SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
Members' Chat
>
Where do you get your books from?
I often use the downtown one since I work downtown
Spanish-language titles, too? Please say "Yes."
actually, if you want books in English, Spanish, Italian, French, etc and are not living in a country where that is the native language, y'all might consider going to ebooks. That's what kept me going when I lived in France for 5 years and the bonus was that I did not have to get rid of them when I left the country because of weight considerations (I have over 1500 books in a 7-8 ounce device). Book stores in France had very few books in English and maybe 10 new books a month (the rest were all older publications).
Amazon, in countries where it has a Store (Germany, Australia, Italy, France, the Netherlands,Spain, China, Japan, Brazil and Mexico) that sells physical items also sells physical books in other languages and often has deals on new books and the shipping in France is 1 cent.
I used to work for the Interlibrary Loan department at the University of Virginia, and I can honestly say that we never put a hold on anyone's requests. They all had equal status, except that in the case of tie requests, domestic trumped foreign (my boss would usually get on the phone or the teletype and explain the situation to folks overseas and see how great the need was). Some smaller libraries know they ought to handle I.L. loans for their members (usually any resident of that particular municipality), but aren't always too quick off the ball because it is an unaccustomed procedure to them. Serious researchers are well advised to ask the head of services what the procedure is for "community-based scholars." This is a legitimate term for people who intend to publish. Reviews here or at other book sites usually do not count, but blogs usually do. Anything for pay that requires such research counts, as well as journals both print and online. Not to be abused, but do take advantage if you quality.
John wrote: "Victoria wrote: "Here in Netherlands the library costs 50 euros per year which I think is a lot considering the sad options in english. How much does the library membership cost where you are??"P..."
Yes, in the U.S. public libraries in most places are free to tax paying residents. In my city, they charge non-residents an annual fee.
Perhaps Shomeret and others will support me in this bit of impromptu advice: When you visit the USA, try to find time to visit any Carnegie Library you should encounter. They have a proud heritage, and in many towns are still a civic "jewel." Even in cases where the buildings have been re-purposed or the library has gotten slack due to lack of funding, the edifice is well worth seeing.
Libraries are free in Australia. The Outback town I currently live in has an agreement with a number of other towns around us and we can get books from any of them. I was originally a guest member because I hadn’t changed my address to out here but that didn’t change anything. I could still get the same amount of books out and had all of the same privileges that I have as a resident. We can also get books from the big state library in Sydney. For nothing. The town where the farm is has a huge library that is free and residents also have access to the library at the local university. Also free.
The beach house and the mountains house also have free local libraries.
All local libraries are run by the local government authorities. The City and Shire Councils. And they are a free service run for the ratepayers. They’re not expected to make money. The State Library is run by the State Government in Sydney and has a inter library loan thing set up with the smaller local government run libraries.
ALLEN wrote: "Perhaps Shomeret and others will support me in this bit of impromptu advice: When you visit the USA, try to find time to visit any Carnegie Library you should encounter. They have a proud heritage..."
The library near where I work used to be a Carnegie library. The city sold it and now the library is in a double wide trailer on the property of the elementary school. The Carnegie building is a furniture store.
Shomeret wrote: " . . . The Carnegie building is a furniture store."Sad but true! It has happened in more than a few American towns.
At least as a retail venue, the proprietor has some impetus to keep it in repair, I hope. The typical small-town Carnegie library was rather compact but solidly designed, with a great elevation (but often featuring many steps to the building, before people thought of ramps or ground-level entry for the differently abled). As often happens with American architecture of the pre-World War I period, Carnegie's utilitarian designs look more solid and welcoming to the modern eye than some of the beaux-Arts or Queen Anne architecture of the period.
Most of you probably know this, but 'Carnegie' refers to Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American steel magnate, who was a tight-fisted, ruthless capitalist most of his life but literally "got religion" a few years before his death and tried to atone for his prior rapacity by commissioning this large string of libraries, for the common man. IMO he chose well. Many a twentieth-century American child or teen furthered his or her education at the tables of a Carnegie Library.
Thank you, John! That's quite a legacy indeed!
www.bookbutler.com is a great resource if you're looking for a particular book. It gives you all the options and does a price comparison that includes shipping. You can also set it by region so that you will only see options that ship to your home country.
