Public library use up.

[deanainnc]

There was an article in our local paper a couple weeks ago that was talking about how our local library has seen a large number of new patrons over the last several months. I was just curious how many fellow disner's has started using their public libraries to check out books or movies? I have always used the library. It makes no sense to me to buy a book that you are only going to read one time. I also rent movies from the library. They have all the new releases and the rental is $1 per movie for 2 nights. I also used the public computers a while back when our home computer went out to get on the internet.

 

[Aristomommy]

We go to our library evey 7-10 days. Our kids check out a few boks each and a couple of DVDs. DH usually has an audiobook waiting for him and while they walk around I catch up on magazines. I hate buying magazines only to throw them in recycling a week later. I've noticed our libraries are much busier than before.

 

[Kaler131]

I use our library system a LOT!! I don't check out movies anymore because my kids were always losing the boxes, etc. so it ended up costing us more....

 

[mjantz]

There was an article in our local paper that discussed the same thing. Unfortunately, when times are hard as library use goes up the revenue goes down. So libraries have to serve more people with less money.
We use our library a lot. I just checked out a bunch of DVDs & books for a road trip & I'm on the waiting list for several new bestsellers & new hardback books.
Library fines are about the only 'fee' that I don't mind paying. I end up getting fined about $20/year (usually .50 here or $1 there). Considering that's the cost of an average DVD or new hardback book, I figure I'm still getting a bargain.

 

[FLAngie]

A good friend of mine is a Librarian and she just said last night that the number of people coming in for help writing resumes has gone WAY up. She said that she helps a minimum of 5 people everyday to write one, and that is in addition to the people that just want a book on it.

 

[nooneshome]

The library is part of the cahain of events that led me to the DIS. I checked out a few books for our Disney trip and they led me to a few web sites and I stumbled onto the DIS!!!

We use it for dvds, cds and books. I have the Watchmen series on the way and still waiting for the Hulk dvd.

 

[harleyquinn]

Children's librarian here. We are busier than ever--we almost never see a decrease in stats even during healthy economic times, but we are always much busier during times like now. People use us when they have to, but usually don't stop once things get better..we're just too cool. Plus we have job finding resources and free computer use, so we're very important to the jobless.

Thats the good news.

Unfortunatly our funding is wrapped up in the economy. My library system will be decreasing open hours begining in May. Staff are being asked to voluntarily decrease their hours and we have a hiring freeze of course. So greater demand is met by fewer hours and staff. It's really, really bad.

 

[MomToARedhead]

I've started, but only to get books to read to my daughter. Were it not for her, I wouldn't be there at all. I'm just not a reader and don't really have a reason to utilize their other resources!

 

[splash5]

My husband is the library director at our public library, so we have always used the library for movies and some books. We do still buy certain authors. Our local economy is down and so of course, the library is the first thing that gets budget cuts (it isn't seen as being very important). They are looking at closing down an additional day a week here. It is sad that cities don't always see libraries as being worthy of the funds.

 

[LilyWDW]

I WISH!

My local public library is horrible! They never have anything even somewhat recent, it's a mess, and you can't find anything.

I usually buy the books and movies I want because I rarely don't read them more then once.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We've actually been going to our library LESS often because they had to cut the hours and most of the programs! But we do still go at least once a month to check out books.

 

[sherry7]

I check out lots of cookbooks that I "think" I want...usually after reading through them, there's only 2 or 3 recipes that catch my eye, so I don't buy them...a big money saver.

Our library has a digital download site online...I download (for free) one or two audio books each week, and transfer them to my mp3 player to listen to while at work. Books typically cost $10-$15 to download from a pay site, so this saves me tons of money.

I live in a small town, with an even smaller library, so I was surprised to find out about the digital downloads.

 

[libinatorsmom]

We use our library all the time... all free.. including the dvds for 3 nights!! All are pretty new releases too usually I let DD pick out one or two a week... we get new books too all the time... its a small lib where we live but its a small town... its great to have! I really enjoy it and I dont think people relieze what a lib has to offer!!!

 

[momof3girls6712]

Children's librarian here. We are busier than ever--we almost never see a decrease in stats even during healthy economic times, but we are always much busier during times like now. People use us when they have to, but usually don't stop once things get better..we're just too cool. Plus we have job finding resources and free computer use, so we're very important to the jobless.

Thats the good news.

Unfortunatly our funding is wrapped up in the economy. My library system will be decreasing open hours begining in May. Staff are being asked to voluntarily decrease their hours and we have a hiring freeze of course. So greater demand is met by fewer hours and staff. It's really, really bad.

I am the youth services coordinator for 5 branches and we have the same funding problems. The county has told us we will probally have to close 1 library branch completely next year. We our in a small and poor rural area so we get cuts every year. At this point we do not have a full time librarian. In fact in one of our branches a volunteer opens and runs the library 1 day a week so that it can be open. It is very sad to watch happen. Our patrons depend on our services, but we are losing services daily it seems.

