Audiobooks discussion
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Let's Talk Libraries
Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
How frequently do you use your library system ?
Do you o..."
I live in a very small east Texas town which has a very limited selection of books. The archaic minded librarian will not purchase any book that has a curse word, "adultery", any type of sexual reference, etc. Needless to say I'm happy to pay the $50 per year library card fee at the larger library 20 miles away.
My all time favorite library (which probably no longer exists) was the one at my school when I was in the 5th grade. Somebody was thinking ahead, and there were book shelves in the hallways between the classrooms, so you could stop and check out a book from the library on your way to lunch or going home or whenever you had to be out in the hallways. It was wonderful. I remember that was where I discovered, and devoured, the Silhouette biographies. I loved those things, and probably read every one they had written. They were different authors, but they were all biographies written in the language that kids could understand. I looked all over for them when I was homeschooling JP, only to find that they are now the Landmark biographies. Unfortunately for me, Dad got transferred away before I finished 5th grade, so I didn't get much time there, but it's one that I've never forgotten. The library where I used to live was amazing. The librarians were helpful, they had everything you could possibly need, and they had great check out periods. Of course there was a very large home school population there, and several of the librarians were home schooling their children - so there were tons of resources. That's where I first discovered NCLive - which has not only pdf historical files, links to newspapers, movies, and audiobooks among tons of other stuff. It was hard to leave that behind.
Our local library here, is not as big (don't know why, they get money from the local army base, so that should help), and they seem to hire only people who don't like people to work there. Now, I only use the online services. I can still use NCLive which has OneClickDigital, and I can use OverDrive, which I also do, but I have given up on the physical library, because they have always been so nasty to me when I went in there. Ah well. <><
Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
How frequently do you use your library system ?
Do you o..."
I live 25 miles east of Dallas, TX. Because I am not inside Dallas city limits, the yearly fee would be $250 and that does NOT include any downloadable items like Overdrive : ) I'm truly between a rock and a hard place as my small local library is so inadequate.
Robin wrote: "Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
How frequently do you use your library syst..."
Robin, you should check out post #62. Since you are in Texas, that seems like a good option for you.
Leslie wrote: "Robin wrote: "Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
How frequently do you use you..."
I called the Houston library and they told me I would need to come in. I'm 7 hours away! ; )
Robin wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Robin wrote: "Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
How frequently..."
I didn't have to come in i actually faxed my info and they mailed out the card the next day... the info on their website doesn't state you have to show up in person
check out this link
http://houstonlibrary.org/find-it/my-...
"online registration"
I also live in a small town Cedar Creek TX so this was great to have Houston available with online registration
This is what I did
You can also email a scanned copy of the completed application form and photo I.D. to circinfo@hpl.lib.tx.us.
Robin wrote: "I called the Houston library and they told me I would need to come in. I'm 7 hours away! ; ) ..."Houston Library sometimes suffers from the employees who don't keep up with changing policies. My next door neighbor was told she had to pay for a library card even though we only live a few miles outside the official city limits.
Cards being free to anyone within the 3 county area has been the policy for as long as I've lived in the area, so that librarian's info is at least a decade out of date!
Definitely give it another try!
Paris (kerbytejas) wrote: "Robin wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Robin wrote: "Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
Thank you SO much! I just send my Houston application via e-mail. Can't wait!!
..."
Robin wrote: "Paris (kerbytejas) wrote: "Robin wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Robin wrote: "Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many li..."
Great
Robin wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Robin wrote: "Julie wrote: "I thought it might be interesting to hear about your local libraries, or ones you may have visited. How many library cards do you own ?
How frequently..."
Ha! I live in Minnesota and definitely did NOT show up at the HPL to get a card. As others have said, it can be done by mail, fax, or email. I did it by snail mail, and it worked just fine.
How many library cards do you own? A lot! I’m sure some are deactivated since I haven’t used them in years; active library cards I use regularly is 4How frequently do you use your library system? Just about every day. So, confession time, I work in a library at a university. I update the library system holdings as part of my job. But I do use my library for print books and search the holdings for what I may want to read. I also have multiple public library cards, which I access very frequently.
Do you only use it for audiobooks, or do you also get print books there? Print books at the university library, everything else at the public, audio, ebooks and print on occasion although not so frequently lately.
