Do You Still Utilize Your Local Public Library?

[autumnfog]

Yes. Old book stores too.
I think public libraries have an important societal function in that it gives people an opportunity to educate themselves outside the curriculum. Life is constant learning and you don't learn very much by watching Netflix and such.

Call me old fashioned but I also think libraries should remain silent sanctuaries dedicated to books and reading, not developed into some kind of tech-cafeteria-kindergarten-skateboard-rental.

This loud information overload-advertising-society we have today need silent rooms for reflection.

 

[autumnfog]

I download 4-5 audiobooks a month from the library to listen on my drive to work. Haven't paid for an audiobook in years. Listening to Papillon this week.

A great novel, I highly recommend the book as well.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Yes. Old book stores too.
I think public libraries have an important societal function in that it gives people an opportunity to educate themselves outside the curriculum. Life is constant learning and you don't learn very much by watching Netflix and such.

Call me old fashioned but I also think libraries should remain silent sanctuaries dedicated to books and reading, not developed into some kind of tech-cafeteria-kindergarten-skateboard-rental.

This loud information overload-advertising-society we have today need silent rooms for reflection.

This is exactly right. For me, the library is about lifelong ongoing self-education. I don’t care about getting a college degree but just enjoy learning. It’s also a fun challenge to try and use what the library has to offer vs buying books. I stopped buying books years ago. I also use LibriVox quite a bit for older (free) audiobooks.

 

[yanoJL]

My local library is also my polling place, so I go there to vote. I still have a current library card (and digital subscription) but it's been a few years since I actually checked out a book.

 

[warren]

I often use librarians to research. But, I haven't visited the physical stacks in years. I miss the physical card files. Thumbing through them, looking for a specific book often led me off on very enjoyable tangents.

 

[georged]

If you like libraries, check this out. It's a combination book store and performance venue that might as well BE a library, complete with a warren of underground cavern-rooms, and a mini snackbar/drink bar upstairs.

Scroll the pics. The place is completely nuts in the best possible way:

Prospero's Books photos - https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/prosperos-books-kansas-city

 

[username]

Yes I love my library learned some great recipes from cookbooks I borrowed and unlike reading a recipe online I don't have to suffer thru a ton of paragraphs of bs to get to the recipe its usually right up front on the page.

 

[Winnipeger]

Yes. Especially now that I'm teaching my daughter how to read.

 

[Flatfish]

My office was right above the library. So I visited most days.

I didn't take a book out each time. But it was a nice break from the office.

 

[instymp]

Yes, wife & I read a book a week each on kindle readers and use Libby.

 

[huckleberry]

Definitely, Yes!

Our local library also has 3D printers, Laser cutters, and sewing machines!

I believe these are spread out through out the county and you have to complete a orientation class before you can use them!

I've benefited from the sewing...

 

[verporchting]

Yes! We are lucky enough to have a fantastic library in our city that is well utilized and vibrant. Sadly the stacks aren’t as good as they used to be but they are excellent about getting inter library loans upon request and have many newer / different resources including movies, public internet access, etc.

I’m with Warren though; I miss the open stacks and card catalog. It was just better for browsing and discovering things you didn’t know you were interested in.

 

[proteus]

I haven't used a library since the Dewey Decimal system, card catalog, and microfiche were the search engines du jour

 

[autumnfog]

Definitely, Yes!

Our local library also has 3D printers, Laser cutters, and sewing machines!

What about bicycles?

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I lived at the local Carnegie library when I was a kid - haven’t done much in one since. My wife had our kids at our local library when they were young, it was great for them. I’ve donated a lot of books over the years. I just haven’t had time to read much the last many years and just last night was trying to put together a little stack of three books to read in the next few weeks - it’s tough - I’ve got at least 3 dozen good books I’ve acquired (still buy them) the last 10 years I haven’t read and it’s bugging me. The wife reads about a book a week on her “reader” but I just can’t read books off a screen - I need the smell and the pages!

 

[Rossi320]

Every hardcover and soft cover I buy I donate to my local library when I am done with it, never had a library card or checked out a book

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I used to use the library before relocating. Online access and books/DVDs (including ebooks) with an area wide system that allowed you to return books at any of the 10ish locations. Highly recommend (and I still have my card and ebook access).

At the time, I was cooking in two parts of the state (averaging 70 hours a week, plus travel 1.5 hours twice a week) and didn't have internet or cable to cut expenses. As a result, I used the library for job searches, which was a part time job in itself.

I sent out an almost countless number of resumes and had 44 interviews over 2 years before landing the job that got my foot in the door in my current profession.

 

[HRPufnstuf]

Never really used a public library. Did work for the U of M libraries, several extensions and departments, for about nine years. It was my primary income source as a student and I carried on for a few years after graduating with my M. A..

 

[sablebrush52]

I haven’t been to a library in years. But before moving to Oregon I donated 3/4 of my personal art library to the Brand in Glendale, a specialist library for art and music related books, and a similar amount of general books to the Burbank library system.
I figured they would be useful to others.

 

[huckleberry]

What about bicycles?

Nah....No Bikes....yet...