Your Local Libraries

[[deleted user]]

Wow...drooling

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Taste wise, the Livingstone Hotel in Zambia would be a place I would want to stay. But their book collection doesn't excite me.


The Gladstone's excites my readers side.

I would like to blend the two. The Livingstone's furnishings with the Gladstone's library.

[Dawn]

I like The Library Hotel in New York. Looks adorable and it's in New York!!

[Dawn]

These are libraries in private homes, with a few million we too could have something like them: http://www.sothebys.com/en/news-video...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Saw you post that to our group's Facebook page. I fell in love with the one that shows with the link on FB. My kind of private library!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

This one.
http://imagescdn.gabriels.net/reno/im...

[Allison]

These posts are making me jealous! People who have access to these amazing places and I don't. Grrrr.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I guess it isn't so hard for us all to have a private library or book area (apologies to those with space restrictions who don't have space for many bookshelves), but it would be nicce to have these people's budgets to decorate them.
I have a large book area which I call my library, but I can't afford to decorate it lavishly. :(

[Dawn]

I love ladders and spiral staircases, so either of those would work for me. :)

Though I do love the one I put in my former dining room and it only cost me a few hundred dollars!

[Bryn]

When I moved a couple of months ago my mother, whose town I moved to, bought me a 3rd bookcase as a housewarming present -- a handsome one, that's the main furniture in the living area. I'm in a small two-room unit and the three 6-footer bookcases are the feature items.

But the town's library is under re-construction. I'll use it when it's open.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Ohh..new bookcase. Nice one, Mum.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Is the library in cahoots with many other libraries in your area, Bryn? For reserving and transferring to your library?

[Bryn]

No idea, Terri! I guess I'll find out. I'm ignorant about libraries. I'll come to this thread to figure out about them.

[Haydn]

I love my library, there is so much going on there. It is a government funded one with a very good selection of books, online reservations facility, cross library reservations and more.
All books can be renewed online three times if necessary (that's about 2 months !), e-books downloaded, Zinio magazines downloaded etc. They have a picture, map and family history archive and record depository. Obviously reading areas, but also a dozen or so computers, photocopying facility and kids/pre school section.

11 books/cd's/dvd's can be loaned at a time. What more could I ask for? Unfortunately it isn't used by the population as much as it should be, which is a shame.

[Dawn]

I just read in the paper yesterday that out of the 4.4 million people in British Columbia, 1.1 million are active library users. Not bad and might explain why I have such a great library system here too. :)

Mine sounds a lot like yours Haydn!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Haydn wrote: "I love my library, there is so much going on there. It is a government funded one with a very good selection of books, online reservations facility, cross library reservations and more.
All books c..."

It is good to hear this, Haydn. I have seen news stories, and heard many UK citizens, talk about the library problem in the UK. That they are in a state of decline and it is a big concern.

[Haydn]

That's true in parts of the country where money is tight cuts have been made. Luckily this area seems to be little affected. In fact it seems to have improved. Computer checkouts, so no queues, but on the other hand a reduction in staff. The west of the world I 'm afraid.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Ours doesn't have magazines for download yet. I am hoping they will in the near future. I may not read ebooks, but I love me a digital magazine.

[Haydn]

I love my "classic Rock" and "total Film" mags on Zinio, all for free at my local library. thanks Warwickshire County council. LOL

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Do you digital mags with the library come through Zinio? That's cool. I love Zinio. :)

[Haydn]

Yep Zinio. So easy to use, it's great on my tablet. Like you I'm not keen on digital books but the mags are great, high quality and I can air print an article if I want to . I used to subscribe to these magazines but it 's good to get them at Zinio via the library .

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I have a tablet to and subscribe to about 7 magazines. (I get them when they send out the discount vouchers)
I would like to get them free though. :)

[Dawn]

15 Gorgeous Photos Of The Old Cincinnati Library

Beware, it's a bit depressing seeing as it doesn't exist anymore!!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/...

[Haydn]

Well if we're doing piccies. Just by contrast, a few miles from me.

http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/wp-con...

The home of an historical read if ever there was one. LOL

[[deleted user]]

Dawn wrote: "15 Gorgeous Photos Of The Old Cincinnati Library

Beware, it's a bit depressing seeing as it doesn't exist anymore!!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/......"

Those are some awesome photos! Thanks

[Dawn]

Oh, we're always doing photos!

This is my local library: http://www.kerkhoff.ca/gfx/p/36115527...