Jess wrote: "www.bookbutler.com is a great resource if you're looking for a particular book. It gives you all the options and does a price comparison that includes shipping. You can also set it by region so tha..."What Jess said. It never hurts to shop around!
. . . I just checked out biblio dot com, another recommendation by the resourceful Jess, supra. I asked to see all used LOTR sets, in order from most expensive to least.
After a couple of five-figure alarms, things settled down nicely:
https://www.biblio.com/search.php?aut...
Thanks again, Jess!
PS: On a whim I tried Folio Society: Their "most relevant" listing for LOTR costs $190.00 in U.S. dollars, and of course it's new:
http://www.foliosociety.com/search
Suggestion: If you're interested call FS during UK office hours and ask them if they'd ship free for a new member or offer any other "inducements."
John wrote: "Public library membership are free here, our taxes pay for the convenience, they also collect money on late fees and fundraisers/book sales"Many US libraries are underfunded, though, so I recommend that anyone who uses their libraries regularly, and can spare it, also donates to support them.
colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "John wrote: "Public library membership are free here, our taxes pay for the convenience, they also collect money on late fees and fundraisers/book sales"Many US libraries are underfunded, though..."
I agree. Some public libraries welcome volunteers, too.
ALLEN wrote: "I agree. Some public libraries welcome volunteers, too."And sometimes book donations - but mine hasn't been taking books for awhile, which I don't know why and I wish they would since their shelves are so empty?!
colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "ALLEN wrote: "I agree. Some public libraries welcome volunteers, too."And sometimes book donations - but mine hasn't been taking books for awhile, which I don't know why and I wish they would si..."
Sadly, Colleen, I suspect that library faces a future of fewer books.
Many good libraries, large and small, still hold book sales for $$, and many of their offerings are donations and the occasional "ex-libe" copy they have decommissioned and are ready to let go.
But for a great many public libraries, it's easier to let consolidators snap up their ex-books for chump change (these are the kind of books with clear mylar covers that wind up on used-book sites).
It's also hell to coordinate a GOOD library sale -- logistics, publicity, parking for patrons and so on.
May I ask if is a library in a big city, small town or suburb?
ALLEN wrote: "May I ask if is a library in a big city, small town or suburb?"It's technically a big city, as it's part of the Philadelphia system, but we're on the outskirts of Philly. Like, if you sneeze you're in the burbs.
colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "ALLEN wrote: "May I ask if is a library in a big city, small town or suburb?"It's technically a big city, as it's part of the Philadelphia system, but we're on the outskirts of Philly. Like, if ..."
In the City of Chicago, we have one enormous downtown library that is not easy to research in and a slew of neighborhood public libraries, whose quality depends on how much patient nagging attention interested parents and others show the place.
It seems to me that books aren't easy to donate, either.
You might consider one of the "Bookcrossing" type groups out there, or (I'm sorry the proper name fails me), those self-help boxes some people keep outside their apartments so that people can take one, leave one on the honor system.
"Too many books" is a problem for me as I face possible relocation. Many of mine are so good, they OUGHT to be on the shelves of free libraries in one manner or another. So many American public libraries are being decimated and I for one resent it.
Just wondering, since you're so close to the line, if you can get reciprocal advantates at a nearby suburban library. I have been told Media has quite a good system -- which wouldn't surprise me.
Mod
It's technically a big city, as it's part of the Philadelphia system, but we..."
All of southeast PA shares interlibrary, which is great as my two local libraries are focused on children or community building, which I'm so pleased with but means my books are almost never just on the shelf. I haven't gone into the stacks in years, I just go chat with the front desk these days.
I also love my library for getting books and generally only buy something if it's indie (which I then buy from Amazon), my library doesn't have it (which always sends me paroxysms of distress) or I love the book so much that I must. have. it. and then I get them either where they're cheapest (like the used book sites) or prettiest.
Re: It's technically a big city, as it's part of the Philadelphia ..."Allison wrote: "I haven't gone into the stacks in years, I just go chat with the front desk these days.
I also love my library for getting books and generally only buy something if it's indie (which I then buy from Amazon), my library doesn't have it (which always sends me paroxysms of distress) or I love the book so much that I must. have. it. and then I get them either where they're cheapest (like the used book sites) or prettiest."
That sounds like a very sensible strategy, Allison!
