I've been on a reading kick in the last month or two, ever since I discovered how great and easy the Denver Public Library is. They have everything--and if they don't have it, they can request it either through the Colorado-Wyoming interlibrary loan program, or through an international interlibrary loan program that they have also joined. So far I have only found two books that they didn't have, and they were able to request both of them for me through these systems.
Plus, everything can be done online. You sign in with your library card number and your last name, and you can search for the book you want and automatically place a hold, and it will show up as soon as possible at your preferred library branch. You can review your checked out and held books, and renew online.
And you can put books on hold before they come out. So, I put a hold on the third book in the Hunger Games series. It doesn't come out til August but I'm already number 46 in the queue. But that's OK, because the hold system is centralized--it doesn't matter what branch the book belongs to, when it's returned it goes to the next person on the list. And they normally have over 100 available copies of popular books. So I shouldn't have to wait too long after it comes out to read it.
Also, they have an extensive DVD collection. I just placed a hold on the complete first season of House, because I've never seen it (Torsten introduced me to the show in one of the later seasons), and it's certainly not in the budget to buy it, or to rent it from Blockbuster one disc at a time, you know?
Add to that the fact that they have a great website, with special sections for kids and teenagers, and I'm sold. They even offer electronic books, though not for the Kindle--but I'm pretty sure that's an Amazon issue, not a library issue.
So yeah, I'm a big fan of the Denver Public Library system. Truly, so far they've been able to do everything I've wanted from them. I know not every library system is like this, so I'm very glad that ours is.
What about you? Do you use your local library system? If not, why not? Do you like your library or does it have serious areas where it needs to improve?
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DC's public libraries have all the same online systems you like about Denver, and it's great! I haven't bought a book or DVD in ages. The different branches vary in size, age, and selection, but I can always find something I like to read. There can be a long wait for popular items (season 1, disc 1of the Wire, I'm looking at you) but it's no big deal. DC libraries also offer free sign language classes, which is awesome.
ReplyDeleteGetting a library card is one of the first things I do when I move to a new place, and over my lifetime I've had them on Long Island, Northampton, Missoula, Arlington, Ann Arbor, and DC. DC probably has the worst funding of any of these, but I'm still grateful for it.
Libraries ARE awesome! Of course, I am a librarian, so I am biased.
ReplyDeleteI'm of the opinion that a healthy functioning library system is the mark of a well balanced and educated community. If a library system is strong and involved in the community, it means that the community has invested in that system. And that is a GOOD sign.
So glad you are enjoying your public libraries! Where I live, they aren't so great, but a new Library Director is making changes to try to get buy-in from the community.
The Chicago Public Library is great. They have pretty much everything I've wanted to read and the online format is very user-friendly. They also have passes to every museum in the city that you can check out for a whole week. They guarantee free entry for up to four people. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteLIBRARIES!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou know I love 'em.
We love our local library, and visit weekly, sometimes more. However, I wish I could give you all a tour of our library, because it is lacking in almost every aspect. It's very very small, with a minute selection of everything. However, I too can place a hold on nearly ANY book and they can get it. Despite it's still frequent there, and we love to support the library even if it's nothing like what most of the country has.
ReplyDeleteI think our library has most, if not all, of those same things. I think some DVDs cost $1 a day to rent. Or maybe they're free but cost something if you keep them more than one day. I forget. Anyway, we also have the museum passes that missris mentioned, but you have to basically get in line first thing Monday morning to get one because the number of passes is limited.
ReplyDeleteSo the point of this boring story is that I love the library.
We only use our library for storytime (they have a GREAT program) because their book selection is woefully limited. I'm constantly searching online and rarely can I find the books I want, plus I'm terrible about returning books on time, so I always have a ridiculous fine which kind of defeats the purpose of using the library to begin with.
ReplyDeleteGood to know! We always went to Arapahoe Libraries growing up because the Denver system wasn't that great and we were just as close to Arapahoe County as Denver... glad they've improved it!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I SHOULD use our library system more often. One of the great things about the Chicago Public Library is they offer FREE passes to most of the local museums. You just have to check it out. Maybe that should go on my list of things to do this summer!
