Comments on: How are you using your public library these days?

By: NJ Paust

NJ Paust — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:16:30 +0000

I use the public library mostly from home to access the databases–one in particular has helped me to make informed decisions that has increased my net worth without using financial advisors. The databases are a literal goldmine of wealth.

By: Using RSS to improve the reputation of a High School Library « Ceridwyn's 'Critical Discussion' blog

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:23:05 +0000

[...] By Ceridwyn, on July 28th, 2010 How did you view your High School Library? If you’re among the majority, you saw it as a repository of books and ‘some other stuff’; dry words on dry paper; a place [...]

By: Vinnie Vrotny

Vinnie Vrotny — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:35:52 +0000

Scott, my wife and I use our local public library, which has wonderful resources. When I find a book that I want to read (and I often do from the various books you recommend from your blog), I connect to my online catalog and search for the book. Rarely do I find that the library system does not have the book. I place a hold, and usually, within 5 days, I am getting notification that the book is in, with the exception of new books. For instance, I reserved the new Daniel Pink book two weeks before the release and had to wait one week before it got through cataloging (I am the first user to check out new books, like the new Mortenson, Gladwell, etc., a fact not lost on the circulation staff). If I like a book, I will then return and purchase it. They offer great programming, including concerts, 35 mm movies before they are out on DVD, for free. Great for people on budgets. Not all local public libraries are like mine, but mine is fantastic.

By: Todd Wandio

Todd Wandio — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:30:21 +0000

I use the library as a repository for my used books. I don’t like touching books used by others, but I have no problem with those who don’t mind it. So I donate my already read paperbacks and old textbooks to the library. They either shelve them, or put them in the five for a dollar bin. If it helps them, great!

By: Blair Peterson

Blair Peterson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:23:34 +0000

My family uses the library to check out books since we read quite a bit. It’s really nice to be able to provide our 3 year old with a wide variety of books.
Since I have access to the university library’s online system I am able to conduct research from anywhere in the world. This has been really nice to have.
Since I’ve been out of work for the past several months so I’ve enjoyed the “social services” that Doug mentioned. It’s been my office and I was pretty productive there. Guess that the services have not been “library” ones.
Take a look at my post about the historic New York City Library from last week.
http://creativetension.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/the-historic-nyc-library-and-the-future/

By: bky

bky — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:12:43 +0000

I use my library a lot. There is no way I could buy even a sizeable fraction of the books I read. Also, I homeschool my kids so I often get books for that. The internet makes it easier to use our library. If I hear of a book I want to read, I can quickly log onto the library website, reserve it, and have it delivered to the nearest branch library. You can’t go to a branch and expect to find what you want. That might work at the main library but not the branches. Also, I can get essentially any book I want since in my state there is a consortium of libraries including several college or university libraries that allow inter-library loans. Again, it’s an easier procedure to search for the book I want online and have it delivered to my local branch. You never know how long it takes, but you get the book. Sure, we check out DVD’s and CD’s, but for our family the public library is a pipeline of free books into our home.

By: Scott McLeod

Scott McLeod — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:59:48 +0000

@Carolyn Foote: I didn’t have any notions about what others might say. I just realized that our family generally mirrored Godin’s comment and wondered if others did too.

There’s still lots of library love out there. I think you’re absolutely correct when you say “[I]t’s all about community–the same thing blogs and twitter and facebook are about. It’s about a place as well as people. And what is also clear is it is such a local thing. Some libraries/cities clearly are awesome. Some are clearly more mediocre/mundane. Like anything else, the places that tell their story and serve their community well will survive and flourish.”

I also think Doug Johnson is correct, however, when he says that “the Internet continues to whittle away at the traditional services of the library.” It will be interesting (and probably also a little sad) to see where our public libraries are in just a decade or two…

By: Betty

Betty — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:31:41 +0000

The last time I used the public library was to study. About three months ago, I discovered that the library has study rooms. Not only can you study quietly, but there is internet access. Yay!

By: Sebastien Marion

Sebastien Marion — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:12:43 +0000

Have libraries jumped the shark?

By: Arlee

Arlee — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:08:45 +0000

There has been many technological changes that have occured in the libraries over the past 20 years. 25 years ago I was still stamping and writing patron’s library numbers on cards to loan out a book. Now we scan, maintain all the information on computers. While it would be nice to think of libraries to be only books, found on shelves by us “… See Moreknow it all librarians”…, we have to change with the times. I am still needed to help with research, only now I search books as well as the internet to help patrons, using many online resources as well as book resources. I find that patrons do take out DVDs, but they take out books as well. We try to have more of the travel, language, classic DVDs as we are not trying to compete with the DVD rental places. It is always nice to see when a parent tells their child “you may choose one DVD, but you must also choose a book. Now patrons can reserve, renew, ask a question and even download an ebook directly through the library website. We have shown a steady increase in new patrons accessing the library which is a good thing. The percentage of patrons in our library are still wanting the book in its familiar comfortable format.