Afraid of the library...

[Virginia]

I feel like a bit of an idiot when I admit this, but the fiction section of the library freaks me out.

It's big. It's so big and it has the little science fiction section and the foreign section, but the rest is just in one big group. It's not in nice little sections like non-fiction. I can't look at a sign on the wall and go to exactly the place I need. It's just too big.

I can do the bookshelves in charity books, because I can just look at the spine of every book. I can do shopping online because of all the wonderful searching features. It's just the chaos that scares me.

Am I a complete nut job? Do other people feel like this?

[Renee E]

Learn to use the card catalogue (or the computer version of it), and, if you understand the Dewey decimal system, you can go right to the book you want.

[Lily]

I have a vague memory of feeling that way, back when, before I got used to the library. It's true that fiction sections can seem more befuddling than non-fiction, but that's just the way it is. I got used it. Also, when i go to libraries, I always have specific titles/authors in mind first, then go right to those sections, no messing around.

[Virginia]

I get the Dewey decimal system, but fiction is all by authors name. :-(

[Longhare]

What's your hurry? Embrace the chaos, and you will discover all kinds of books you would never have bumped into confining yourself to the same old aisles at the bookstore. You can start at A or M or Z and move left or right, cruise the spines, pull out anything that strikes you. You can take all day, grab a stack to sit down to check them out and not have to worry about putting them back or getting frowned at or feel like you really ought to buy at least one. Cross genres. It's good for you.

[[deleted user]]

I always get a little paralyzed by the fiction section too. Last time I used the library, I searched their catalog online before going, so I'd know what they had that I wanted and could just go right to it and get it. Our library isn't conducive to spending the day in. It's cramped, and there's no place to sit near the fiction section (which is a room of its own; a very cramped room).

[Renee E]

I have to admit to disliking the library. I don't like to borrow books, especially against a deadline. The time constraint is always lurking, looming, even if it's something I know I'll finish in a night or two. Then I wind up not reading the books I've checked out at all.

[Longhare]

Renee, I know what you mean. I hate having to give the book back--and on deadline too. I got over deadline pressure by just not worrying about getting the book back on time. Even if I forget to renew a book, the only consequence is paying a tiny fine. I think of it as a voluntary donation. Of course, I don't borrow hot titles people are actually waiting for--that would be rude. I don't usually borrow fiction (because of my ownership issues), but I do love browsing the fiction section when I'm at the library to get a movie or whatever. A leisurely browse makes me happy and sometimes turns up something I'll either borrow or go buy.

This is an interesting question. I once worked in a bookstore, and there were always people who would come straight to the information desk to ask for a book rather than check the shelves themselves. Others would get seriously rattled if a book was misfiled. I guess it makes sense that thousands of items lined up in order could be overwhelming--marketers get that, hence the bookstore practice of breaking things down into multiple small categories--new releases, bestsellers, books everyone should read, celebrity bios, military bios, hot teen titles, etc., plus all the different genre sections.

Libraries are very accommodating though. You can always find out what they have on hand by checking their website or calling ahead. If they don't have what you want, they can almost always get it for you. They will even hold the book for you up front so you don't have to go to the stacks to get it yourself. There are also reader advisory services for when you don't know what you want.

[Justin]

God bless The Dewey Decimal system, the way we used to find books.

[Michael]

I wouldn't say afraid of the library, but it can be overwhelming. so many books on so many topics and a high chance that it can be a dud.
also have to agree on the whole time limitations that they place, it really takes the fun out of it if you can read at our leisure.

[S.T.]

Longhare wrote: "What's your hurry? Embrace the chaos, and you will discover all kinds of books you would never have bumped into confining yourself to the same old aisles at the bookstore. You can start at A or M o..."

I'm with you there. It's half the fun to me: taking a stroll, gazing at interesting covers and blurbs.

[Longhare]

Libraries exist to ensure that everyone has access to information, whatever that may happen to be: books, movies, journals, newspapers, music--in other words, so that no one in this country should be cut off from media because of a lack of funds. That's why there's always a stink when someone tries to remove a book from a library because it happens to offend them personally. Of course, resources are limited and choices have to be made, but libraries do the best they can with what they have to serve their patrons. They cannot buy every book, and if they buy many copies of a popular book, they are left with extras when the buzz dies down. Sometimes there is a wait for the book you want right now; sometimes they don't have the book you want at all. This is not necessarily a bust.

If you are computer savvy, learn to use the library catalog. If you aren't, grab a librarian and ask for help. They really like that. Most libraries are part of a larger system--they share one big collection. If the book you want isn't on the shelf, it may be at one of the other branches or at another library in the consortium. Just ask. They'll have it sent over.

As to having to bring it back by a certain day, those dates are generous and extendable. It ain't Nexflix, but understand that someone else may be wanting to read that book too. If it's just sitting around your house waiting for the fit to take you, you really aren't being fair to the guy across town who is in despair and contemplating ordering the book himself from Amazon because you seem to have skipped town with the library copy. If it turns out you aren't going to have time to read it in the near future, just take it back and borrow it again when you're ready. Or hang onto it and pay the fine, which is tiny. The library just wants you to enjoy the book and bring it back when you are done. What they don't want is you forgetting that you even have the book (yes, I've done that) and losing it among your own stacks. It's a very generous and entirely benevolent system.

Having said all that, I have stacks of books that I have bought myself. I buy them pretty much on impulse and read them when the fit takes me. I rarely borrow fiction because I am impulsive in my choices, which often have to be made between finishing one book and setting the alarm clock before going to sleep. I hoard. I have enough deadlines and running around on errands in my life. Convenience often wins out over free with me, but I know people who gleefully sign up at the library for the hot titles as they come out and are more than happy to drop the clutter in the return box when they are done.

Always nice to have options.

[Virginia]

I think I made progress today. I went vaguely into that area, picked up a book from one of the displays, and then picked up one on the first shelf I came to because it looked interesting.

Then I feld.

[E.G.]

Virginia wrote: "
Then I feld."

Feld? Tripped while fleeing? Been there and done that. Which books did you grab?

[Longhare]

Huzzah! Did you end up borrowing either book?

[Virginia]

I got Tampa and Spilt Milk. Should last me till I go into town on Thursday, anyway. :-)

[Amber]

I do a lot of my browsing in the audiobooks section of the library before long trips. I've made a lot of great discoveries that way. I used to stroll the aisles more for dead tree books before I got a Nook. I mostly use the library for interlibrary loans, though. My book club seems to select things too obscure for this library.
I liked feld. (Good definition, EG.) It's the way I'd type fled.

[Virginia]

I'm dyslexic. :-P

[Scott]

See, I have issues with the crinkles-louder-than-it-should clear plastic that my library puts over dustjackets - not to mention that it seems to become blurry and worn the instant it's put on. I really have a hard time settling into a book with that on.

[E.G.]

Virginia wrote: "I got Tampa and Spilt Milk. Should last me till I go into town on Thursday, anyway. :-)"

Interesting choices.

[Virginia]

Finished both now. They're definitely very different from each other. :-)

[Michael]

Ha! I thought this thread was going to be about the dirty old men huddled around the computer station. ;-)

[Virginia]

Michael wrote: "Ha! I thought this thread was going to be about the dirty old men huddled around the computer station. ;-)"

Lol. The computers are in a different room.