Do they have a certain number of items you can check out at a time? For the audiobooks it’s usually 10. Print seems to be unlimited, or I haven’t come close yet. What is not good for me is where I work I can check out a book for a year at a time, and have unlimited renewals. The book can be recalled if someone else wants it, and that has happened many times, so I don’t feel too terribly bad when I’ve kept one book for several years….
What age were you when you got your first library card? Very young, maybe 4 or 5. I was thrilled with reading the moment I learned, and when my mom first took me to the neighborhood library and got all these free books, I was hooked.
Do you have a favorite librarian that helped you choose books as a child, or one that will recommend a book to you when you visit? Not really. Although I will say the librarian at my Junior High was my best remembered librarian. I convinced her by my persistent pleading to allow me to help her shelve the returned books.
Tell us about your library. I work at a university that has four libraries, although one of them, the Law library is completely separate. We have 3.6 million items, some of those are eBooks, and many of the print books are in a remote storage facility that can be recalled within a day or two. I actually don’t know if we have audiobooks here. I get so many from Audible and the public libraries that I don’t need any more avenues. My backlog is too much.
I do have to say as someone who works in libraryland, I’m very sad to hear about all the crabby and mean librarians out there. That isn’t how it’s supposed to be. But I know they exist, I’ve run into some myself!
Nospin wrote: "I may have reached SABLE status - (stash accumulated beyond life expectancy)"I think I'm going to have to steal that, if I may - between the hard copies and a bajillion Kindle books, plus audio, I would have to live at least 100 years, and that's if I stop getting new books as of right now. (Which will never happen.)
As to libraries ... My dad took me to get my library card when I was young enough that I don't remember it, and I could always rely on him to drive me. He would sit in the car and do crossword puzzles while I wandered the stacks. Later when we got a dog he would come too, so at least then Dad had company. And neither of them ever complained, even when I was in there for an hour and only emerged when I couldn't carry any more books. I remember how daring I felt when I ventured up the stairs from the children's floor, and up the other flight into the adult section - I kept expecting someone to shoo me out. I loved that place, and was devastated when the town tore it down and rebuilt it as a huge ugly monstrosity of a thing, cold and did I mention ugly? It's funny, though - much as I loved the library, it never occurred to me to pursue what was probably my natural calling of librarian, because every single one of them in that place was just unpleasant. If my hometown librarians had been like the librarians I know personally now, my life could have been very different.
I don't currently have a library card, I'm ashamed to say; if I stay where I am, there's a very nice library (with a used bookstore!) just around the corner, and I pass it every day on the way to work. But my office is moving soon, and I might try to find a place near the new location - where there is also an awesome library. I used to go to that one in addition to my hometown library, once I learned to drive (though I think I made Dad go there a few times too), but I only ever had one card; here in Connecticut you can use a library card at any library in the state. They just put a bar code sticker on the back.
Tracey wrote: "between the hard copies and a bajillion Kindle books, plus audio, I would have to live at least 100 years, and that's if I stop getting new books as of right now. (Which will never happen.)..."Now, you've got the right idea... I've been saying for years that in order to listen to all my audiobooks, and knit all the patterns I have that I want to knit, I will have to live to be about 275... yea, that's right, I'm up to 275, but quickly approaching 276. And, if you go look at my challenge, I listen to about 150 books a year.... that's a lotta books, Batman! <><
Dave wrote: "Gina wrote: "I just tried applying today for a non-resident library card for LAPL (Los Angeles Public Library). I was told that I could obtained one for a fee, however, I still needed to present my..."Sorry for the late reply Dave. They, unfortunately, did not provide any information. From what I have read, their library is considered to be the best in the nation. To be honest, I felt a bit slighted. Their email was very short and direct. I did respond and practically asked for an explanation, but I did not get a response. So I moved on...
My former library has done that in the past. It looked fun.They also did something similar for Banned Books month. Did the black censorship bar instead of a title, gave the general genre, and then gave the reason the book was banned/censored.
Melanti wrote: "My former library has done that in the past. It looked fun.They also did something similar for Banned Books month. Did the black censorship bar instead of a title, gave the general genre, and th..."
What a great idea ;=)
Julie wrote: "By the way , I asked our librarian about their audiobook popularity. She said they have gone up about 25 % in the past year."
I believe that. Last year the audiobook industry was saying it was at $1.2 billion in sales. The latest stat I saw recently was $2 billion. That's quite a jump in one year. (assuming either of those figures is accurate, of course). Our secret is out!
