We moved a couple of months ago, and we only finally got to the public library yesterday to get our library cards. While we were there, we decided to look around for a bit, and ended up coming home with 9 books between the two of us. We mostly picked out graphic novels (comics), but I grabbed a few craft books as well. I think this is easily the best public library I have ever been to, and I'm very excited now that we have our library cards!
How is the selection at your public library? Do they have the kinds of books you like to read, or do they have a very disappointing selection?
[question posted by scarywhitegirl]
responses and comments:
Our local library has a great kids section. The adult section is a little lacking, but we're part of an inter-library program that you can find & reserve books online and pick them right up at the front desk. [eden32]
We're very fortunate to have a really well stocked library 5 mnutes from our house. I've never gone there and walked out with less than 4 or 5 books and they have a really great kids section. I go there quite a bit when the kids are in school and just take along my laptop. I'll go through amazon and find books that I might find interesting and then see if the library has them [inked4life]
We have an excellent public library with a branch also in the recreation centre. They have an excellent selection of adult books, children's books, youth books, DVD's, CD's, large print books and "New" books. We can look for what we want on the computer. If they don't have a book you are looking for they will get it for you. My daughter wanted a book so they borrowed one from a library in a different city. At March Break and summer they have excellent reading programs and other things for the kids. Magicians and other entertainers come and perform. They have crafts, contests and prizes. It is a pretty good library for a small town of 26,000. [patgalca]
Thank you for the best response mark! [patgalca]
it's gotten somewhat better over the years,but i'd say it's still lacking.they have a high problem with people not returning books,or them being damaged. they will order books special though sometimes if you ask them. [scarlet_woman]
I *wish* the library in my town was a good one! I moved here from the city, where the library was FABULOUS! Now, I'm craving something that resembles a good library. Where I live (in a really small town), the library is an old school house looking thing. It's cute and has that quaint village-like feeling . . . but . . . seriously, it needs to be better!! [explorations]
Our library system is great. If they don't have something at our local branch we can have it ordered in from another one. They have DVD's, educational video games, movies from almost every genre and audio books. Not a lot of people think to check the library for such things, it saves a lot of money over renting movies at places like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video too. [freak369]
It can be a bit hit and miss but they will order something if you request it. What drives me nuts is that they often have part of a series of books and don't think for a minute you might want to read the others. [huswyf]
I live in a medium size city (for Portugal, anyway) in the interior - Covilhã - and here we have one good public library and the university library which is almost public also, the general public just can't borough books to home. [pnsoliveira1978]
I used to go to the public library all the time when I was a kid. Eveytime I went I used to get a babysitter's club book. lol :) I haven't been a long long time though. [truartiss]
well,here from where I come from,the reading culture is very low and poor .the public library though few have out-dated books.so I would say we do not have a good library system here in my country.nigeria.cheers. [olisae]
We have a nice library in our little town. A lot of people donate books in our community, so I would say for a place this size, we have a darned good selection. What we don't have is a good movie loan program at the library. They have very few videos, even of the educational variety. I think it will be nice if they can expand that part of the library. [JanuaryRain]
Since I live in the city, it's easy to travel around to get books you want. My local library doesn't have a lot, but if you request for some books, they can ship it over in a few days. Talk about great service. [ahamster]
My wife has worked at our local city library for 16 years and she has seen the place steadily decline. Masses of the book stock has been sold off and the powers that be only seem interested in letting people use computers to access the Internt, they have about 40 of them. Book lending has declined tremendously and I think it is a real shame. [Noot54]
We have a fairly good library about 10 minutes from where i live. Its got a wonderful childrens books section and even had little tables, chair and some toys for the children to play with so adults can at least browse the adult section in peace for a little while. the adult section is slightly lacking in newer material but the latest books can be reserved from the city's main branch and then you can pick them up from the library i use. They also have a selection of cd's, dvd's and video Console Games that you can rent for a few nights. [orli1301]