ReplyDeleteOur library system is county-wide, and is nearly as awesome as yours sounds. Our system doesn't have loan agreements with other systems (which sounds AWESOME!), but with nearly 50 branches throughout the county I can hardly complain! I place holds on books online all the time, and pick the books up & at the branch down the street. I love being able to place a hold on a book way before it comes out. The only books I have not been able to get this way are the last couple of jen Lancaster books. Same with the new one coming out. I haven't really used the dvd check out, although I wish I had realized that was a possibility back when we rented nearly every season of Six Feet Under from Hollywood. On individual discs, of course.
ReplyDeleteOther resources our library offers: free wireless, free access to library computers up to a certain amount of time per day, a variety of free classes (computer classes, early childhood education, ESL, even classes to help you do your taxes). They even have this program that I am excited to use down the road as our business grows where they have a mobile classroom & will bring computer classes to you as long as you have a group of 6-8 people for the class! Now it is not like I need them to come teach me how to use say Excel, but how awesome would it be to have a library instructor teach 6 people how to use Excel all at once for FREE instead of me having to personally teach 6 different people myself? I'm thinking VERY!
Sounds a lot like our public library. Although I use the university library that I work at which also has those services. I've been borrowing the dvd's of Lost starting with season 1 for the husband. Now we can both be confused!
ReplyDeleteI love the library!
LOVE the library! (I miss Denver's too) I put books on hold all the time, even if they are in stock because then I can pick them up at the counter instead of dragging my 2 y.o. through the adult section.
ReplyDeleteYay, libraries! Your post is well-timed, what with it being National Library Week. :)
ReplyDeleteI love my local library system, and totally use it as my books-only version of Netflix. I don't know what I would do without the hold and inter-library loan systems...maybe buy books? Naaah.
I frequent our library too. I've been lucky to live by two really great ones, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI love love love the library. We have the Seattle Public Library system and the King County Library System here, and they both work together. My account always has at least 5 holds at any given time and I always have at least 3 or 4 books checked out.
ReplyDeleteThe branches all have plenty of computers with internet access and MS Office programs, and there is also free Wi-Fi for those who want to bring their laptops.
Plus there are tons of programs for all ages, including book clubs and meet the author type events. I love it!
I used to be obsessed with the library when I was a kid, but now I just forget about its existence.
ReplyDeleteI love a good library system (surprise!) and mine has many of the same features you mentioned. LOVE.
ReplyDeleteI love libraries, but we have SO many books at home that I would rather cut off my pinky toe than take the 4 little ones in there. When they get a wee bit older we will go more often. They already love books, but I want them to experience the library too!
ReplyDeleteI've always lived where there were good libraries, thank the gods. Otherwise I'd be broke. My hubby always calls me a nerd for being such a library hound, but he's only kidding. & I take my kid to the library every week b/c I want her to grow up loving the library just as I did as a kid. Have I mentioned how much I even love the way libraries smell?
ReplyDeleteTo say that I love my library is a massive understatement. I ADORE my library. I WORSHIP my library. I think the library is the BEST HUMAN ACHEIVEMENT IN HISTORY.
ReplyDeleteI love our library. They do the same thing as the Denver ones; you can reserve books online and you get an email alert when it's ready to be picked up. AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteYour library sounds awesome. I only recently started going to the library. I realized that most books I don't need to buy because I am perfectly happy just reading them once. There is one right next to where I work so it makes going there really easy.
ReplyDeleteI work on a university campus and have access to the libraries here, so I really should use them, but I don't. I like to OWN books. I like the smell and feel and look of them in my home.
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Denver public library! Putting books on hold was a great feature! :-)
ReplyDeleteI hated the library as a kid but once we got married I was all "Uh, FREE books. What's not to love?" I love our library and it has an amazing children's section which our 2 year old LOVES. We also started renting DVD's from there. It's like we're GENIUSES. Now if only we could return them on time and not get a late fee :-)
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