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message 51:
by
Cynthia
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Feb 21, 2013 07:07AM
Sloppy.
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Charly wrote: "At my age we like to think of it as sage experience."Do you know things about Thyme too?
Riona wrote:I used to always get a return receipt, but they changed the system where instead of returning them at the desk and getting them checked in immediately, the check-in area is now this window that you slide them behind (and you can't even see if someone is back there working on checking the books in). Basically it's like a book drop but not outside and only open when the library is. Lame. At least if it were a real bookdrop I could return my books during off-hours. "-------------------
To be sure it was checked in, the librarian told me you can check your account about a half hour after you drop it off. It usually is much quicker than that, but it depends on how busy your branch is. It takes only a minute to check your account online. It's a hassle, but it can save you big headaches later on.
So, American libraries are free but have terrible service? I don't mind paying, because I get great service. I have only once had a problem with my library, when they sent me note saying I hadn't returned a book. I knew I had returned it, went to the library and told them I had, and without any hassle they dropped the fine.
Janine: It depends on several factors in the US: The size of the city-- (tiny towns usually have tiny, understaffed libraries. Occasionally there is a fabulous librarian who has been there forever and knows everything.)Also, depends on the finances of the city. You can ask Clark how well-funded Detroit libraries are. My city has a great city library and a great University library, but we also have low unemployment rates and we are a college town to boot.
Also, does the state/city love schools and book learning? This is a factor in places like Mississippi, Texas, etc. where love of God is more important (to some) than love of books.
My take, for what it is worth.
You're right. I didn't mean to say all American libraries are terrible - or that the people working there don't do their job, if you're understaffed or don't receive enough funding, there's only so much you can do - that was just the gist I got from the last few comments.
During the late 1990s, early 2000s, many towns closed their libraries, some for good. It's tough in a roller coaster economy. Thankfully, many towns have gotten more savvy about fundraising/foundations and are keeping their libraries funded with public and private money and foundations/endowments.I spent a year as development director of our town library.
Alias Reader wrote: "To be sure it was checked in, the librarian told me you can check your account about a half hour after you drop it off. It usually is much quicker than that, but it depends on how busy your branch is. It takes only a minute to check your account online. It's a hassle, but it can save you big headaches later on."Yep, I check my account online obsessively -- that's how I caught it. They also send me an email 3 days before an item is due, which is a good backup.
I like to complain about my library a lot because my local branch really isn't very good, but I know I should be more sympathetic. They're definitely understaffed and funding keeps getting cut more every year. I still think Brooklyn Public Library is a great system, though -- there is supposedly a branch within half a mile of every residence in Brooklyn, which is a great thing.
Our one room library is great for a town of 270 people. We are understaffed but volunteers shelve books and help out. Our online service is excellent. We can order anything from all the libraries in 2 counties and have them delivered to our library for $1.00. We can download audio and print books for free.We have free wifi 24/7 which you can use from the parking lot or the table out front when the library is closed. My only complaints are: we only open 15 hours a week. And we are getting fewer and fewer real books. Makes me think our library system is moving away from books and moving toward electronic media. We love our librarian, Cookie.
Mod
Oh, both of those suck big time. But maybe Cookie makes up for it.
Mod
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie...
I second that, with a nod to Ben Franklin, who conceived the idea of lending libraries. I couldn't possibly afford to buy all the books I read, and with our state-wide website, I can eventually get any book I want to read.
I loved the atmosphere of the college library in the evening. I also enjoyed the little dive bars that were walking distance from the library.
Charly-- we had a pub called The Library in campustown during my Iowa State University undergrad days. Pre-cell phones, I used to tell mom I must have missed her call to the dorm when I was studying at the Library.
I wrote this long post, which I deleted, about finding bedbugs in a library book. I was hoping for empathy because I no longer feel comfortable using the library, and I don't know what I'm going to do for reading material, since I can't afford to buy all the books I want to read. Very depressing. You guys should watch out for signs of bedbugs in library books.
Scout wrote: "I wrote this long post, which I deleted, about finding bedbugs in a library book. I was hoping for empathy because I no longer feel comfortable using the library, and I don't know what I'm going to..."What are the signs? I've never seen a bed bug.
Oh jeez! Yes, please tell us how to look for them.
::slips hand into bubble glove, picks up scanner wand and waves it around Barb until green light flashes on. Unzips bubble::Get in here!
