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Thread: Almost as exciting as banned books week

  1. #1

    Default Almost as exciting as banned books week

    It's national library week, Americans.

    Celebrate, damn it.

    And go check out a book or two.
    We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    I have several thousands outside if anyone is short .... !

  3. #3
    We're doing a sort of library history around here for the week. I spent so many damn hours digging through old photos, purchased art, and personnel records...thank god i wasn't the person in charge of it all.
    "In a field where an overlooked bug could cost millions, you want people who will speak their minds, even if they’re sometimes obnoxious about it."

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    I haven't been in a library for at least 5 years. Which was when the central library of Amsterdam had the bright idea to relocate to a place somewhere in the docklands where nobody really lives.
    Congratulations America

  5. #5
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
    I haven't been in a library for at least 5 years. Which was when the central library of Amsterdam had the bright idea to relocate to a place somewhere in the docklands where nobody really lives.
    Is it near central station?


    I haven't really been to a public library since I left high school, I have plenty of good books lying around I still have to read first. I do use the university library pretty often, also to study without distractions.
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  6. #6
    Girlfriend re-introduced me.

    Makes you able to try out some authors you've heard of, but are unsure off.

    Also made me aware Donaldson is busy writing yet another Chroicles of Thomas Covenant.
    I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
    I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
    Which is what I am

    I aim at the stars
    But sometimes I hit London

  7. #7
    Another? Goodness gracious, I never got past #6. Also use the local university library, as well as the one at home for leisure.

  8. #8
    I take full advantage of my local library. Actually, I have done so since about the age of 5 or 6! I helped out for a couple weeks when the head librarian had to be gone. OMFG, I so admire people who can put that much dedication into a job! Deb does so terrific with the limited funds we have here for new books! She has managed to tap into all kinds of private donation funds, and a few public funds, and now we almost need to add on to the building itself...again! It was just built onto about 10 years ago, and it's full again!
    I don't have a problem with authority....I just don't like being told what to do!Remember, the toes you step on today may be attached to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow!RIP Fluffy! 01-07-09 I'm so sorry Fluffster! People who don't like cats were probably mice in an earlier life! My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely!The nice part about living in a small town: When you don't know what you're doing, someone else always does!
    Atari bullshit refugee!!

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Flixy View Post
    Is it near central station?


    I haven't really been to a public library since I left high school, I have plenty of good books lying around I still have to read first. I do use the university library pretty often, also to study without distractions.
    Yeah near the central station. A half hour walk or 15-20 minutes by our magnificently slow tramway system.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust View Post
    Girlfriend re-introduced me.

    Makes you able to try out some authors you've heard of, but are unsure off.

    Also made me aware Donaldson is busy writing yet another Chroicles of Thomas Covenant.
    Donaldson is still alive ? God, I remember reading those books in the limbo that the time between final exams and the result is to young people in The Netherlands.
    Congratulations America

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
    Donaldson is still alive ? God, I remember reading those books in the limbo that the time between final exams and the result is to young people in The Netherlands.
    Just as surprised as you are.

    Heh, this thread just reminded me I have to start looking for book 3. he takes his merry time writing these.

    The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
    1. The Runes of the Earth – (2004)
    2. Fatal Revenant – (2007)
    3. Against All Things Ending – (October 2010)
    4. The Last Dark – (expected 2013)
    I like the depressing bastard. Always makes my life seem an orgy of pleasure in comparisson.
    I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
    I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
    Which is what I am

    I aim at the stars
    But sometimes I hit London

  11. #11
    Don't think I've been to a library since I left uni, 7 years ago now. Easier just to buy my own books now.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust View Post
    Just as surprised as you are.

    Heh, this thread just reminded me I have to start looking for book 3. he takes his merry time writing these.

    The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
    1. The Runes of the Earth – (2004)
    2. Fatal Revenant – (2007)
    3. Against All Things Ending – (October 2010)
    4. The Last Dark – (expected 2013)
    I like the depressing bastard. Always makes my life seem an orgy of pleasure in comparisson.
    IC, is the new series readable? And, can you read it without re-reading the original? Because I don't remember much more of that than the white gold band, the leprosy and the refusal to accept the reality of the other world.
    Congratulations America

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    Don't think I've been to a library since I left uni, 7 years ago now. Easier just to buy my own books now.
    I really buy a lot more than I check out from the library, although my local library is up to about 750 ebooks now, and some of them are actually readable. I keep thinking I'll get a library card with the Philly Free library for $15, they supposedly have a really good selection.

    I do take the kids pretty regularly. I know a lot of people who use the library mainly to check out movies.

    And finally, most of us aren't the people who benefit most from public libraries, but that doesn't make them any less awesome.
    We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.

  14. #14
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust View Post
    Girlfriend re-introduced me.

    Makes you able to try out some authors you've heard of, but are unsure off.

    Also made me aware Donaldson is busy writing yet another Chroicles of Thomas Covenant.
    Just curious, how much is a membership in the Netherlands anyway?
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  15. #15
    You have to pay for library memberships there?