Well, we've got a couple of libraries in our area. One's more "classical" and features a lot of older pieces of literature (I know because they're pretty worn out). The other features a collection of relatively new publications, as it opened maybe a couple of years ago. I must say, the latter library is a lot more appealing to me though, because it's a lot bigger and I like the vibe. [herbalicious]
Yes. I do have a very large public library just in front of my home. So close isnt it ? Its is a Government library and is open from the morning till evening. At the same time, I should accept that I rarely visit it, even though it is in just opposite to me and is so close for me to visit. [senthil2k]
No, I don´t have a good public library near home. I would like to have one, though. I lived in Barcelona for some months and I remember the public libraries were just amazing, you had everything in there: internet, travelling guides, nice and good books. [ganandoplata]
I live in a very small town and we do not have a library that I am aware of. I also work a lot so I have not had a chance to see if we even have one. [nangel78]
I always took our public library for granted then I moved to the country for a couple of years. The library out there had about as many books as my bathroom! Now I appreciate our library for what it is. It has books on pretty much everything. [whywiki]
We have an awesome library system, and they have everything I could be interested in and more. I usually go there at least once a week. [shopgirl]
Well I rarely go to my public library but I have been there a couple times and I think it's a good library. There's a section for the adults and children and people that work there are friendly and they do that great books. One summer a while back I got a book for free or for 10 cents, I don't exactly remember and when I was a freshman in high school I was able to buy a book for 25 cents because they were giving books away. [sweetangel88]
yes we do have a library near my house... i have to take a public transport to reach there though... i've never been there though as i am too lazy and i usually buy the book that i want to read... usually, they are religion book... [lingli_78]
Yes, it's National Library and was a big library station. [az03r4]
Hi Scary: We do have one big one down town and one in every district. Have you been to Victoria, BC? I have been to Seattle. Ivor [TheSpy]
As you know the Carbondale Public Library is pretty good, though I doubt you used it much with access to Morris. the graphics novels section is a little weak, but they have one and with the interlibrary loan program I've been able to get most things I want within a day or two. The only weakness as I see it is in true research materials and that's got to be a concession to Morris, I think...for general reading books, kids books, etc. It's great. And, they loan out art prints which is just kind of cool.... [moonshadow68]
Yeah, I think I went to the Carbondale library all of twice--once to read the script for the play I was in, and another time to grab tax forms when Morris was out. I got all of my library stuff from Morris when I was there. :) [scarywhitegirl]
I live in the city had a big library, and the distance between my home very much, I must take an hour to reach the car, but when I vacate time, I like to go there to read, it is inside the book, what kind of there, I love it... [xiuluoelly]
There's a library not far from where I live which is alright, but not the greatest selection of books; I have since donated a lot of my books to them because they could use it; Then there's the public library in Mobile where I do have a library card with and they have a great selection to get from. They also renovated the main library and put in a cafe where you can go and get something to eat and all. [Savvynlady]
Public library that is close to me ... is quite good i can find there many interesting books ... but unfortunately i am reading too fast ... and my library don't have new books of my fav. authors. I wish i could have library that there were many many more books :) especially from my fav. authors :) [malijka]
I am not so lucky as you. I moved here two years ago and now in the last Vacations which we spent home I took the time to visit the library. I am a librarian myself and all I can say is it looks a bit chaotic and the books are not in good conditions. Plus for these conditions they have a lending fee for books which is outrageous. So I better buy used books in good conditions over the internet. [book1962]
No ,I live in a town ,there is no library. [kineychen]
Our downtown library is great! There are so many things to read, and the selection is huge. The librarians are really helpful too, and will suggest books to you and everything. The library a couple of blocks from us is okay, the selection there isn't great but is still good, plus you can order books from other libraries and have them delivered to your library branch, so it's not that bad, especially if you place the order online - you don't even have to go into the library until your book or video has been delivered. [cutepenguin]