ALLEN wrote: "Just wondering, since you're so close to the line, if you can get reciprocal advantates at a nearby suburban library. I have been told Media has quite a good system -- which wouldn't surprise me."I've looked into the Bensalem system, which is the closest to me, but it requires proof of residency in the county, so that's out.
Most of the Philly ILL stuff I get is from within the Philly system. They do have an outside of Philly system, but there are rules on it such as, "No books published within the past 12 months", which kind of sucks for me.
I guess it's meant to keep the traffic burden down. I used to work for an ILL depatment, and we were meant to be taken as a last resort for books -- if it was in print we usually wouldn't honor a loan request from anyone, except in the case of academic or specialty titles, which tended to run higher in price. New, commercially published books -- even for legitimate researchers we usually couldn't and wouldn't to it. ILL is an expensive and time-consuming proposition what with office time and telecomm and especially physical shipment of texts back and forth -- it gets too costly too quickly. It would be the height of folly to gear up any ILL system for something like
, but I for one wish I could read it for free or cheap -- it has only 70 pp but costs over sixteen dollars.
ALLEN wrote: "Jess wrote: "www.bookbutler.com is a great resource if you're looking for a particular book. It gives you all the options and does a price comparison that includes shipping. You can also set it by ..."Glad you found it useful, Biblio is my first go to for books and I think they started out as a resource mainly for collectors so they should definitely have some interesting editions.
ALLEN wrote: "I guess it's meant to keep the traffic burden down. I used to work for an ILL depatment, and we were meant to be taken as a last resort for books -- if it was in print we usually wouldn't honor a l..."Makes sense. The "out of system" ILL does seem to be more for academic than entertainment purposes.
It's fine, though, because most of the books I've wanted are within the Philly system, and the very few that aren't, like indie books or older books, I'll usually just buy and maybe donate somewhere else later.
colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "ALLEN wrote: "I agree. Some public libraries welcome volunteers, too."And sometimes book donations - but mine hasn't been taking books for awhile, which I don't know why and I wish they would si..."
If their shelves are empty, their board may have decided that libraries should not be for books. Some library boards think that libraries should emphasize public computers or be community centers holding events because "no one reads books anymore" or at least they don't. They probably figure that if no one in the community protests, then they are right about no one reading books there.
Sometimes de-emphasis of books is not the reason why the library is not accepting your book donations. If your library has a collection policy, you should read it before you attempt to donate books. They will have a specific policy about donated books included. It will usually be called a gift policy. It will be on the library system's website. Another reason not to shelve donated books is that it takes up a cataloger's time, and the time of someone who processes the book with a stamp and labels. This means that shelving book donations costs money for the library. The library has a budget and the expenses of shelving book donations will probably not be included in it.
In the city where I work, they have a permanent book sale. All donated books go on carts and they are sold for some minimal amount like a dollar for hardcovers and fifty cents for paperbacks. They don't accept donated books for their collection for the reasons I've given in the above paragraph.
Shomeret wrote: "If their shelves are empty, their board may have decided that libraries should not be for books. Some library boards think that libraries should emphasize public computers or be community centers holding events because "no one reads books anymore" or at least they don't. They probably figure that if no one in the community protests, then they are right about no one reading books there."They do have several events, mostly for kids, so this might be part of it. It's just weird to me because this library services a local school, so you'd think the book selection would be better - then again, the kids section does seem to be the best stocked.
Shomeret wrote: "Sometimes de-emphasis of books is not the reason why the library is not accepting your book donations. If your library has a collection policy, you should read it before you attempt to donate books."
My local library isn't accepting any donations, and hasn't been for over a year. I haven't looked into other branches, though, to see if it's just this location or not.
My library system has a few libraries that will accept donations, but they also have a donation center where you can drop off books.Local libraries will only take two boxes or less. One time we went to the local library and noticed that they had dumped hundreds of scifi/fantasy books in their garbage bin and went in and asked them if they meant to throw them out. They said yes, so my next question was, could we take them and they again said yes (surprised me). We then gathered them all up and took them to a local trade in bookstore (4 for 1) and put them all on or account.
Otherwise, one can make an appointment with their Book Warehouse and drop books off there. I will be doing this really soon as we are moving and I will get rid of a lot of books
The 'companion' to Bookcrossing that someone was trying to recall above is Little Free Library. Some communities have lots of these boxes of books, my current town has none. As soon as I read some of the books that I own I will set one up. (You don't need the fancy little house they sell online; poke around the links and you'll find suggestions for easily crafted upcycled kiosks.)https://littlefreelibrary.org
Mod
My libraries, local grocery store and office all have "take a book, leave a book" piles too for this purpose. I don't think I've ever availed myself of them, but I know lots of folks love them!
