How much do you use your library?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
July 15, 2010 8:24pm CST
I've always gone through phases with my library. Sometimes I go frequently, then sometimes I won't go for a long time.
Lately we've been going frequently. It's great when you don't have much money but still need some entertainment.
My kids love to read, and when we pick up new books it usually leads to a few minutes of peace and quiet while they look at their books.
Also our libraries offer a lot of DVD's. You aren't guaranteed to find any of the new releases, but the kids always find something they want to see.. and usually we'll find a few movies that we've previously seen but would like to see again. I've just picked up the Lord of the Rings movies to see again after finally finishing the book.
I'm even starting to borrow CD's from the library to listen to while we're in the car. So much better than trying to buy the CD to see if you'll like it or not.. and much easier than downloading all the songs and burning them onto a CD. Today I borrowed a Gwen Stefani CD but I don't think I like it much.
The best part is, you can place holds on items and have them delivered from any local library in the county to the one closest to you.. this is a feature I'm definitely taking advantage of right now because our closest library is tiny and doesn't have much. I've placed a hold on some CD's I'd like to borrow, some books I'd like to read, and even some DVD's I want to see again.. though for some I'll have a very long wait (like Alice in Wonderland has a 200 long wait list).
How often do you visit your library? Do you borrow movies, books, and cd's?
5 people like this
21 responses
@GardenGerty (160909)
• United States
16 Jul 10
Since neither of us is really working, we go a lot. Besides all the things you mention, our library loans educational toys to adults. We love to read the magazines, and then I do not have to figure out when they are ready for recycle. We read all the area news papers as well. Lots of older folks go there, so they do not have to spend a lot of money cooling and heating their homes or stay in a home that is uncomfortable. Our library remodeled and doubled in size about a year ago and it is gorgeous, and cozy both. Lots of computers to borrow and a special teen section as well as a genealogy/history room. We did all the things you describe when the kids were little and I still love my public library.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
20 Jul 10
I don't have a car..and our library is about 15 miles away give or take a mile..but if I could get to the library I would be there about 2-3 times a week atleast. Ours have VHS and DVD's but you can only keep them out for 2 days only or you are charged late fees...Now the books are different there is no late fees on the books and you can keep them out for 2 weeks and renew if your not finished and keep another 2 weeks..So that is good..they have magazine and such also..but I never have had time to fully get to make use of or enjoy all that the library has to offer..not having a car..means I am on someone else's time limit..and everyone seems to be in a rush these days..never taking time to enjoy anything.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Jul 10
No late fees on books... or do you mean you can avoid them by renewing the items?
Here we can keep books for 3 weeks.. movies for 7 days, and most of the items are renewable for that same amount of time.
But last week we went to a different library and they have this section called Rapid Reads.. the books are due back in 7 days, you can't renew them, and you can only return them to the same library. Silly me got one because I couldn't really pass it up.. and now I have to drive all the way back to that library tomorrow to return it. It was a great book but I almost wish I hadn't gotten it, I could have just put a hold on it and waited.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Jul 10
That is what I do too, but I let the kids pick out books that are there that they may want to read. We'll also occasionally visit other local libraries aside from the one closest to us.. just for a change of pace. As I said, our library is small and doesn't have much.
@bloggeroo (2167)
• Philippines
16 Jul 10
Well, before the internet, I go to the library frequently. Now that I can download books and other stuff, I don't go as often. And since I have a large collection (more than 700 real world books and thousands of ebooks) in my personal library, it doesn't feel urgent anymore unless a particular library has titles I don't have.
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
16 Jul 10
I use my locvallibrary a lot, why buy expensive books when you can loan them for free!!
We are extremely lucky in this country with our library service.
In Lancashire I can loan as many books as I want for three weeks, the only time I pay anything is if I'm late in returning them, but as the bookscan be returned to any library in the county(including the mobile ones) that is never a problem.
As well as books we can loan audio books, videos, DVD's,CD's, games etc and have free use of the internet in the library.
In this area the mobile library is wonderful - it comes to our village every two weeks, but I have also visited it in other villages.
aAst year I was sat on the beach at a nearby village and had finished the book I had with me when the mobile library pulled up - I was able to loan books there and then!!.
