Do you use your public library?

It saddens me to think that libraries are being fazed out. I just read this article about Philadelphia libraries closing as of October 2nd.

When we bought our house, I had to go through hundreds of books that my husband and I had bought over the years. SO many of them were not worth keeping and I got next to nothing for them so I donated most of them.

Since then, I've used my town's library much more than I thought. It's free, it's convenient, I can search their inventory online to see if they have something... It's a no brainer right?

Am I in the minority here?

Re: Do you use your public library?

I try to. I actually use the library near my office more than home (they give the employees courtesy library cards.) I'll go there during lunch and read magazines or just hang out there to get AWAY from my office.

The thing that is frustrating to me about the library is that it seems that they never have what I want - and not because it's on loan, it's just located in another library. I searched for 4 books lately and none of them were available without inter-library loan.

Unfortunately I am lacking enough patience to wait a week for an inter-library loan to happen.

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I use it a few times a month (I take out a stack of books at a time).

I like how you can request new releases online and they will call you when the book is in. You can do it before the book is even released - I've gotten calls for many books the day they have come out.

I figure - we pay taxes towards the library, might as well use it!

And - the price of books adds up and they take up a lot of space.

The only thing now that I can see helping drive more libraries out of business is the Kindle.

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I've recently started going back to the library because I just don't have the money or the space for as many books as I read.

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I go once or twice a month. Usually once for myself and once for the kids, especially if they're having a fun children's program.

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Not anymore! I used but I don't really have a need for it.

I find most of any research on a particular topic I want on the internet.

As far as borrowing books, I don't have time to read anymore for leasure.

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I use the library frequently. I commute so i use my train time to read - and i read fairly fast so i go through about a book a week.

I rarely if ever actually buy books, unless its as a gift for someone else.

i love the library!

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Re: Do you use your public library?

Posted by Otherme

I use the library frequently. I commute so i use my train time to read - and i read fairly fast so i go through about a book a week.

I rarely if ever actually buy books, unless its as a gift for someone else.

i love the library!

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We just joined-and I'm so glad we did. We are saving so much on books, it's great for our budget.

The library for our town is small and they never have the books I want, but I reserve them and get them when others return them.

We also have access to the other libraries in our county, which are much bigger.

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Not as much as I used to. Since having DD I find it difficult to get back and forth, and I barely have time to the newspaper, I don't know when I'd find time to read for pleasure.

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I don't think I've stepped foot in a public library since HS.

In college I used the one on campus. Then when DH and I were living in our apartment we never visited the library. And we've been in our house now for almost 3 years; never been to this one either. I look at the monthly newsletters we get but either the programs/events don't interest us or they're just not at convenient times. I always say we have to go but we never make it there.

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I take the kids every week or two. I've been trying to use our library more (I use booksfree for most of the stuff I read) but outside of the children's and young adult section I don't think our library has a great selection.

Re: Do you use your public library?

Posted by Otherme

I use the library frequently. I commute so i use my train time to read - and i read fairly fast so i go through about a book a week.

I rarely if ever actually buy books, unless its as a gift for someone else.

i love the library!

Re: Do you use your public library?

We go to our library almost every other day or so! We use them to reserve books, cds and dvds - including new releases!

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I go to the library constantly. I would be really upset if it was phased out. I love to read but I don't want to buy all the books and have to store them. The library is a wonderful tool and it's free.

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I take my son every week (sometimes more if the weather is really bad) to check out books and hang out--they have toys in bins for young children, and a lovely garden, and he loves these things. We also go to programs for him when we can.

A lot of libraries offer electronic books, databases, music, and movies that you can download on a computer or MP3 device, so there is still a lot available evene for those who no longer read books.

I think many libraries will survive, but their purpose will change. I see them more as community centers and an electronic borrowing center. They were founded with the idea that a literate public would build a stronger country, so farmers and people who did not have money to purchase books could always borrow them. And I don't see us losing that need, so it would really be a shame if public libraries disappeared altogether.

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Re: Do you use your public library?

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I only recently started going to the library.. but everytime I want to read a book it's never there and it frustrates me

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I do all the time, if my local library doesnt have the book I want to read I just request it (if they have it at another library) and usually have it within 1-2 weeks...

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YES! I have overdue books that need to be taken back

I would rather go there and give them the late fees then buy the book anyway bc I live in a coop and try to avoid clutter.

I live in Queens and if the book isn't in I can request it and it comes within a cple days.

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Re: Do you use your public library?

Personally, I don't go often, but DW and DC are there quite a bit. They get books out several times a month. DC go to activities there. We would definitely be considered "frequent users".

My MIL is the sole librarian at this tiny community library near her house. It's about the size of my living room, and doesn't even have a bathroom.... However, because of the interaction all libraries have, she can get any book in the country if someone wants to borrow it.

I would really hate to see our library disappear....

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As of recently I use it a lot. I realized how much I was spending on books and decided to start using the library. I'm not the type to read books over and over plus I was buying books that I ended up not even enjoying. To me, it's a waste of money so I started using the library a lot more.