Julie wrote: "Gina Sorry, I haven't had time to read through all the past conversations in here ,but have you tried the Houston library that some of the members have mentioned ? It sounds really great . Maybe ..."
Hi Julie,
I do have a card from the Houston Library. It is good, but in comparison with Los Angeles, it has a lot to catch up with. However, I do not complain. Just thought of expanding my options. Houston is in the 8th position in the nation. Not bad.
I know Overdrive tries but every library around the country does have many of or all of books we want to read. Especially when it comes to the series we love. It tries. Because of the high rates they charge the libraries to have Overdrive, the libraries compromise with they can get.
I just object to the NON-RESIDENT fees they ask. Yes I understand why fees are asked, but some libraries on the West Coast ask OUTRAGEOUS fees for one year of access to the Overdrive library and some of the other digital libraries they offer.
Gina wrote: "Julie wrote: "Gina Sorry, I haven't had time to read through all the past conversations in here ,but have you tried the Houston library that some of the members have mentioned ? It sounds really ..."
I expanded my options with the Free Library of Philadelphia - its 50.00 a year for out of area and the card is instant - pay get card.
the have a longer check out time than Houston, and I have found many ebooks/audiobooks that Houstn doesn't have there
I do feel very thankful for my Los Angeles Public Library card!! I only have to drive about an hour once a year to renew it. I would be LOST without it - that is for sure.
It would be nice if many of the Libraries wouldn't have that policy for Non-resident. I live 6 hrs from the San Francisco, CA library.
Julie, totally cool concept. I live in Louisiana so there would be lots of different books to choose from. I'm just happy that library knew enough to include LotR!
Wow, what a great building!My local library is a restored convent and and chapel so I wouldn't really to see it changed - here are some pictures:
https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/yh...
As for local authors, I suppose that would translate to Irish authors, of which we have a few :-)
E.G. Jonathan Swift D D, Bram Stoker, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, C.S. Lewis Seamus Heaney, Edna O'Brien, Maeve Binchy, Emma Donoghue, Anne Enright
Gina wrote: "Dave wrote: "Gina wrote: "I just tried applying today for a non-resident library card for LAPL (Los Angeles Public Library). I was told that I could obtained one for a fee, however, I still needed ..."This is the response I received from LAPL:
Thank you for your interest in the Los Angeles Public Library's e-services and collection.
unfortunately, due to vendor licensing agreements LAPL's online databases and e-media collections are limited to Los Angeles City residents only, AND those patrons who are able to visit the library and obtain a physical library card IN PERSON.
How many library cards do you own? I have one library card, but I can use it to get reciprocal memberships to many different libraries. Unfortunately this generally doesn't include the other library's online selections.How frequently do you use your library system? I would say I use it multiple times per week to manage my holds/checkouts. I like to have a number of items queued up so that I'm never without a book, including having a number of items on my wishlist.
Do you only use it for audiobooks, or do you also get print books there? I almost exclusively use it for audiobooks right now, using overdrive.
Do they have a certain number of items you can check out at a time? I feel super lucky after reading some of the restrictions that other libraries have. On Overdrive I can have 30 items on hold and 15 items checked out at any given time. I generally never have more than 2 books checked out as I return the books as soon as I'm finished them. Right now I have 6 books on my waiting list, which is much higher than usual (normally it's around 3).
What age were you when you got your first library card? I was young enough that I don't even really remember. We went to the library a lot when I was young.
Do you have a favorite librarian that helped you choose books as a child, or one that will recommend a book to you when you visit? My childhood library is different from my current library (I have since moved), however my mom and brother still use the library back home. I don't remember the librarian's name but she has worked there as long as I can remember and has always been super friendly and helpful to my family, including being very tolerant of and kind to my autistic brother (who sometimes has a hard time being quiet).
Tell us about your library: My currently library (Edmonton Public Library) is actually really awesome. They run a lot of different programs including art classes, book clubs, courses, etc. They have a lot of different locations, tons of selection both online and in print, and the membership is free! I don't really ever go into the physical branches because there is more than enough content online, but whenever I have been they have been super welcoming. I'm actually really shocked how few people participate in our library system (especially considering it's free). It's such an amazing resource and I feel like it's often overlooked.
How many library cards do you own? Just one, my local library. I used to have one for the neighboring library, but have since cancelled it (my request).How frequently do you use your library system? Monthly.