Allison wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "The 'companion' to Bookcrossing that someone was trying to recall above is Little Free Library. Some communities have lots of these boxes of books, my current town has none. As soon ..."You're lucky, Allison. Our local "fr3sh market," being probably one of the weak links in that particular chain, has room to put out expiration-date fruit at room temp and wait for bargain-hunters to pounce, but not room for a "community table" as "{T]hat would only be looking for trouble."
But to be fair, libraries have probably been plagued by excessive donations for a long time. Forty years ago, at that college library I mentioned (a very large one), they had no use for "complete sets" of the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, which are much more common than the individuals who painstakingly gathered them and collected them probably thought.
Our library doesn’t take donations of books. I suppose they’d get some badly looked after ones if they did.
Jacqueline wrote: "Our library doesn’t take donations of books. I suppose they’d get some badly looked after ones if they did."Probably. I don't know much about antiquarianism, but things like 'linen" spines that bleach in the sun make the fabric weaker. And that can make the covers tear off.
The idea of rehabbing a mass-produced book, even a fairly good one, to library standards often used to involve retro-fitting a buckram cover -- assuming it still does, it may not be worth the effort.
Nonetheless, in the case of America's free public libraries, how long until all the empty or emptying shelves call forth the comment -- what do we need all this space for? In many places that's already happening, as witness the small city in Central California where the Carnegie Library became a furniture store, and the "library" got moved into a double-wide trailer on the grounds of a public school.
Not very exalted, I'm afraid.
Libraries here aren’t getting smaller. They’re getting full of computers instead of books. They don’t fit any special covers onto the books here except for a basic plastic cover like you’d cover your school books with.
Jacqueline wrote: "Libraries here aren’t getting smaller. They’re getting full of computers instead of books. They don’t fit any special covers onto the books here except for a basic plastic cover like you’d cover ..."
That's probably the best and cheapest way to cover a brand-new fullsize harcover book with d.j. -- clear Mylar. I often get ex-libe's from thriftbooks that way.
** ** ** **
Isn't it ironic that computers were supposed to shrink storage space?
Yeah but it’s good that libraries are picking up the slack so that people without computers and/or internet can have access to the technology. Not everyone out here has internet. We’ve only just got a relatively reliable service in the last few months. I still don’t have internet at this house. My laptop never comes out of its bag when I’m here.
ALLEN wrote: "Jacqueline wrote: "Our library doesn’t take donations of books. I suppose they’d get some badly looked after ones if they did."Probably. I don't know much about antiquarianism, but things like 'l..."
It's not a small city in Central California. It's a large one in Northern California. There are a great many branches in the system. The main function of the double wide trailer branch is being a location where people can pick up books they've requested from other branches that have a collection. They also hold small events for the school children.
Libraries differ so much. Two tiny towns in rural NV, members of the same consortium. One library refused donations (a woman came in with a car load of once-read recent hardcovers while I was visiting... so I took them for our home Friends of the Library) and the librarian of the other welcomed just about anything in just about any condition in order to keep her patrons in new-to-them books and media.And then I got home and found out that our Friends of the Library was getting fussy and only taking a few at a time, so I donated the majority to Little Free Libraries and Wild Released some via Bookcrossing.
(edit 8-8 for clarity)
John wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "If their shelves are empty, their board may have decided that libraries should not be for books. Some library boards think that libraries should emphasize public computers or be co..."I can't speak for systems in other towns, but I'd hazard a guess that a community considering a move so radical as to sell an intact Carnegie Library to a furniture dealer and move the "stacks" into a double-wide, had better offer a community forum or some such feedback mechanism. (Example based on Chico, California).
Cheryl wrote: "Libraries differ so much. Two tiny towns in rural NV, members of the same consortium. One refused donations (a woman came in with a car load of once-read recent hardcovers while I was visiting... s..."My, this thread caught fire today! Cheryl, what is a "Wild Release" when done at Bookcrossing? - a.s.
