Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Worth it Wednesday: Free is Even Better than Cheap, Yes?

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?
What I Wish: That you’d get a library card already. Sheesh. (I love you. Now go get a library card!)

28 comments:

  1. You'd love the public library in Columbia, MO. Be sure to stop by if you are ever in Mid Mo! Its really neat.

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  2. I LOVE the library, and have always, always had a card.

    I 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

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  3. 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.

    *ahem*

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  4. I love the public library in my town, but I can't get a library card. The library thinks I am dead.
    http://www.knowingthedifference.com/2008/07/why-i-cant-get-library-card.html

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  5. 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.

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  6. You 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! :)

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  7. My 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.

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  8. I 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.

    I don't have a library card these days b/c I already own so many books I still have to read.

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  9. Oops, that last "anonymous" was me... I forgot to put in my info!

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  10. i 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.

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  11. Came 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.

    Your 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. :)

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  12. I'm addicted to my public library and often take out more books than I can read in a two/three week period.

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  13. You 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.

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  14. I just rejoined my library on Sunday after going two years without. About time. I'm very happy I did it too.

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  15. I'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. :/

    But, whatever the case is with me, I'm excited that you're using the public library in your city! That's fantastic!

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  16. 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!

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  17. Ha! My Anti 9 to 5 guide just arrived at my local library today!

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  18. I LOVE my local library. I don't know what I would do without one so close to my house.

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  19. Uhm your blog is the best thing I have found on the web in ages.

    Sincerely,
    your new biggest fan :)

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  20. Congrats, love! You've won the Lemonade Award, courtesy of yours truly. :) Click here for further instructions.

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  21. get this.

    out library closes for the winter.

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  22. oh, I LOVE libraries too!! Seriously, like you said... you can't go wrong.
    Unless 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!! :)

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  23. I can't wait until I'm close to a library...

    Fabulously Broke in the City

    "Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver."

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  24. 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.

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  25. I'm a brand new reader but I love your blog and am so glad I found it.

    I love the library, although I was spoiled while in college because my "local" library was the Boston Public Library.

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  26. 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.

    This 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.

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  27. 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.

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  28. you will be so proud:

    Cale: 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

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