We can even loan books from other counties when we are away from home- the only stipulation is that they are returned to a library in that county.
The children's libraries are also great and hold loads of litery based activities for the kids in the school holidays and often have popular children's authors visiting for the kids to talk to.
We are extremely lucky in this country with our library service.
In Lancashire I can loan as many books as I want for three weeks, the only time I pay anything is if I'm late in returning them, but as the bookscan be returned to any library in the county(including the mobile ones) that is never a problem.
As well as books we can loan audio books, videos, DVD's,CD's, games etc and have free use of the internet in the library.
In this area the mobile library is wonderful - it comes to our village every two weeks, but I have also visited it in other villages.
aAst year I was sat on the beach at a nearby village and had finished the book I had with me when the mobile library pulled up - I was able to loan books there and then!!.
We can even loan books from other counties when we are away from home- the only stipulation is that they are returned to a library in that county.
The children's libraries are also great and hold loads of litery based activities for the kids in the school holidays and often have popular children's authors visiting for the kids to talk to.@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Jul 10
A mobile library sounds like a great idea... but our area is too small for that and we already have a library right up on the main road.
@tiggerific (230)
•
16 Jul 10
I have always loved the library, since being a little girl and my mum first took me to sign up. I remember it so well, it wasn't a very large building and it was quite old. It had that old library smell and it was so, so quiet, you could hear your foot steps on the parque flooring.
I don't go to the library very much at all now, they knocked the old library down and replaced it with a larger more modern building, though it doesn't ever seem like it hold half the books that the other building did.
I do still read quite a lot though even though I don't use the library much. Reading has always been a passion of mine. You can visit so manty places and experience so many new things when reading a book. I teach my children that they should have respect for books, a lot of time and effort has gone into that book and you can learn so much from it. I think I might visit the library during the school holidays and take the children too =0)
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Jul 10
I don't know why more people don't use the library. I know for awhile we had very large late fees that I couldn't afford to pay.. but with our taxes I paid off one card and we use that one.. even though it's my sons. Next time I have extra cash I will pay off at least 1 more card, if not all of them except my own (I owe $300 on that one, yikes!). I'll also soon have to get my 4 year old his own card... some of the libraries are picky about how many DVD's they lend out, some won't let you get more than 3, but with 5 kids obviously we want more than 3.. my 4 year old alone will take out 3 for himself, then I want some for myself and hubby too... so we need more cards!
@AmbiePam (93791)
• United States
18 Jul 10
I don't really visit my local library at all. When I was younger, up until I was in my late teens, I would go to the library often. At the time, I think the library I lived closest to, was much better than the one I am currently near. Back then I'd go to the library a couple of times a week. I would pretty much devour any book I could get my eyes on.
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
17 Jul 10
I don't have a printer at home so sometimes use the library for printing out important docs but, I don't really get books from there anymore as I just prefer to buy them so I can collect them on my bookshelves! : )
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
16 Jul 10
Hey kats! I think that's another great idea to keep the kids
busy! It gets them to use their minds and have fun at the same
time! My girlfriend/neighbor that lives across the street from
me works at the library which isn't far from me, but it requires
a bus ride so being as lazy as I am I don't get there much unless
we are meeting for lunch and even then I don't even check out
the books or movies because I'm too lazy to return them! I
know she would take them back for me since she has to be there
anyway, but I usually end up buying books, which is stupid
because I might read them twice at the most. And I love to read
and have been finishing one book after another and starting
quite a collection again! So much for all the ones I got rid
of!
@jackall77 (41)
• United States
16 Jul 10
During the summer a library can get pretty busy with many parents trying to make sure that thier kids stimulate thier brains in some way during the break. Its so great to go as much as you can so that they can be interested in books and not glued to thier playstations. My 11 yr old and 7 ry old love going to the library but it is pretty far from our home so its not something we get to do as often as I would like. When we do go we rent about 20 books and some dvds and go through them very quickly. I have a pretty huge library of books at home of my own that because we love going to book stores more than toy stores. Reading is great and Im glad to see that there are alot of other folks out there that enjoy it as much as I do.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
17 Jul 10
I like my library well enough I suppose. It's definitely a resource I wish more people would use. My library doesn't have a great selection of DVDs or CDs so I never really borrow those from them. But I'm a huge reader and I constantly need new reading material so when I'm out of books and out of money... I'm off to the library!
