Poll: Public libraries for leisure.

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Benni88

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Oct 13, 2011
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I'm an avid fan of my local public library, I've been visiting since I was a child. However, after a recent conversation with a friend, I realised that many people only use libraries for study or work.

What are your thoughts?
 

Powereaver

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Apr 25, 2010
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I mostly use it for the book collection and getting into reading.. altho i dont use it as much as i used to.. i used to borrow a ton of books and read them all the time :D
 

Jonluw

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May 23, 2010
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I visit the library if I want to read a book but not buy it.
[sub]Yarr harr fidelidy, being a pirate is all right to be![/sub]

This is normally when I have some sort of project in school where I need to read a classic.
I also use the library if I'm downtown and really have to go to the toilet.
 

Benni88

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Oct 13, 2011
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Jonluw said:
I visit the library if I want to read a book but not buy it.
Do you ever go to the library without a book in mind? Just grabbed a book off the shelf that caught your interest?
 

Jonluw

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Benni88 said:
Jonluw said:
I visit the library if I want to read a book but not buy it.
Do you ever go to the library without a book in mind? Just grabbed a book off the shelf that caught your interest?
Mmmm... Can't remember.
I know I went there looking for Moby Dick once, but grabbed The great Gatsby instead. (I was going to read it for a school project and The great Gatsby stood next to on in the shelves. I compared their sizes for a bit and decided to drop Moby Dick.)

I think I've gone to the library once in order to just find 'some' book.
Think it was my mom telling me to get a book for a trip we were going on or something. I don't know, it's a long time ago.
 

Buzz Killington_v1legacy

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Aug 8, 2009
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I use libraries mostly for work and study, but I'm an outlier--I'm a grad student, so I do a lot of work in libraries. When I have the time, I like to check books out of libraries for leisure reading.
 

Nerexor

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Mar 23, 2009
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I used to do a lot of work in libraries when I was in university, now it's mostly a place to pick up books and use someone elses wifi.
 

razer17

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I used to often just wonder into the library, pick out a few books and then read them. I don't really do that anymore, partly because I have bought books, and partly because I just don't read as much as I'd like to anymore. Damn you Internet and videogames!
 

Eamar

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Feb 22, 2012
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I don't currently use public libraries because as a student I have access to all my university's libraries, and practically live in those. I do occasionally use the public library when I'm reading for pleasure in the holidays, but usually I like to buy books myself so I can take as long as I want over them/not have to worry about them getting damaged in my bag etc.

I used to use the local library all the time when I was a kid though. They did this summer reading challenge where you had to read at least one book a week over the summer holidays, and you filled in a reading diary and got stickers and stuff. Highlight of my summers between the ages of about 4 and 9 (I know, I was an odd kid).

I remember feeling so proud the first time I was allowed to go down there, choose some books, talk to the nice librarian and *gasp* use my library card without my parents XD It was a simpler time...
 

BENZOOKA

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Oct 26, 2009
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Can't even remember the last time I went to a library.

If I did, it would be purely to get books. They used to be fun as a kid though.
 

IndomitableSam

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Sep 6, 2011
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I voted leisure, since you said public. I work at a government library. I don't actually go to the library often at all anymore... sort of. I use the online library the city is subscribed to for audiobooks and ebooks.

As I'm the Acquisitions Librarian(Technician), all new books at my library come through me first so I'll often read some before they leave my desk. Not much fiction, but anything related to my province or published by a resident we get.
 

Chairman Miaow

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Nov 18, 2009
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I should, but I don't, I love reading, but haven't in a long time. I don't feel comfortable in my local library, it's inhabited by racist bigots mostly.
 

ecoho

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Benni88 said:
I'm an avid fan of my local public library, I've been visiting since I was a child. However, after a recent conversation with a friend, I realised that many people only use libraries for study or work.

What are your thoughts?
i use it for 2 things

1. its a great place to relax and read.
2. its the only place left in town i can rent movies and games.
 

Chalacachaca

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May 15, 2011
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The first functioning library my city had since... I don't know, the sixties? was opened way after I lost my hopes of getting a library opened.
 

Limecake

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May 18, 2011
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Nope, haven't been to the library in years. The one thing I do remember is my local library used to put on these 'adventures' every year you could go and read certain books to solve a mystery or do something else exciting. I used to really enjoy it and I'm sure I read a couple books I never would have otherwise.

The problem with libraries is they still focus so heavily on books especially since most people buy their books or e-read them now. They need to expand to include a lot of other media as well such as movies and movies (which most already do)
 

rsacks

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Nov 19, 2009
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For my public library I use it mostly to get books for leisure reading. Sometimes I go there with a specific book in mind and other times I've just gone over to a section (usually Sci-Fi or Fantasy, sometimes non-fiction if I want a biography to read) and pick something that looks good. As a graduate student, the college libraries I use solely for research/study purposes.
 

Verzin

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Jan 23, 2012
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OH god...When I was a kid I'd go the my local library, and leave with so many books I sometimes couldn't see over them and had to follow the footsteps of my parents. EVERYONE who worked there at the time could recognize me.

I haven't been there in years. I should stop by sometime.

Suffice it to say I loved reading.
 

IndomitableSam

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Sep 6, 2011
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Limecake said:
Nope, haven't been to the library in years. The one thing I do remember is my local library used to put on these 'adventures' every year you could go and read certain books to solve a mystery or do something else exciting. I used to really enjoy it and I'm sure I read a couple books I never would have otherwise.

The problem with libraries is they still focus so heavily on books especially since most people buy their books or e-read them now. They need to expand to include a lot of other media as well such as movies and movies (which most already do)
Most libraries in Canada subscribe to Overdrive [http://www.overdrive.com/], which is audio, e format and video. I'm not sure about the US, but I would think most large cities in North America would have something similar. All you need is your library card and you get access to all of it. It also provides you the programs you'll need to use everything and has a variety of ways to use them - they work on pretty much all devices.

Also, libraries don't focus on books anymore - it's the last thing we think about now. Most of our budgets go to online databases and subscriptions. Book budgets have been cut more than half in most places. Visit your library's website and see all the resources available now - most anything you could want will be available online. Also, community programs are what keep libraries alive - many public libraries get a good chunk of their money from holding events that people pay for as governments don't care. Storytime for kids, computer use lessons, banquets renting boardrooms, video game events for teens, resume classes, tax courses, etc. Just visit the website.

Also, library education isn't called Masters of Library Information now, it's Masters of Information Science or similar. The library part isn't important, it's the information access. Our education is almost all e-based.