[Haydn]

The Old Cincinnati library looks an awesome place to spend a few hours. What a pity it was demolished. Such a lot of old buildings disappeared in the '50s and '60s under the guise of progress!
I think health and safety would have had a field day now though. Lol

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Haydn wrote: "Well if we're doing piccies. Just by contrast, a few miles from me.

http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/wp-con...

The home of an historical read if ev..."

Oh wow. Nice!!!

[Dawn]

Finally got around to signing up for the libraries digital magazines thorough Zinio. Managed to set it up with my existing account.
Works great with the Android app, all the magazines I check out download automatically and I can read them on my tablet! The library even has 3 of the magazines I was going to subscribe to so that will save me some money!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I need to send my library an email demanding this. :)

Or maybe they already have it. I haven't checked on that sort of thing since early this year.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Holy crap balls. They do have it!! Awesome sauce. I will be jumping in and downloading furiously as soon as I am on my tablet again. (on laptop now)

[Dawn]

I think my sister was annoyed with me yesterday, I kept telling her how awesome the whole thing was. And then proceeded to show her all the cool pictures and read her all the interesting bits out of all the magazines I checked out! :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Well, it is pretty special to get free magazines from Zinio through the library. She obviously doesn't understand that though. ;)

[Darcy]

I wonder what's in this building?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BeQqrUyIc...

(view spoiler)[Kansas City Library (hide spoiler)]

[Haydn]

A bookbinders? ;-)

[Haydn]

That's awesome. I do like a architect/ designer with a new approach and thought. I just hope he doesn't design butchers shops!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Ha. yes, I saw that one earlier in this thread. It is spectacular. :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

This is the library I go to.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightsig...

[Darcy]

Oh, I like that one too!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That's looks incredible, Margaret. What a fab idea to build the facade in the shape of an open book! This library deserves some sort of architecture award.

In some ways the building reminds me of the Federation Square buildings in Melbourne.
http://wikimapia.org/2056/Federation-...

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

It looks even better in real life, Terri.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I remember when you said it was getting a reno. I never expected that was what you would get!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Terri wrote: "I remember when you said it was getting a reno. I never expected that was what you would get!"

Actually, the reno was internal. That facade is at least 20 years old.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Oh wow. That was ahead of its time.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

It really was. The first time I saw it I just stood and stared. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was.

[Carlos]

I am reading this with a little bit of envy. There's no public library in the city (Culiacan, Mexico). The state government decided to closed It three years ago to make a better one. 40,000 volumes were put on crates and boxes and now in its place there's a bad art gallery Here's a photo.
Thanks Odin for Amazon and whispernet.

[Marilee]

It's so sad to realize many communities are losing their libraries… but fortunately for those of us living in my area of Florida, our county library system is thriving.

Each branch [there are 12 all together] is being totally renovated, upgraded and expanded. My local branch underwent this process last year and it's just amazing what we now have. Many functions and tasks are now automated, including the book return system, which has machines into which you put your book for immediate recording as returned and made available to patrons. The check out system, either by a person or a scanning machine, reads the book codes and prints out receipts. The library website allows one to search, find, request and reserve books. Books are swift tracked and moved between branches. One gets an email when a requested book is available for pick up.

There are many computers available for patrons to use for free, study rooms, cubbies and quiet reading areas.

All this automation is freeing up the librarians to assist patrons. There is a research desk, always manned, that I've found very helpful and for those patrons not so computer or electronically adept, the librarians and well trained volunteers are available to help with check out, returns, information, searching the computerized card catalog etc.

We now have an extensive selections of DVD's and CD's, large print, Spanish language [this is south Florida after all], recorded books… and of course, special areas for kids and teens. Story hours, special programs such as lectures and meet the author events, are held weekly. We also have eReader book loans. eBooks can be electronically checked out on line then automatically downloaded to Kindles or other eReaders.

Our library is dynamic, busy and well used. And it's "free" in that it's tax payer supported. I don't take it for granted… I know we're lucky to have such a great library system.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sorry to hear Carlos hasn't a public library in his area. That is a real shame. :(


Happy to hear Marilee does have a library system in her area and that you are frequenting it. :)

[Marilee]

Indeed… I was there today picking up the DVD's for House of Cards I have been waiting for [popular show!] plus a book . I had to drive around awhile looking for a parking place, it was so busy.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I always forget to check out the DVDs available through my library system.
You saying you are going to pick up House of Cards reminds me to check if my library has any series' that I have missed out in recent years. i know there is a few.