Use the library.

[Tank]

I am the kind of person who likes to go, go, go on vacation. Disney is perfect for me. My wife likes to relax(boring). So we compromised this year. We did the beach this July and will be in WDW this Oct.. To survive a boring week at the beech I went to the local library and took out 7 travel books on WDW. What better reading. Most were 2003 editions. Imagine what that would have cost to buy. Now if I want to buy one I already know which ones I prefer. Just a quick tip, use the Library

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, and you can also use the library for the books on tape you play on the car on the way, same with music CD's, book CD's, and also videos if you are so inclined. It is also great for books as well.

I also asked my library to special order some Universal books and they did, no questions asked!

 

[dijid]

We are huge library fans. If something isn't in, or isn't the 2003 edition, you can request it. My SIL is a librarian and she has always coached us on this. Interlibrary loans are available (free!) for books that your library/library system doesn't carry. We also get CDs for the road, etc. If you ask nicely, they'll often extend the due dates until you return from vacation, which you often need as books on tape, CDs etc can sometimes be checked out for only 7 days.

 

[Karel]

Sometimes it's hard to ILL something that is less than 6 months old - other libraries want it available for their patrons first.

You must have access to a big library if you can get 7 2003 WDW books. I don't think we have any from any year.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Karel
Sometimes it's hard to ILL something that is less than 6 months old - other libraries want it available for their patrons first.

You must have access to a big library if you can get 7 2003 WDW books. I don't think we have any from any year.

Karel, do you mind if I ask where you are in S. Jersey?
I'm in S. Jersey as well, and have had amazing luck at the Cherry Hill and Camden County Library. I even got a college textbook through ILL there very easily.

My parents live in a very tiny town in Burlington County (blink and you;ll miss it type thing). Thier town library is very very small, one year I read all the kids books in it! But the Burlington County main library in Mt. Holly/Lumberton area isn't bad either. It is big.


Don't know much about Gloucester County .. but isn't that the same county as Rowan College? I used to work at a college, (in PA) and if you were a resident of that town, you could use the colleges library.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just a public service note on libraries and library funding: the average US family pays approx. $27 per yr. in property taxes to support the local public library. At current avg. retail prices, that amount will buy less than 2 hardbound books. Public libraries are one of the greatest bargains in the world.

Libraries depend largely on circulation patterns in order to decide what to buy; they live and die by their statistics. When money is tight, they tend to buy more of what is already popular with their patrons, because it is good for the numbers. If you want your library to buy materials in an area they don't currently have anything on, you should ask, and ask often, for the things you want.

Some libraries that are very short on collection development funds have made it a policy not to buy any circulating title that is updated with a new edition annually, so there are quite a number of them that do not carry any annually published travel guides at all. Ask if this is your library's policy, and if so, see what you can do to convince them to change it.

 

[mouskamom]

I work at a library - and I love it!!!! All the patrons know to come to me for help ordering anything Disney - there is so much information out there (almost as much as here) all to be had for free - books, videos, dvds - magazines - travel guides - if it's not available at our "home" library we can order it - I really feel it's an under used resource!

 

[Tank]

Its great to see others love the library as much as I do. I am lucky to live in Pittsburgh where we have access to the carnegie library system. I currently managed to get a copy of WDW explorer from the library. Sadly it is due back tomorow. My DD5 really enjoyed exploring the world and DS2 sat beside her and kept saying me ride, me ride. Can't wait for October to show them the real thing.

 

[Tank]

Its great to see others love the library as much as I do. I am lucky to live in Pittsburgh where we have access to the carnegie library system. I currently managed to get a copy of WDW explorer from the library. Sadly it is due back tomorow. My DD5 really enjoyed exploring the world and DS2 sat beside her and kept saying me ride, me ride. Can't wait for October to show them the real thing.

 

[Earstou]

I always check our library for travel books, too. A feature available to us that I love (and wasn't aware of until a friend tipped me off) is the catalog is available online. I can select a title (using the number on my library card) and as soon as that title is available, the library mails it to me. I was able to get all the 2003 editions before my trip.

 

[LauraMc]

A wonderful feature our library offers (and most local ones do too) is to prepare "vacation kits" for children age 2-12. This includes books, cassettes, activity sheets, etc. Just call the librarian a week beforehand and tell them the age and gender of the kids, and they put together a nice little kit (with a tote!) for each one.

A really nice offering.

Laura

 

[disynut]

Just had to reply to this....I'm a LIBRARIAN! So glad to see people using the library--I grew up in the library, literally! We loved going to the library as kids and I hope that I can foster the same love in the kids that I teach.

Anyway...I know our local public library goes by what people request the most. If your library doesn't have the book you want, request it! Librarians want to order books that the public wants to see--but sometimes, as the poster above mentioned, we have to use statistics to go by, which sometimes don't always tell the whole story, so to speak. So, if you want your library to get a certain book, just ask! I bet the librarian would be glad to order it with their next order!

 

[WIcruizer]

I haven't been to a library in 20 years. My children use the school library, and may occasionally use the public library. I've found everything I need to know (and more) about Disney or any other subject on the internet.

I don't want to disrespect librarians or anyone here who regularly uses the library. I'm just being honest. If there's a video or CD I really like I have it in my collection. And I've never found the WDW guide books to be very helpful compared to what's available from the convenience of my home on the internet.

 

[Karel]

Actually, I am one of the librarians but I don't get much of a say in the ordering process. We have a very small library in Gloucester County, there are three of us who work part time on separate schedules (IE I am the only one there when I work.) I do not live in Glassboro so I don't have access to Rowan Library. I know a bunch of people who pay to go to other libraries. We have the money but not the space and tend to order more fiction books that non fiction. Yes, you can make a suggestion but it may not get ordered. Most of the time it's things on the best seller list or off a list of 'recommended' books and authors.

I do agree that the best Disney stuff comes from the internet.

Most people do not come into the library for videos or cds. Most people come in to look for books to read and more and more people seem to be coming in. We also have a bunch of audio cassettes that people borrow for their car trips. You always know when it's a rainy week in the summer because people come into check out 4 or 5 videos for their kids.

WIcruizer - I guess you don't like to read? I buy books that interest me on occasion but I like the whole library sharing thing. Besides the fact that you can save mone,there's something comforting about browsing the books, sharing recommendations, checking who else read the book. There's just something unique about one book being town property, belonging to everyone. I love browsing the shelves to find interesting subjects; you never know what you'll find. I love checking out kids books and finding the name of someone who just graduated high school. I like when kids come in to do their homework. I think the library should be the center of town, the meeting place for friends and neighbors.

 

[Cindy B]

Your library sounds like the Southampton Township library.. very very small.

My parents live there, and its so small its in a section of the old firehouse.. and everything is still dne by hand, no computers, etc...

Fortunately the Burlington County one isn't that far away...

 

[Karel]

Our building has always been a library, donated by a couple to the town in 1927. It looks more like a church though - high windows and ceiling, stone outside, real slate roof, lots of wood. It's really beautiful and we have people stop in all the time to look around. We finally went to computers two years ago. Up to that time, we had one for the public to use. We still stamp by hand, use book cards, patron cards but also scan the book so it's checked in and out in the computer. We have two older ladies that have a hard time with the computer stuff.

It's a challenge trying to keep it unique but blending in modern day technology. We actually have fax now! OTH, I like it old fashioned too.