Do you only use it for audiobooks, or do you also get print books there? Audiobooks, ebooks, paperbooks rarely.
Do they have a certain number of items you can check out at a time? 4 audiobooks, 10 ebooks maximum. Many books can be returned early now instead of having to wait it out.
What age were you when you got your first library card? In my own name, I think I was 10. Before that, Mom checked out all the books on her card.
Do you have a favorite librarian that helped you choose books as a child, or one that will recommend a book to you when you visit? I have librarians that recommend craftbooks (we quilt, crochet and cross stitch). However, with loss of vision, I no longer check those out. :(
Tell us about your library. My library is a county library and quite large with a wide selection of audiobooks (both download and CD) and ebooks. Unfortunately, their collection of electronic books for science fiction and fantasy that is not romance related is rather small. I have vision loss, and the ghosting makes reading novels difficult.
I wish it were easier to sign up with some libraries who have Overdrive, OneClick, etc. without having to pay some libraries outrageous Non-resident fees. Many e-book readers are on limited funds.I understand why the fees are asked, but $180 a year that a couple of North Western states ask is ridiculous.
Melissa wrote: "How many library cards do you own?."Four. :). My local library, county, city, and finally immigrant community library.
Two: My local 3 county system plus a reciprocal card for library system in adjoining county. I find more books, especially e-audio, using the reciprocal card.
Three...they each have their strengths & weaknesses. One of my libraries is a membership library and they consistently delight me. Even though I pay $50/year to belong, they will buy most anything I ask for. I have great luck just walking in and finding new releases on the shelves.
I found an interesting stat/poll about going to a library. In U.S., Library Visits Outpaced Trips to Movies in 2019
Personally, last year my frequent visits were 1. live theatre, 2. live sporting events, 3, movie theatre, and 4. library, totally reversing order compared to the finding.
But this poll is a bit deceiving because going to a library is (usually) free but other activities involve money, no wonder as frequent cultural event, it comes to top. The article does talk about the income and age differences.
I have only one library card (County Library) but I did have a card for NYC library in the past. I wonder if I can renew it online? I bet they have a huge selection that I can tap into.
How many library cards do you own? One for the small town where I live and another for a bigger town. How frequently do you use your library system? Often. Sometimes every week, sometimes twice per month.
Do you only use it for audiobooks, or do you also get print books there? Mostly paperbooks, and now and then Audiobooks, tough they are mostly in cds which is nowadays unpractical.
Do they have a certain number of items you can check out at a time? Yeah, but usually I get less than the limit at once.
What age were you when you got your first library card? 11, in Brasil the libraries aren't so well stocked but I was always lucky to find good children books by Brasilian authors and later science fiction books. I started liking science fiction by getting a sci-fi book at the library since at home there wasn't a tradition in this genre.
Do you have a favorite librarian that helped you choose books as a child, or one that will recommend a book to you when you visit? One librarian was calling me about a book for my son, that was very nice. As a child I don't remember, but I was curious enough to find books for myself without help.
Tell us about your library. In both libraries I go to there aren't so many books for me since I prefer to read in English and most books are in German. But if I look long enough I always end up finding something even if it's young adult or contemporary.
The libraries are great for getting books for the children since they sometimes don't really care for a book or so rarely want to reread anything and buying the books just for reading once is a bit of a waste. I also like when I can just give the books I read back and when I really liked a book I can still buy a copy for myself.
I have only 1 library card but my library has relationships with about 7 other local libraries. If I can't find something at my library (which has 3 branches), I can get it via an inter-library transfer from one of the other libraries through that joint relationship.
Kaoru wrote: "I have only one library card (County Library) but I did have a card for NYC library in the past. I wonder if I can renew it online? I bet they have a huge selection that I can tap into."You can’t renew a NYPL card online, you have to go to a branch. The NYPL doesn’t have a program for out of state members, but you can get a card for $50 annually from the Brooklyn Public Library that lets you borrow digital material. Their selection is almost as good as the NYPL.
