Do you use your public library?

[staley7580]

We have just started going this summer, and we are all loving it! I checked out 10 books for myself just last week, and I am in hog heaven! My kids love going in and picking out their books, then looking at the walking stick bugs they have on display..

 

[Pixiedust34]

We generally use the library twice/week, and it's normal for us to have 30-40+ items on our card at any given time. We read a lot!

We live near several libraries, and I rotate my library visits between 3 different libraries.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I our library!

It's a terrific library too, nice and spacious(totally redone a couple of yeras ago), great chidlrens room and activites.

I go about once a week, anything they don't have I order(online- how much do I love that!) through interlibrary loan.

If I had to buy all the books I read, we'd be in the poorhouse. I can't imagine not utilizing the library,

Ours is pretty terrific too! It's new, with modern furniture, open spaces, has a cafe, drive through window and a separate automated return. We can order books online they will e-mail or call when it's ready and I can pick it up at the window!!

 

[powellrj]

I miss our bookmobile, but I do go to the main branch every two weeks to get a new supply of books on CD for the car. I can usually do at least one book a week in the car.

 

[shortbun]

Oh yeah. We always rack up fines to support the library. Our reserve lists are long and we all read a lot.

 

[shortbun]

When we lived in the States we used it all the time. Unfortunately living here in Mexico, we don't have any kind of library anywhere near us (even if we did, I wouldn't get much use out of it). Whenever we take an extended trip back to the States, we try to get a library card from the town we are staying in. My kids just can't believe how much stuff you can find in the library. It's one of the things that I really miss about living in the US.

Mexico City has no library? sad

 

[megthewonderful]

Always! Me and my kids usually go twice a week and get new books and movies. The library is a great place to take your kids! We usually have 20-30 items checked out at any time.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I use ours all the time!

Ours is also a very small library, so they don't have a lot of stuff that interests me. I usually end up using Interlibrary Loan to order books or CDs or movies that I want. I actually ILL stuff so often, the staff has my ph# on speed dial and a stack of forms with my name already on them. I've also been (unofficially) voted the patron with the most unusual interlibrary loan reading list. :thumbsup:

 

[TheGoofster]

Mexico City has no library? sad

Actually, they do have some, but there are none anywhere near us. (I think the closest one that I heard of is around 45 minutes away, and it's a really, really small building). I'm sure there are some bigger ones in other parts of the city, but we live on the ourskirts, and as far as I know there is nothing near us.
Even book stores aren't that common. There are some, but they just aren't that big. Magazines are really popular, there are magazine vendors all over the place, but bookstores and libraries aren't as popular.

 

[newholidayx2]

My library is very small and so I have to request almost everything I want through interlibrary exchanges. My husband is afraid that I'm ticking off the librarians by constantly requesting so many books

Im able to request books on the computer at home. Can you do that?

 

[Golf4food]

Yes, we use it regularly, especially DW, who can read a book in days - it takes me weeks or months because I mostly only read at lunch while at work and very little at home.

I currently owe them $12 in overdue fines, too, haha.

 

[Cindy B]

Im able to request books on the computer at home. Can you do that?

In my library (a brand new facility) I can request books that the library actually has but I have to go to the branch for for ILL's.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

My library is very small and so I have to request almost everything I want through interlibrary exchanges. My husband is afraid that I'm ticking off the librarians by constantly requesting so many books

Mine felt the same way until L (the asst head librarian) told him she'd rather have people request books through ILL than come in, not find anything, and leave emptyhanded because their needs weren't met.

Our library also does a children's storytime on Weds and Sat. Last year, for Talk Like a Pirate Day, I did a pirate-themed storytime and dressed in pirate costume. The librarian just asked me if I wanted to do it again this year and I was like "YES PLEASE!"

 

[D&DDisney]

yes... weekly in the summer and then once a month during the school year.

 

[ajk912]

I use it a lot during the school year. Summer is kind of hectic, plus I like disposable books that I can take to the pool, and if they get a little wet, that's ok. I do this for me and my kids.

 

[JVL1018]

Ours is pretty terrific too! It's new, with modern furniture, open spaces, has a cafe, drive through window and a separate automated return. We can order books online they will e-mail or call when it's ready and I can pick it up at the window!!

You win! A cafe..and a drive through?! I want that!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

You win! A cafe..and a drive through?! I want that!!

I feel like the fisherman's wife, but the cafe is pricey and it doesn't have kid friendly food at all. It looks nice and I guess it's nice to know it's there in a pinch.

I do love the drive through. I would've loved it when the kids were small, but I'm loving it now just the same.

 

[tonilea]

DS LOVES the library! We go almost every week. Usually, when we walk in, he announces "I love books!" We were looking for a particular book and couldn't find it, so he took off. Went straight up to the librarian and very politely asked her if she could help him find the book. She found it for him and seemed pretty impressed. lol

 

[scrump]

Yes, the proximity to our local library was actually one of the reasons we bought in our area. Ours is great, and has a nice kids floor and everything. I love it!

 

[Camicar]

We do use our library almost every week, but for books only. And that may be changing bec they just changed the length of a loan to 14 days. (It was 28 days. I only realized it when I went to check out a book and the STUPID self-check machine told me that I had a $3 fine. Huh? Turns out they changed the rules and neglected to tell anyone.)

I check out 5-7 magazines a week on average instead of buying ones that look interesting at the check out stand. I came home with 6 tonight, plus 2 new books. I often grab a couple DVDs, too, but with the Olympics starting, I figured we'd stick to watching that.

You can check out current magazines at your library? We cannot check out any magazine until it is one year old.

The dvds are all scratched unless you get the brand new ones (which cost $2 to rent). Any dvd/video that is more than 6 months old, there is still a wait list. Last year I waited 11 months for a dvd and when I got it, the disk was unplayable and they told me I'd have to sign back up for the queue again and go to the end of the line.

I have a MLS and I lead a book group at this library and yet... I don't like it much. (Note: the building is less than 5 years old and has won architectural awards. It is fully funded by the town and our taxes are amongst the highest in the state. It is not really a matter of funding. It is piss-poor management.)

And did I mention the self check out?