ALLEN wrote: "John wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "If their shelves are empty, their board may have decided that libraries should not be for books. Some library boards think that libraries should emphasize public compu..."I can tell you that when Evanston (IL) tore down its well-kept 1960 downtown library to put in its place a much larger edifice ca. 2000, one of the community forums' common themes voiced during planning and design was "We don't want a bunch of old men sitting around reading the daily papers." --
I thought that was one of the old libe's most charming features, actually. No old men or other patrons were harmed in the reading of those daily papers. Are people now afraid of Norman Rockwell Americana?
At one time Evanston was far superior to any of the Chicago neighborhood libraries. On paper it may still be, but I don't go there anymore; they've made it too difficult to get to the BOOKS! - a.s.
https://www.bookcrossing.com/ is a website that enables us members to register our books and 'release' them 'into the wild' like on park benches, coffee shops, Little Free Libraries, drivers' rest areas. With luck, another reader will find the book read it, read the note stamped into it (or label glued into it), and record (via the registration number), and record the find (and their release notes).It's a little bit Where's George, a tiny bit Geocaching, and a lot of fun if you're lucky enough to live in a community with active members.
Oh Allen, that is sad. Indeed, you've made me realize that's what is missing from the remodel of the Carson City library. Its concrete floors and exposed ceilings are cold enough, and then there's no reading area.... I do like the architecture & setup of the library here in Rolla, MO. pretty much. The adult section is an older brick building, reminiscent of a Carnegie, flight of steps. The kids' area is an addition, store-front windows, includes meeting room and modern restroom. The wheelchair ramp is an enclosed walkway between the two.
I am just dropping into this now so have missed pages (not going to read through 5 pages although it is probably quite interesting, but started months before I joined). Due to a very limited book budget and space for books left on our shelves (3 kids, some in college) I don't buy many of my books. I use first my regular library and inter-library loan and secondly the state catalogue inter-library network loan. There are times I buy books, of course. I really should order from a local store that discounts new books but often forget about it or am buying a used book that is hard to find, so I then go to Amazon (boo on me!) or ebay book sellers. Of course, I also have to buy some music books for my son and also for my use as a piano teacher, but that doesn't count here--for those I have stores in the city where I can get a teacher discount as well as my favourite online site where I can collect points as a teacher. Unless, of course, it's some difficult to find piece for my son-the-trumpet-student who starts at Boston Conservatory at Berklee (they give conservatory scholarships to well over half the music students due to both endowments and private contributors, unlike Berklee--they are together yet distinctly independent of each other in admissions, money, etc).
Mod
Allison wrote: "Congrats, proud mama! That's wonderful for him!"Thanks. It's amazing how I manage to drop that into conversations ;). Well, it's on my mind a lot as he starts in September and he's my Baby.
My kids were challenging, and by that I mean my eldest had a diagnosis that was made BEFORE it was popular, which really made things tough, so I have a bad habit of mentioning their accomplishments now that they are no longer terrorizing the library, etc.
Mod
Thanks. It's amazing how I manage to drop that into conversations ;). Well, it's on my mind a lot as he starts in September and he'..."
Well good for them they have such an engaged parent! Good work!
Also, can we take a minute in this very appropriate thread to bless Project Gutenberg? They're like Prometheus, bringing free books to set fire to curious minds. Keep up the good work you intellectual rebels!
John wrote: "Welcome Karin. Have you heard of Project Gutenberg's Sheet Music Project? They digitized public domain music from 2001-2006, it is all free to the public. It is not a huge list but it may have some..."Yes, thanks, but they only have public domain music. Trumpet was much neglected for some time, so much of what he needs is too new for that. Also there are times when he needs a copyrighted piano accompaniment for an audition. There is another place his teacher has directed him to, as well because he can print it. Paper still works best for us. We have been able to get some of his Baroque and other things free, though :)
He will eventually need to own most of the classical trumpet repertoire.
Like many people in this conversation, I use my local public library to the fullest extent. I love my library so that I joined The Friends of the Library and volunteer my time there a few hours a week. We have a small bookstore inside the library which is on the honor system (you pay by drop box). One nice thing is that by volunteering this way, I get first crack at the books that come to us as donations and library discards, and most of our books are priced at only $1... Yes, hardback books for $1. You cannot beat that anywhere. I love my library!
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Jamaica Inn (other topics)Little Fuzzy (other topics)
Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are Real (other topics)
King's Dragon (other topics)
Prince of Dogs (other topics)
More...
My first public library was in Houston, not too far from Meyerland.