Faith wrote: "Kaoru wrote: "I have only one library card (County Library) but I did have a card for NYC library in the past. I wonder if I can renew it online? I bet they have a huge selection that I can tap int..."Thanks for the info Faith. Not sure if I want to spend $50 as I just bought Audible membership. I guess I can wait for my hold queue from my library to move along.
i have 2 - my local library for print, as well as overdrive etc and then the Navy MWR has an overdrive library that i also use
Two libraries: City of Seattle residents and suburban King County Library System residents can obtain cards for both libraries. Combined, the two systems have probably one of the largest Overdrive holdings on the planet. KCLS has access to Recorded Books; neither has Hoopla books (Seattle is Hoopla videos only).Physical materials are three weeks with two renewals for SPL, and four weeks for KCLS, two renewals. I do visit regularly to see what's on the New Books shelves, as well as pick up copies of print books from the catalogue I've reserved.
Margo: there are male librarians in the States, though not nearly on par with female numbers. A couple of years back as a sort of thank you gift for donors above a certain amount to the Seattle Public Library Foundation we were offered tours behind the scenes of library operations. The slot I selected was lead by a male librarian. I was fascinated to walk through the other end of the conveyor belt! At the central facility in Seattle, one watches the book whisked away through a sort of plexiglass (perspex) tube instead of handed to an staffer or deposited in a bin.
I have 6 library cards. 😁 I live in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area. In Maryland (where I live), I have 4 county library cards, then I have reciprocal cards for DC and 1 Northern Virginia county. This allows me to take advantage of various book resources: Overdrive, hoopla, cloudLibrary, RBDigital, and of course, the brick and mortar libraries. I very, very rarely buy books anymore and since I recently retired, this helps with my book budget.
I'm going to get a library card from the City my son's college is at. Hopefully it'll expand the collection or reduce the wait time. I signed up online and it says I need to go in person within 30 day with an ID.
Julesy wrote: "I have 6 library cards. 😁 I live in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area. In Maryland (where I live), I have 4 county library cards, then I have reciprocal cards for DC and 1 Northern Virginia county. Thi..."Libraries and librarians rule. I also have 4 cards as my metro area has reciprocal agreements so even if I don't live in the city, can get a card. Which also gets the digital resources you mentioned. Now if there was some way to accurately judge when holds arrive so that I am not swamped. Get estimates but they are not accurate.
Does anyone use Axis360 app to listen to an audiobook? I looked up a library and they have two audiobooks for one title. Axis360 and OverDrive. Axis360 version is almost always available and OverDrive has even they have many copies, the wait time is very long.
I’m so happy because today I got another library card. I’m visiting Stanford this weekend and I dropped by the City of Palo Alto library to get the library card. I hope my wait time for hold books will be less as I have an access to two library systems now.
My library is awesome! This unprecedented time my local library let you get a library online without confirmation of your ID. Also expanded check out for digital books to 60!
Kaoru wrote: "My library is awesome! This unprecedented time my local library let you get a library online without confirmation of your ID. Also expanded check out for digital books to 60!"My library reduced the number that can be borrowed/held to 3.
Faith wrote: "Kaoru wrote: "My library is awesome! This unprecedented time my local library let you get a library online without confirmation of your ID. Also expanded check out for digital books to 60!""My library reduced the number that can be borrowed/held to 3."
It seems my libraries are planning for social distancing to continue for some time. With 46 confirmed COVID-19 cases in their combined service areas the two adjoining library systems I use closed all buildings to staff as well as public. Staff are working from home. Each system has increased Hoopla borrows to 8 per month. One allows 10 check-outs/8 holds for OverDrive the other allows 10 check-outs/10 holds. Other things from one or both: added TumbleBooks; links to virtual tours of museums and parks, stories.audible.com, Storyline Online, and more; videos including craft, exercise, gardening, etc. often by library staff from home. If you need help from a librarian they are available virtually.
My local library system sent a fundraising email so that they could quickly increase their number of ebooks and audiobooks. There was a matching funds program, so I was happy to make a donation.
Audiobooks
Books mentioned in this topic
Absalom, Absalom! (other topics)Authors mentioned in this topic
Samuel Beckett (other topics)C.S. Lewis (other topics)
Seamus Heaney (other topics)
Edna O'Brien (other topics)
Maeve Binchy (other topics)
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A non-resident has to pay either $20 for a 6 month membership or $40 for full year membership."
@ Maria - OK - I said it was free for Texas residents I got mine free and I live 200+ miles away from Houston
Non-resident Cards
If you live outside of Texas, you can obtain a card by paying a non-resident fee of $20/6 months or $40/year (personal check or money order made out to City of Houston). You can apply in person or by mail (see section above).
Library cards are free to all Texas residents.