Do you use your public library?

[ChristaDeVil]

Not so much. I used to, and I still take my son there every once in a while, but I became disenchanted with our library. They have a HUGE new fancy facility, and a poor book selection. If you don't read Nora Roberts or John Grisham, you're out of luck. Every book that I wanted to read, I would check, and come up empty handed. I like non-fiction, horror, sci-fi, and just plain good fiction, but was just saddened by the fact that if you don't read the "popular" authors, you have no choice. I have tried requesting books, sending e-mails, everything, but just decided not to fight it anymore. Also, I'm a pretty avid comic book/graphic novel reader, and they have ZERO. I totally understand that...it's not a super popular thing for my town, but I hate dropping $20 on a book that I can finish in a day. So...here's what I did...I joined Book Swim. It's like Netflix, only for books. You pay a monthly fee, and get to "rent" books. I think it's well worth it. I love it.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

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.

We have a library in the next town over that has the same problem. I don't know why they don't take about half their DVDs off the shelf because they are so scratched they are nearly unwatchable.
Our library doesn't get movies in very often because the budget is so limited, so I am forced to either ILL or use Redbox if I want something that's fairly new.

I really wish we could get all the money for a new building NOW. Right now the library is housed inside town hall, in a room that's maybe big enough to be a medium-sized conference room. We also cannot afford to pay what some other towns around here can pay, so library staff is usually in and out like a bleedin' rotating door.

Also, I'm a pretty avid comic book/graphic novel reader, and they have ZERO.

Christa, you should come to our library. In an effort to draw in more preteen and teen patrons, the head librarian has been buying manga and graphic novels out the wazoo.

 

[PatsMom]

I belong to two libraries. One in the town where I live and I also one in my mother's town where I am one or two nights a week. I don't have to pay an annual fee for the one in my mother's town since they still consider me a resident since I still get mail there and I pay some of my mother's utilities and they are in my name. I get books on CD from that library since I do a lot of driving and that helps to pass the time. I get more books there too since they are larger and tend to have a better selection and get the books more quickly. But DD patronizes our local library and will request ILL for things that they don't have. Saves us a ton of money although we still buy way too many books according to DH!

 

[Aimeedyan]

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!!

Wow, now THAT is service!!

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.

Yep, even new magazines - but to be fair, this was the first library I've ever seen that happen so it must not be that common (I've had memberships in at least 5 other cities in the last 10-15 years). I brought home 6 August/Sept issue magazines (including this weeks People magazine!). I can only keep them a week but I thumb through them quickly so it's not an issue.

I have only checked out a few DVDs and they weren't scratched, but I can see where some of our kids ones might be. The ones I rented were pretty obscure We have Netflix, so I don't go for new releases there but instead older films I haven't seen in awhle and don't want to waste a rental on.

 

[skuttle]

We just started going with our DS (5 years old). He LOVES it. He really enjoys searching for books he likes (Super heroes, star wars, etc). Last time I made the mistake of telling him we were allowed to check out 10 books...well, he HAD to pick out 10. LOL! I hope his love of books continues as he gets older.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I love my libraries! The one in Washington Township/Centerville Ohio is a great one, always having special presentations and is very up to date regarding current books. They always have an adult summer reading program, and usually I win a nice tote, this year the tote is especially nice, blue, with lots of pockets.

The other library that I belong to is Cape May County NJ, and that's a godsend for when I'm in Cape May because of the access to the internet. I don't want a home computer in Cape May, I couldn't stay off the disboard for one thing, and the beach just shouldn't be ignored!

The librarians in both places are very helpful and friendly.

When I was a child, I loved the library for the story times. I can remember one story about a man who didn't do his dishes and they just piled up until he put them in his truck in the rain to clean them all. DH travels out of town a lot, and I feel like that man, why bother cleaning dishes when there are still plenty of clean ones left. I was just thinking of that story earlier this week as I was cleaning the kitchen waiting for DH's return from his business trip!

Bobbi

 

[PenguinWaiters]

I my library!

I never used to go there much until DD was born. Now I go at least once a week with her for storytime/preschool crafts and some weeks DH and I go again on our date night!

