end up racking up! I am planning on volunteering for our local library soon.
Although, I think I am addicted to that "new book smell"! :)
Posted by: sona | January 21, 2005 at 05:24 PM
What? You just NOW are checking out SJ Rozan? Sorry, did I say that out loud? Ahem, sorry. Didn't mean to get rambunctious on my first visit to your blog, but eek!
Our branch library was just reopened after a year and a half; razed and rebuilt, with something like 50 percent more space. The grand opening was Saturday and it was a mob scene; very gratifying to almost everyone. But me. I'm not claustrophobic at ALL but as a disabled person in a scooter, I felt so hemmed in, invisible and trapped that i had to leave. The reaction from the neighborhood was certainly great; 3 days later, however. I happened by again, hoping to see the place and was rather dismayed that the automatic door opener (for us scooter/wheelchair/etc. types) was already broken. SIGH.
My "branch" library is on wheels; part of my city's extraordinary "Mobile Services" division. I have books delivered monthly; the guys were just here with my box on Thursday afternoon. When the city librarian attempted to cut Mobile Services from the budget this year, it became the biggest fight in years within the community. This "branch" serves several hundred nursing homes, group facilities and the like as well as bringing bookmobiles around AND home delivery service, like I benefit from. I cannot comprehend not having a library card. I know folks in big cities who do not use their public library and it's beyond my understanding. Partly, yeah, it's because I'm on a rather low disability income; but I've always had a library card; heck, when I was a grad student with NO time or inclination to READ I had a library card from the Albany Public Library.
My first ever job was at the West Hartford Public Library. How can we ever be without 'em?
Andi
Posted by: | February 05, 2005 at 12:43 AM