Never realized how much my local library rocks...

[aphex]

Been awhile since I set foot in a local library, was pleasantly surprised today.

Huge DVD collection, all 2 week check out. (They had at least 400-500 titles, some movies released as recently as this summer)
Huge CD collection, tons of rock/pop/classical/jazz/etc... So many I stopped browsing after 20 minutes as I only made it through about 1/4 the selection. Month checkout.

Came home and started searching the website. Any DVD/CD can be requested and reserved online, and if its only at another branch, they will transfer it within 2 days and call you when it arrives.

Damn, how have I neglected the local library so long? This rocks.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

I've been a very avid reader since day 1 (In Kindergarten, I was in the corner reading while other people were plying with hot wheels, although I got plenty of that action too ). Now I'm in college and don't have time to read shit other than class-assigned reading.

Don't get me wrong most of it (history) is interesting stuff, but I wouldn't exactly call it entertaining. Asimov FTW! (I've read the majority of what the guy wrote)

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

Rarely. Having been forced to read case after boring case in law school, I no longer find joy in reading.

 

[Eli]

Welcome to 13 years ago.

Granted, the local library didn't have as big a DVD/CD selection back then, but I was placing books on hold online on the library's BBS in 1995.

 

[Auggie]

I not only read books, but I read books printed on paper...

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

Its been so long since I really enjoyed a book. Thankfully most of the series I read for enjoyment are basically done (I would've given up on them had they not). I still need to read the most recent George R.R. Martin book, but I feel little motivation to. Nonfiction doesn't appeal to me because its much easier to find information online, and often easier to check validity. Fiction is filled with so much pointless drivel these days that its almost not worth wading through the crap to get to. I've been wanting to reread some books, but I have a bad feeling I'll end up disliking them.

Really, I've started to feel this way about most mediums (books, movies, music), so I'm not singling out books. I just have a general disinterest, and find myself wondering why they felt this story was worth telling. I think part of the problem is I based a lot of it on what people recommend instead of discovering it myself. That always seems to dull things to me.

Libraries are great, and completely undervalued by most people in a given community. Back in grade school and junior high I'd go and spend hours there. I'm not liking modern libraries all that much, they seem so dull and utilitarian to me, it takes away the charm of them, but the increased functionality does benefit more people, so its a tradeoff I can live with.

 

[andylawcc]

ya, some of the local library kick ass man. No longer it is just a place for borrowing book that you will never read. Now I get Wifi, DVD rentals, read magazines that I am too cheap to buy, and it's just a quiet place to .... well, do whatever I want.

 

[Eli]

I can count all the fiction books I've read on one hand. The library is an information resource for me.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

I think I finished getting all of the Hercule Poirot books the other month, so no. Now I need to find another series to get latched on to. Reading Patterson's Alex Cross novels but they are quick reads and I also picked up the Borne series. Those two aren't as enjoyable as the good Christie novels that I've read but I'll still finish the series.

 

[JJChicken]

I'm always at the library of congress

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Barack Obama
I'm always at the library of congress

:laugh:

 

[Zee]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

Rarely. Having been forced to read case after boring case in law school, I no longer find joy in reading.

i listen to audio books

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Eli
I can count all the fiction books I've read on one hand. The library is an information resource for me.

i read off what was on my shelf to a friend, she said i was into "hardcore nonfiction" and i dont think she meant it as a compliment.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

I read all the time but i haven't set foot in a library in probably 10+ years. Reading a good book is better than watching a movie most times.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Does anyone actually read books anymore or am I the last one?

Most of my day at work is spent reading & researching, so when I come home I usually don't want to do anything that requires the brain be present.

Still, I do a little "fun" reading. The difference is that when I was younger I could tear through a book in 2-3 days, whereas now I'll usually just read a chapter or two each night.

 

[heymrdj]

Yes libraries are the fuckin awsome. While I was up in Indiana with her, me and my gf would go every 3 days or so for about 2 hours for new material. We got movies, books, newspapers, a quiet place to help her study some things, even in the smallest of towns the libraries seem to be becoming super powers. My gf lives in a town of 8,000 for its population and it's library is a new fancy brick and glass 2 story building, with wifi, dvd, vhs, newspapers, magazines, a few thousand books, and 5 computer labs.

Our little hometown has only 10,000 people and it has a 1 story building with a few thousand books, a geneology research center, two computer labs, and a good selection of about 300dvd's and 100vhs.

 

[xboxist]

Once I found out you can rent audio books for free I've been a regular borrower. I have many 5+ hour drives for my job.

 

[nakedfrog]

CD checkout at our library is only five days.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Eli
Welcome to 13 years ago.

Granted, the local library didn't have as big a DVD/CD selection back then, but I was placing books on hold online on the library's BBS in 1995.

I remember way back when, dialing into the library's modem pool with HyperTerminal in VT100 emulation to browse the new electronic card catalog from home. The really sad part is that the old terminal system worked better than the new web-based HTML setup they use today.

ZV

 

[waggy]

the one library i have a card to sucks. its in a room that is maybe 40x35ft so its rather small.

BUT i can go to 3 diffrent towns and check out on my card. all 3 have great library's. OR i can log into a web based setup and "order" any book i want.

 

[0roo0roo]

waste of tax payers money frankly.
local libraries always whining about money....
considering my state (ca) is broke i look at the libraries offerings and just think wtf...

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
waste of tax payers money frankly.
local libraries always whining about money....
considering my state (ca) is broke i look at the libraries offerings and just think wtf...

Libraries offer a wealth of information accessible to anyone. Of all the social programs/institutions, these might be the last that I'd want to close.

I'm pretty far off in fiscal conservative/libertarian land, but even I want govt money spent on education. Without public libraries, it'd be awfully hard for the poor or uneducated to access these things, unless some private institution wanted to open their doors, and what's the incentive for that?

I happen to attend a private law school that allows the public to access the law library at any time during regular hours, outside of the exam period (then it's by appointment). It helps that it's a Catholic school, because many (especially the very elite schools, such as Harvard) do not allow the public in their libraries. With the rare exceptions, public libraries allow access to this information, whether they be standalone or housed in a public school.

Sure, you can't force people to learn, but of all the societal handouts we engage in as Americans, open access to knowledge resources should be the least of our fiscal concerns.

 

[preslove]

Wish me luck, guys. I have an interview for a Librarian position with Los Angeles public library in a couple hours

 

[0roo0roo]

well it should be limited to books.
access to the latest dvds is not something tax payers should be funding. if you are so poor you can't afford a rental fee you probably don't have a dvd player.
expanding services+costs =expansion in general always seems to be the goal of government institutions.