Feast of the mind
April 13, 2010
I discovered that the San Francisco public library has 27 branches. 2-7!!Ā And you can go to any branch, request books from any other branch, and return books to any branch. Ā
I died.
I can even walk to at least one of them so on my “lunch break” I skipped food to get myself a card and started requesting books like a madwoman.
Two Terry Pratchett paperbacks came home with me immediately, and I have three pending requests for management books promoted by Harvard Business Review.Ā If they’re good, depending on the focus and subject matter, I plan to share them with my direct reports who are management material.Ā
Has anyone ever been so excited about discovering the library over the age of five??
ok. I just realized how spoiled I am. Cause when I read 27 branches… I wondered how many were in my city… And it was 99.
^___^;;
I should really use the library system more.
I just discovered the SF Main library 3 weeks ago – and posted about it TODAY! I work a block from it so I go there almost every lunch hour. I just love it.
My city has a wonderful library system which I use and abuse (yes, I’m the one who is still hanging on to that book you reserved, and incurring overdue charges!) on a regular basis. Not only does it have branches everywhere, but I can get audio books, DVD’s, and free kid’s programming for my grandkids. I LOVE it!
The library is a wonderful place. I used to go there before the GMAT took over my soul. But once I get it back, I plan on heading back to the “LIB!”
I work at a university and one of the benefits of being here is having access to the huge library system. Granted, a lot of the books I want to read are usually checked out, overdue, or lost, but the selection is so vast that I don’t mind it so much as I can always find something to read.
Oh, MAN I’m jealous! I do miss the Seattle Public Library though, despite a few complaints, I’m actually relatively happy with our pickings here in Phoenix.
Also, as I mentioned in a recent post, we have a few different options for finding books from the county and neighboring suburbs.
Still, they just cut some hours here thanks to the budget trouble.
Which Terry Pratchett books did you get?
More books than you can read in a lifetime! =) There are 8 in my county; one is in my town so that’s the one I go to.
I think the public library is one of the great institutions of our culture. When I have time, I love to just browse the shelves, grabbing anything that looks interesting, knowing that if it turns out not to be, it hasn’t cost me anything…It’s one of the few instances when “your tax dollars at work” is not sarcastic.
I crave a good library system. Sadly, I live in a state that does not support such things. Still–my library is a blessing! Last night we finished up Season 3 of Madmen; we listen to lots of books on tape; I get tons of cookbooks….love it!
Our library was one of the few places with power after Katrina, and people went there just to experience the air conditioning….and to make their FEMA claims on-line.
The libraries in your old city didn’t do that?
The one lame thing is now I’m an ‘adult’ I have to pay a dollar each time I go to pick up a book I requested. Hello, isn’t this what library staff get paid for? Why should I have to pay extra?
I used to go all the time as a kid, and am just getting back into it as an adult. I love curling up with a book in the corner, even if I don’t want to know what’s been on the carpet š
I remembered being really excited when my library at college could do that. Just request a book, and pop by when they emailed. I haven’t read that much since!
My Houston, Texas library also offers the ability to request books on line and have them delivered to your neighborhood branch. I do miss the hours I used to spend strolling up and down isles reading book titles and searching for a title that would call out to me but the ability to sit on my couch and search for a book on any subject I just thought of is marvelous.
Oh, I’m in love with public libraries. I’ve spent so many work lunches in mine. The library in SoCal was literally across the parking lot (albeit a large-ish parking lot) from my work, and the library in Auckland is only a little bit more of a walk from my work. I went there Monday at lunch, in fact!
I do have to complain about the NZ selection–paltry compared to every other library I’ve been to in the US. And they charge $5 for new releases and nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING–from audiobooks to requesting books to CD’s and DVD’s and getting online. That part sucks, but seriously, it is the library, so I’m happy to support it.
I get REALLY excited about the library. You are NOT the only one. =)
My city has 37 branches! Yay!
I absolutely LOVE the library. I can walk to the one near me, too… only 3/4 mile away! Our library system is fantastic. I can request books/movies from any other branch and have them sent to my nearby branch for free. The library also sends me a reminder e-mail three days before my books are due for return, and they e-mail me when my holds are available! I also just found out that I can borrow Sony e-Readers if I want, and I can download audio or e-books for FREE onto my laptop. I love how technology has only INCREASED the efficiency and effectiveness of my library š
I love that there’s SO MUCH love for libraries.
@Abigail: I borrowed Thief of Time and The Last Continent.
@eemusings: We only had ONE library.
’twas a relatively small town.
@aspiringminimalist: never think about what’s been on the carpet unless you’re willing to vacuum for an hour. It’s just better to think curl up and think of the Queen. š
@MoneyMaus: I have not yet figured out the ebooks system but I REALLY want to. Except I won’t carry my laptop with me to and from places.
Yes, ma’am! We have a small one-room library in the town I grew up in. Seriously, trashy romance novels and a few children’s books were the only things they really had. It was smaller than me 650 square foot apartment.
When I was 16, Mom brought me to work with her, and we stopped by this (much larger) city’s library. I swear I almost had an orgasm when I walked in and saw all of those books!
Our library also has inter-library loan, and it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g.
I work 4 blocks from my city’s central library. I love it. I can reserve anything online – books, music, movies, from anywhere in the system – and get an email when it’s ready to pick up. Or I can go browse the stacks. I’ve found some fun new reads that way. I don’t know what the limit is on items checked out; I haven’t hit it yet, and I’ve gone up to 15 at a time.