Lice! I am not ready for little to go to school.::sticks tongue out at Misha::
::presses windshield wiper button; smiles incorrigibly::
::manipulates electronic battle ship board::
::gets a bad feeling about something and presses invisibility shield::
Crap hogs!::flicks warp speed button up and down repeatedly::
::nudges
Susan, you can check the spine of the book and inside the book for discoloration, but this isn't foolproof. I'm finished with bringing home library books. I do most of my reading in bed at night, and this won't happen again. My library books are now sealed in two garbage bags and sitting outside on a chair. I'm dreading having to take them in and explain the problem. I can see this becoming a big problem because people drop their books in the outside book drop, where they stay all day or all night, so everything in there will be infected. This depresses me because I can't afford all the books I want to read.
I'm sleeping in the guest bedroom and don't go in there until I've put my clothes in the washer and taken a shower. I washed everything on my bed in hot water with boiling water added, then sealed everything in plastic garbage bags. If this happens to you, my research shows that sprinkling diatomaceous earth around the edges of the room, on mattresses, and at the thresholds works to get rid of them, and it's not toxic. I've only seen a couple more since I discovered the problem, but from what I've read, you want to stop them as soon as possible.
I hate this!! It's creepy. I hope it never happens to any of you.
Oh man. That really, really sucks Scout. I am sorry you have to deal with it. I have to say that the last place I would have thought to get bed bugs is from the library. I am sorry your experience had to be the one that brought it to light for me.I buy many of my books from antique shops and thrift stores. Seems I will need to be aware of this when purchasing them.
I hope you are able to be rid of them very soon.
That's a pretty horrible experience you're having, Scout. I hope it's over soon.
Thanks for the good thoughts. It helps.
Scout wrote: "Thanks for the good thoughts. It helps."Well then, add mine.
Thanks for the commiseration, Phil and Misha. So far, so good. Still sleeping in the guest room, but haven't seen any more bugs. Maybe I caught it in time, but it will be a while before I move back into my bedroom, just in case.I bought a Kindle (which I never thought I'd do), and I'm not impressed with the selection of books offered by my library. Looks like I'm stuck with best-sellers and romances unless I want to spend some cash. I'm going to miss being able to read the wide selection of books I was getting by checking out print books.
Scout, you can find a ton of free books on Amazon for your Kindle. Keep in mind some are not very good. You just type in free books or free Kindle books in Amazon's search and then you can narrow down the results by clicking on specified genre on the left hand side. At the top right is a sort by drop down box where you can select to search books with certain ratings. They also offer just about all classics as free ebooks.
I did a quick search for murder mystery/thriller's to show you:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1...
A friend on Goodreads recommended a site for free ebooks. I've downloaded a few but haven't read any yet, so I don't know about the quality. The site is eReaderBuddy.
Thanks Scout. I did not know about that one. I had downloaded two apps for finding free books for the Kindle and the one I really liked has changed and doesn't show free books anymore. The other one is not bad but you have to make sure the book is still listed as free. The app is called Books Buddy. Also, try the site Smashwords.
Books Buddy seems to be working but it is an app on my Kindle Fire. Wonder if that makes a difference or they just have not gotten to it yet.
Thanks, Susan. I'll look at it tomorrow.
I've been checking out Kindle books from the library. Actually, I sign in through my local library and am sent to a different site, which I think is statewide. I looked for a book last week, and by the time I filtered for fiction, books available, and Kindle books, there were 9 books from which to select. You can keep a book for a week, and there are no renewals, so if you're not finished in a week, tough luck. I'm not happy.By the way, I told you all about the bedbugs that came from the library. I put the book I'd been reading in bed for a couple of days (the one propped on a pillow where I saw the first of 2 bugs), along with the stack of books from my kitchen counter, into 2 plastic garbage bags and let them sit outside in the sun for 2 weeks. I wanted to be sure that the books were where the bugs originated. I checked my mattresses and found nothing. When I took the books back to the library, we opened the bags and could see dead bugs on the inside of the white plastic bags. The library worker was horrified (but not as horrified as I've been). She said they'd put measures in place so that this wouldn't happen again, but when I asked what they were going to do, she couldn't give me a definite answer. The head librarian wasn't there. Again, I'm not happy. Do not believe that library books can't carry bedbugs. I was lucky to see them in time to keep them from spreading, but I imagine other people haven't been so lucky, and they're probably not talking about it. Even when it's not your fault, it's embarrassing. When you check out your books, check them out carefully.
Okay...that is so much worse than food stains. :£
I agree. I sprinkled diatomaceous earth all over my bedroom, and I've waited a month. No signs of more bugs, so I'm moving back in tomorrow. Hopefully, this is no longer a problem. I'm really missing being able to check books out of the library, so I'm thinking of getting this thing called a Thermalstrike Expedition that I can put the books in to heat them. What a pain, but it'll be worth the money in the long run. I'm much more inclined now to believe that the end of days is upon us. On to more positive library stories . . .