 

[bookgirl]

I am a librarian at our public library (suburb that is part of the county library system) our use is up. Not only books, but by people on the public use internet computers. So many people looking at job sites or checking email now that they are cutting back on services at home.

The only thing is my library does not buy new release movies (we only get the big winners, oscar best pic, best actress/actor movie, sundance audience winner, and palm winner at Cannes, plus best documentary). We can't even get them to buy masterpiece theatre shows unless it's a literature based movie, with three reviews. We get so many complaints about it. We've complained but they just don't want to spend the money on dvd's that have common appeal but no merit. Kids movies are a little more lax and we buy all disney and educational.

However I do admit to a little spite and making them Interlibrary loan movies, even though I know it costs. Hey for what it costs to go through ILL they could have bought the darn thing.


Our programing is up, circ is up (my branch has the highest circs in the system over 1 million per year), we have added audio book downloads, and our new downtown branch is even offering college courses. We get our funding based on property tax (mix of metro, wealthy suburb, and urban), so we expect to see a little less funding but I doubt we do any series down sizing, maybe a little less growth (we are building one new branch right now and doing some refurbishing) but no downsizing.

 

[harleyquinn]

I am the youth services coordinator for 5 branches and we have the same funding problems. The county has told us we will probally have to close 1 library branch completely next year. We our in a small and poor rural area so we get cuts every year. At this point we do not have a full time librarian. In fact in one of our branches a volunteer opens and runs the library 1 day a week so that it can be open. It is very sad to watch happen. Our patrons depend on our services, but we are losing services daily it seems.

It's not nearly that bad here. I can't imagine running this building with only one or 2 staff members--we'd have to jsut close.

I am a librarian at our public library (suburb that is part of the county library system) our use is up. Not only books, but by people on the public use internet computers. So many people looking at job sites or checking email now that they are cutting back on services at home.

The only thing is my library does not buy new release movies (we only get the big winners, oscar best pic, best actress/actor movie, sundance audience winner, and palm winner at Cannes, plus best documentary). We can't even get them to buy masterpiece theatre shows unless it's a literature based movie, with three reviews. We get so many complaints about it. We've complained but they just don't want to spend the money on dvd's that have common appeal but no merit. Kids movies are a little more lax and we buy all disney and educational.

However I do admit to a little spite and making them Interlibrary loan movies, even though I know it costs. Hey for what it costs to go through ILL they could have bought the darn thing.

Is your funding based on circulation?! I can't imagine not giving your public what they want, that's why we're here.

We get new releases based on how much they gross at the box office--typically about 6-8 copies of each movie. Half are requestable and the other half are not for 3 months...they are never on the shelf for long.

 

[Imzadi]

Whew! I misread the thread title. I read it as: the time limit for using the library free was up and libraries were closing or we'd have to pay. So glad I was wrong on that.

I definitely have been using my library more. I have recently discovered the joy of ebooks to read off my laptop. I knew my local library has ebooks to download online as regular PDF files, but I never really looked to see what they offered. It's incredible how many new best sellers I can download without trudging to the library for it on a snowy day! And I don't have to worry about late fees. They have more than enough books to download to keep me busy for quite a while.

Oprah even has a few ebooks to download from time to time. She had one yesterday. (Expired already.)

I started an ebook thread here, with a few links to download some. Download one, then see if your library has some to download online. They would probably be at the bigger library systems.

Do you read ebooks? (For the Kindle-less readers)

 

[bookgirl]

It's not nearly that bad here. I can't imagine running this building with only one or 2 staff members--we'd have to jsut close.



Is your funding based on circulation?! I can't imagine not giving your public what they want, that's why we're here.

We get new releases based on how much they gross at the box office--typically about 6-8 copies of each movie. Half are requestable and the other half are not for 3 months...they are never on the shelf for long.

oops I went back and added after you quoted me.

We are propery tax funded.

Because we are a big system and have to buy so many copies they choose to put the money on into non fiction information dvds (planet earth, how to, lots of educational etc) award winning movies (so brokeback mountain, good will hunting, slum dog millionaire, but not knocked up, x'men, iron man, or beverly hills chiuauhah) or movies with classic appeal or literary merit (lord of the rings, star wars, pride and prejeduce, some bbc stuff since they love miniseries based on novels, old john wayne and cary grant stuff, westerns from the 40's and 50s).

But they say we can not be blockbusters and still offer high speed internet, 100 copies of best sellers, wifi, audio downloads, dozens of public use computers per site with word processing, databases, internet, and article/newspaper archives, genenology subscriptions, etc. Licencing for a lot of our databases includes at home acess so it is really costly.

In a way I understand I just wish we had more popularity based shows. Like carol burnett, seinfield, Inspector Linley, Vicor of Dibley...Dr Who. LOL But we really offer a lot, I just wish we could give them it all.

 

[D&DDisney]

Love our local library. Kids love going back each week for new books or movies.

 

[LoriKutchey]

I've never realized libraries had digital downloads for audio books. How does that work? Could I put it on my i-pod. I've only downloaded through i-tunes before so what type of program would i download onto?? Sorry, I'm not so techno-savy.
Thanks, Lori