  16. #16
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
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    Well, maybe not, I would not know. I don't think I did as a child, but my parents got me my card anyway, and when I was in high school my high school student card was a library card (because the high school library was also part of the national library network).
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by littlelolligagged View Post
    I really buy a lot more than I check out from the library, although my local library is up to about 750 ebooks now, and some of them are actually readable. I keep thinking I'll get a library card with the Philly Free library for $15, they supposedly have a really good selection.

    I do take the kids pretty regularly. I know a lot of people who use the library mainly to check out movies.

    And finally, most of us aren't the people who benefit most from public libraries, but that doesn't make them any less awesome.
    I too purchase all my leisure reading these days, and only use the university library for work-related activities, but suffice it to say my childhood would have been much less a happy one were there not a public library in our teeny-tiny village.
    In the future, the Berlin wall will be a mile high, and made of steel. You too will be made to crawl, to lick children's blood from jackboots. There will be no creativity, only productivity. Instead of love there will be fear and distrust, instead of surrender there will be submission. Contact will be replaced with isolation, and joy with shame. Hope will cease to exist as a concept. The Earth will be covered with steel and concrete. There will be an electronic policeman in every head. Your children will be born in chains, live only to serve, and die in anguish and ignorance.
    The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference.

  18. #18
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
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    Yeah, when I was younger I checked out at least a book a week, and usually more!
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  19. #19
    I do wonder how many Randroids received their first dose of Ayinism of the brain from a public library
    In the future, the Berlin wall will be a mile high, and made of steel. You too will be made to crawl, to lick children's blood from jackboots. There will be no creativity, only productivity. Instead of love there will be fear and distrust, instead of surrender there will be submission. Contact will be replaced with isolation, and joy with shame. Hope will cease to exist as a concept. The Earth will be covered with steel and concrete. There will be an electronic policeman in every head. Your children will be born in chains, live only to serve, and die in anguish and ignorance.
    The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference.

  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
    IC, is the new series readable? And, can you read it without re-reading the original? Because I don't remember much more of that than the white gold band, the leprosy and the refusal to accept the reality of the other world.
    It's readable. Some references, but I don't think important ones.
    Quote Originally Posted by Flixy View Post
    Just curious, how much is a membership in the Netherlands anyway?
    Don't remember

    Few Euros I think. One time. Books are free.
    I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
    I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
    Which is what I am

    I aim at the stars
    But sometimes I hit London

  21. #21
    All the libraries round my way seem to be closing. Nobody uses em anymore.
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  22. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    All the libraries round my way seem to be closing. Nobody uses em anymore.
    Is that because your public schools act as public libraries?

  23. #23
    I suspect its due to TV and the Internet.

    I too used to use the library regularly as a child.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by littlelolligagged View Post
    You have to pay for library memberships there?
    In Amsterdam it's free for ages 1-18, €17,50 a year for ages 19-26, €27,50 for ages 27 to 64, €12,50 for over 65. There are rebates for people who are on a minimum income and a second subscription in the same family is €5 a year.

    They allow you to have 10 items at home at any given time.
    Congratulations America

  25. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    All the libraries round my way seem to be closing. Nobody uses em anymore.
    That's a shame. Just out of curiosity, do you know if your local schools have decent libraries attached?
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    I suspect its due to TV and the Internet.
    I too used to use the library regularly as a child.
    Kids are missing out . I was entertained last year because my daughter had to write a research paper and they were expected to use non-internet sources, maybe there's hope still after all.
    Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
    In Amsterdam it's free for ages 1-18, €17,50 a year for ages 19-26, €27,50 for ages 27 to 64, €12,50 for over 65. There are rebates for people who are on a minimum income and a second subscription in the same family is €5 a year.
    They allow you to have 10 items at home at any given time.
    Wow. Free here, for any age. Limit is 50, I think.
    We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.

  26. #26
    My kids were required to use "non-internet" sources for some papers, too. But the teachers didn't say what it meant to be current, so they were able to use my home "reference library" even though it was outdated.

  27. #27
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by littlelolligagged View Post
    Wow. Free here, for any age. Limit is 50, I think.
    Yeah, but you have a communist for president, so there you go.

    On a side note, a library card does get you special offers and discounts at other places too. At least in my province.
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  28. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by Flixy View Post
    Yeah, but you have a communist for president, so there you go.

    On a side note, a library card does get you special offers and discounts at other places too. At least in my province.
    My library card can get me free admission to the zoo and state parks (but you have to check out the pass from the library first for both).
    We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.

  29. #29
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
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    Cool, zoos are fun!
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  30. #30
    damn, all we do is give away an allowance of free music every week

    We sure aren't seeing lower use of our locations either, check out is up, PC use is way up, wireless is the point of the nodes shutting down from to many connections...
    Last year we ordered a little under a million new items, and over 90% of them checked out in the same year.
    stats:




    Our ebook collection and use is exploding too. People are willing to download anything. We ordered a bunch of penny books so we would have titles to use in our ebook classes, and some of those horrible novels have passed 70 some odd checkouts.
    "In a field where an overlooked bug could cost millions, you want people who will speak their minds, even if they’re sometimes obnoxious about it."

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