I've always loved to read. When I was little, my mom had to strictly enforce "no books at the dinner table" and "no reading after bedtime" rules. {Which, apparently my dad was right. Reading by my dim little nightlight did strain my eyes. Oops.}It only follows then that I adore public libraries. I've been a card carrying member of half a dozen different libraries. Even when we were only in the States for the summer, we hit up the library in my grandparents' town. Even when I was in Honolulu for only four months, I got myself a library card. Even when there was a library on my college campus, I got myself a public library card. (Until I racked up seventeen dollars in fines, then I was classy and stopped going to that library. I'm a terrible person.)
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Worth: Nada. Zip. Nothing. Freeeee! (Minus any fines if you forget to turn something in, of course. They are usually fairly minimal, though.)Works For: Anyone old enough to sign their name, and likes to read, listen to music, or watch movies.
What I Love:
- It. Is. Free. Seriously, can you top this?
- I can see if a book is worth buying by checking out from the library first. (Hello, Anti 9-to-5 Guide!)
- Less clutter in my house because I don’t BUY every movie or book I like.
- Longer loan periods than most video rental store.
- You might stumble across a book, movie, or CD that looks interesting. Amazon just can't do the same for you.
- Did I mention it costs NOTHING? Well, it's TRUE.
- It's a quiet place to study.
- Libraries are an awesome asset to any community - they provide computers and internet access, story times, activities for teens, craft activities for preschoolers, book clubs, classes, and more. Why wouldn't you support that?
You'd love the public library in Columbia, MO. Be sure to stop by if you are ever in Mid Mo! Its really neat.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the library, and have always, always had a card.
ReplyDeleteI might make a pit stop there after work actually.
1/2 for the books, 1/2 for the environment. Its the geek in me.. Hahah
I was about to say I have no idea where the closest library is... until I realized that I do because I did a project there in the 8th grade.
ReplyDelete*ahem*
I love the public library in my town, but I can't get a library card. The library thinks I am dead.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.knowingthedifference.com/2008/07/why-i-cant-get-library-card.html
I love this post!!! I just got back from the library - yay! The lovely thing about my library is that if they don't have the book at that particular branch, they tranfer it from another branch and it usually only takes 4 days.
ReplyDeleteYou know what's funny? Mr. Beagle and I were just talking about getting library cards the other day. I thik we may have to now! :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom took my brother and I to the library once a week as kids and I've been going ever since. I owe my desire to become a librarian all to her.
ReplyDeleteI used to go to the library all the time as a kid. Our library had this really cool spiral staircase to go up to the children's and young adult's section... it kind of felt like creeping up to a secret room.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a library card these days b/c I already own so many books I still have to read.
Oops, that last "anonymous" was me... I forgot to put in my info!
ReplyDeletei love that i live a block and a half away from a library. it's made my reading endeavors so much more fun and easy, haha.
ReplyDeleteCame over as soon as I read your "dedication" over at my post--well done, and thank you!!! You have made this (hopefully soon to be employed) school librarian super-happy. And it's nice to see other library lovers here. I went to the library earlier today (Wed.) and came home with three books. I had to promise myself I'd come back for all the other books/movies I wanted to read/watch.
ReplyDeleteYour library also may have computer classes and other types of classes and information sessions going on. It's not the stuffy "be quiet!" library anymore.
If I may add one advisory: depending on the particular library, you might have to pay a small fee for borrowing movies. But it's still significantly cheaper than your average rental, and probably guarantees you'll watch it (because there's a date it's due back). I had so many movies to borrow in the library program, there was no way I could have tracked them down and paid to rent them all from the video store. But it was a piece of cake searching the county's library catalog online.
So maybe if you haven't set foot in a library in a while, you can dip your toe in using your computer. :)
I'm addicted to my public library and often take out more books than I can read in a two/three week period.
ReplyDeleteYou want to hear classy? I had 10 books checked out at 1 time, and moved across town, and with all the chaos, forgot to return them. I eventually did, but the library charged $10 for each book. If you do the math, that means my library fine is $100. I still have yet to pay it because I mean, who has $100 laying around for library fines? But it kills me because I LOVE the library. I LOVE it. So it's like we had a pretty nasty break up. I did put paying the fine on my 101 in 1001 list though, so hopefully we'll meet again someday.
ReplyDeleteI just rejoined my library on Sunday after going two years without. About time. I'm very happy I did it too.
ReplyDeleteI'm a HUGE fan of the public library. Want to know something sad, though? I live JUST outside the city limits of my town. If I want to get a library card, it'll cost me something like $60. And there is no county library system. :/
ReplyDeleteBut, whatever the case is with me, I'm excited that you're using the public library in your city! That's fantastic!
I voted at our local library, which is just up the street from us. I'm embarrassed to say that was the first time I'd been in a library in a very long time. But, I do support them and KNOW I'll use them should kids ever come into my future. For now, since I read, oh 2 books a year, I don't necessarily need it ... because it takes me so long to finish books that I'd most certainly rack up fines!
ReplyDeleteHa! My Anti 9 to 5 guide just arrived at my local library today!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE my local library. I don't know what I would do without one so close to my house.
ReplyDeleteUhm your blog is the best thing I have found on the web in ages.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
your new biggest fan :)
Congrats, love! You've won the Lemonade Award, courtesy of yours truly. :) Click here for further instructions.
ReplyDeleteget this.
ReplyDeleteout library closes for the winter.
oh, I LOVE libraries too!! Seriously, like you said... you can't go wrong.
ReplyDeleteUnless you are absentminded like me and accidentally rack up $50 worth of fines because you keep forgetting to return or renew... eek.
That only happened once. Lesson learned. And now I love libraries again!! :)
I can't wait until I'm close to a library...
ReplyDeleteFabulously Broke in the City
"Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver."
I am so into our library. It's cute and little, but they'll order any books they don't have from the other branches.
ReplyDeleteI'm a brand new reader but I love your blog and am so glad I found it.
ReplyDeleteI love the library, although I was spoiled while in college because my "local" library was the Boston Public Library.
You've inspired me to get out there and get a library card again. I used to ADORE the library. When we were at our first apartment, I'd ride my bike there on a weekly basis. Now that we're in another city, I've been lazy about getting a new card.
ReplyDeleteThis week? I'm going to do it. It's official.
PS: I totally don't judge you on the fine thing. When I was in college, I kept three books for like, two months and owed them more than the books were even worth. I was all, "Screw this! I'm just never coming back! You can't find me! Muahahaha!" I have no soul, apparently.
PPS: Mandy's story totally makes me laugh. Dead? What? Crazy library.
Gosh okay it's official I need to go to a library. Maybe it would give me the motivation to read the whole book before I have to check it back in.. because my reading ethic is HORRIBLE.
ReplyDeleteyou will be so proud:
ReplyDeleteCale: free 2 day shipping on thta book
the obama book
for 8$
w free shipping
me: ohh okay you can get it
Cale: oh okay
me: or you could check it out from the library
Cale: or i could
lol
ill do that
tomorrow!
or i can check it out online and they can hold it for me @ the desk
cause im cool like that..
Cale: Item requested from Pleasanton Public You will be able to pick up this material at CSUEB Hayward Circulation Desk at CSU East Bay when it is ready.
me: sweet