Things I love about our library:

I can reserve books online at home. VERY convenient because with a 3yo I don't get much time to browse. So, we just go to the front desk to check out her stuff and they hand me my books too.

ILL can also be done online - I have had mixed success with this but overall it is pretty good. I can't request anything that was published in the current year though.

Magazines - we can't take out the most current issue but we can check out the one right before that one (and of course the ones before that one, etc...). DH and I have just let most of our subscriptions run out and will be getting more mags at the library.

DVDs - kids selection is GREAT, others are So-So but at least they are in pretty good shape. We don't have TV service (by choice) at our house so I am glad that I can get some Sesame Street/Blues Clues, etc DVDs for DD to watch on occassion.

Books on CD - LOVE THIS! We just finished the whole Little House series - fabulous for car trips with DD. We are going to start on Ramona books on CD now. Any my library does not have I can just get through ILL.

Major complaint with my library- the HOURS! Not very convenient for working parents. I was lucky to be home with DD two days a week this summer so was able to take advantage of some great preschool programs that we would have missed otherwise. They are always closed on Sundays and they are only open a 1/2 day on Saturday during the school year. When DD still napped in the morning we would miss the library more weeks than not because we could not get there while they were still open. At least they do have a mixed-ages storytime on Saturdays and occassionally some crafts during that time too.

 

[Minnie_me]

We couldn't survive without it! We're there at least 2-3 times a week. The girls get books, movies, magazines, toys, puzzles, games, etc.

I agree with the OP that it has been a great budget saver for us -- I don't buy magazines OR books for myself anymore.

We have a very small library in this rural town, so I do a lot of my library work online. I request books, they get sent to my library, and I get them in a few days. It's AWESOME!

I also love to use them for school. The other teachers at my grade level usually deplete the school library for thematic books. So I go online, find a bunch of great books, games, puzzles, etc. for my theme and put a hold on them.

 

[feenie]

When I was a kid I LIVED for the day each week that my parents took us to the library.

Now that I am older, I actually don't like going, for several reasons.
Mostly because where we live the librarys are only open during wierd hours, and the evening hours have always seemed to conflict with other things in my life.
Also, I re-read my books so much that I have a hard time giving them back.

and I hate borrowing books because I had a friend in high school who was mad because I actually OPENED her book more than a crack, and it left a wrinkle in the binding.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I make a weekly trip for dvd's and save at least 30 bucks a week that way (10 per week)

Only downside is the long waits for some things (like Breaking Dawn!)

 

[DVC-Don]

Our town does not have a public library at this time (one is being built now though), but I do used the neighboring towns library.

 

[suzimar57]

not only do i use the library regularly, but i work in a library!!

 

[DawnCt1]

If there is a book I really want, I will buy it on Amazon, new or used. I wanted a specific book last winter. I called the library and requested it. In the meantime, DH bought it for me. Would you beleive I got a call, nearly six months later telling me that the book was available! Too late, I bought it and I read it. Some people in our town, with a voting block of 8000 wanted a $15 MILLION library. The library we have can easily order books from other towns. We can use any library in any surrounding town. Obviously, having to wait 6 months for a specific book wouldn't have changed with a newer and bigger building. It was voted down 2 to 1! GOOD! It will be cheaper for me to order EVERY BOOK I want on Amazon, new and used, than it would be for my taxes to go up hundreds of dollars for the next 15 years.

 

[noodleknitter]

We have 38 items out right now! I love my library. They also are much more reasonable than our DMV, as I found today when I tried replacing stolen license and library card!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Right now the library is having a run on all things Twilight and it happens everytime a new book becomes a movie for some reaosn (back in June it was Narnia because of Caspian and this winter will be another round for Harry Potter)

 

[piglet50]

i'm usually there once a week. we can also go online and reserve books, dvds, etc. we're in a small rural community that does a co-op with several larger counties, so there's a lot to choose from. i would go nuts and broke without it.

 

[DISUNC]

I have this great huge beautiful new library in town. Unfortunately all the books are older than 10 years!

So if I want to read a older book, it is fine. Anything published after 1998...fhuggedabout it!