But I prefer to own books. I prefer to buy them new because that's the only way the authors and the publishers get paid for the work they do. I kinda enjoy books and would prefer the people that make them get fed so that books will continue to be available to future generations. Of course, I'm not made of money. But libraries are a great free resource. And they're legal too. 
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
16 Jul 10
Our family is about the same as yours when it comes to the library. We only live two blocks away and the kids can easily walk right through the alley down to the library within a few minutes. There are times when they go down quite a bit to get books and then there are others times when they don't care to. They signed up for the summer reading progran this year so they have been down quite a bit taking their reading logs in and then getting new books. They also enjoy going in for their craft days. Our library is also a fairly small one but like yours they alsobring books and DVDs in from the bigger ones. My kids love getting the movies but I also make sure that they get them on the days when we dont have plans because they are due in 3 days and they forget to take them back on time normally.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Jul 10
Our DVD's are good for 7 days, and since my library's hours are so screwy (they don't open till 1pm most days) it's not a problem if I drop it off the morning after it's due.. or the Monday after if it's a weekend. Though lately I've been good about checking due dates on the website to ensure nothing is late.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
18 Jul 10
You know, my library is a place where I never really go to as much as I used to. I might pop in every once in a while. Maybe see what they have to offer. Maybe I will get a couple of books. To see what they have to offer. The library around here is rather nice, when I do use it and the people on staff are very helpful so there is really no reason to just shy away from it.
I think the library is just one of those places that I overlook in this day and age. I might still stop by. Mostly because it is on the path that I go when I take a walk outside. So its very easy to stop in, as it is just on my way back home. However, given the amount of books I have at home that I have yet to read, I guess I have never found many reasons to stop by as of late. Same with music and movies, I get them through other means and most of the time, I decide to purchase them, so I have them for unlimited viewing.
@mac_mac1221 (478)
• Philippines
16 Jul 10
I visit the library everyday. I have a lot of required readings and they are only found inside the school's library...:D I borrow books even if they're not really related to my course or to the subjects I'm currently taking...:)
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Jul 10
Libraries have movies and cds? 
We mostly only go to the library when the kids need something for school. Meanwhile, I have a book backlog that you wouldn't believe and a huge library of my own.
We mostly only go to the library when the kids need something for school. Meanwhile, I have a book backlog that you wouldn't believe and a huge library of my own.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
16 Jul 10
I use my local library a lot. We are able to borrow books, cds and films. When my husband and I visit the library we always borrow books and sometimes we also borrow cd's or films. There are few new cd's, I don't think that they buy new cd's very often, and the cd's that we borrow are often from the 70's or the 80's. We listen to them in the car or in our home. Last time we borrowed some Danish music from the 70's, it brings back a lot of memories Our local library has few films, but we usually have a look at the ones they have got, and sometimes we find something that we want to watch.
Our local library has few films, but we usually have a look at the ones they have got, and sometimes we find something that we want to watch.
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
16 Jul 10
When I was a student, I often go to library in order to find the books which are interesting or useful. But after I graduated from college and began to work, I seldom go to library. The reasons are various. Firstly, there's no library near my neighborhood. In addition, for I have to spend a lot of energy on work, I often feel exhausted after I go back from office, so the idea of going to library is always a plan which is unable to be put into practice. Last but not least, when I wanna find some useful information, I always turn to internet at first, so the importance of library seems to reduce.
@BethannTT (222)
•
16 Jul 10
I dont go to the library often, i cant get there often and i read my books very fast, so by the timei can get back up to the library i've lost the book. I owe the library alot of money. Im just going to hide it out and wait a few years, i much prefer buying my books.
@jennywren3 (54)
•
16 Jul 10
I am like you & go through phrases with my local library, it depends on how many hours i work in the week as to how often i can get there as it's not a "local" library as such. I have never borrowed CDs or DVDs from there just books.
