Libraries

[Patch]

I will be the first one to admit that I don't use a library very often.

Today I went to the local library for some IRS forms. While there I decided to go look at what golf books they might have. Those and some other books of various topics. 

I was pretty taken back with what I didn't find. They probably had a dozen or so books on golf. Most were by Nicklaus, Ballesteros, Palmer, Penick, Hogan, Pelz, and few others from way back when. The newest one I saw was by Tiger Woods, and how he plays golf. There were no newer books on golf available. I thought there would be more since I personally donated 25-30 books on golf to this same library last year.  It was the same with other sports. 

I did find out this library had a book sale late last year, which could be a big reason for an apparent book shortage. They had quite a few empty shelves. 

Now,  I know of course, that  the internet has all but made libraries a fading dinosaur. A little search typing, and few seconds later you have all the info on golf you could possibly need. On any topic for that matter. I just didn't expect to find so few choices. 

Just a big surprise for me. 

[iacas]

I still like libraries, but I buy my books, because there's no guarantee at all that I can read them in the time given. Hell, I have a list of about 15 books that are either partially started (three or four) or waiting to be read.

They're going the way of the dodo, unfortunately, but… yeah. I would have asked them what happened to the books you donated, though. Weird that they didn't keep ANY of them for the shelves?

[Hacker James]

@Patch  when was the last time you read a printed newspaper, let alone have a home delivery subscription?  How many of your bills are mailed in with written checks?  and of course we now have "Golf Now" and others.  Golf carts on many courses have electronic scoring available. Even bowling alleys.  1984 Hell....what about 2017?

 

[jamo]

I actually went to my current public library on a whim for the first time this past weekend. I didn't end up getting anything, but they had a pretty impressive inventory. 

[bkuehn1952]

I am a library regular.  I suspect most libraries are part of a sharing network.  I can literally request any book held in one of the hundreds of libraries within Michigan.  I go online and do a search.  The book I want may be in Ann Arbor or 500 miles away in Marquette.  I put in a request and our library sends me an email when it has arrived.

They loan ebooks, books on tape, movie DVD's and music CD's.  If one has a limited income, they have a computer lab in each branch with dozens of computers available.

The funding for the library is part of our property tax millage so I pay for the service whether I use it or not.

[krupa]

@Patch are you sure you didn't inadvertantly donate your books to the library sale? 

I love my library. I usually have a couple books and DVDs checked out at any given time.  We are a small village but the library is well stocked and part of the finger lakes library system so I can get pretty much whatever in looking for.  

[nevets88]

If your library is part of a large city system chances are it has a sizable digital collection. Meaning a pretty good catalog of ebooks and streamable videos and the queue isn't too bad. I usually find newly published golf books available to borrow digitally in my library. The libraries in big cities are quite a resource and you may be able to get a card if you live in the same state, never hurts to check. 

[Patch]

55 minutes ago, krupa said:

@Patch are you sure you didn't inadvertantly donate your books to the library sale? 

I love my library. I usually have a couple books and DVDs checked out at any given time.  We are a small village but the library is well stocked and part of the finger lakes library system so I can get pretty much whatever in looking for.  

The donation took place several months before the book sale, but you might be right. 

1 hour ago, Hacker James said:

@Patch  when was the last time you read a printed newspaper, let alone have a home delivery subscription?  How many of your bills are mailed in with written checks?  and of course we now have "Golf Now" and others.  Golf carts on many courses have electronic scoring available. Even bowling alleys.  1984 Hell....what about 2017?

 

Probably 10 years for the news paper. I only have one bill, and thats paid electronically. Last time I actually wrote a check was probably 5 or 6 years ago. 

Like I said I was just a bit surprised at the amount of empty shelves they had. 

[Papa Steve 55]

I'm in a small town. At a town meeting a couple years ago library funding came up. Everybody likes the idea of a library but it is quickly becoming a dinosaur and drain on the budget. One guy started pushing the idea of turning it more into an internet café. Others started building on the idea. The librarian sat there with a scowl on her face and just kept saying that's not what the building is for, the idea died and he library is now open about 20 hours per week, no nights or weekends. 

[nevets88]

What you see on the shelves isn't entirely representative of what's available. Your library's digital catalog may have more. Here are two relatively recent golf instruction books I downloaded to my phone from my library, IIRC, I didn't have to queue up for the putting book, probably because people don't think to look, don't know what's available, underestimating their library:

https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/nypl/Search/Sieckmann, james

3 hours ago, Papa Steve 55 said:

I'm in a small town. At a town meeting a couple years ago library funding came up. Everybody likes the idea of a library but it is quickly becoming a dinosaur and drain on the budget. One guy started pushing the idea of turning it more into an internet café. Others started building on the idea. The librarian sat there with a scowl on her face and just kept saying that's not what the building is for, the idea died and he library is now open about 20 hours per week, no nights or weekends. 

Spoiler

I've been to a few libraries like that, not completely, but they have a cafe like section w/food in the form of vending machines or an actual counter thus food allowed, some noise allowed, segregated from the shelves, windows w/decent view, etc. There are those out there trying to adapt.

My library lets you download 3 music files free a month. Some sort of deal with the record labels. 

I'm a bibliophile and always sneak in a look in a library whenever I'm traveling. There are some amazing libraries out there. Seattle. Boston recently renovated. Copenhagen. Stuttgart. And as a music lover, conservatory libraries are heaven, surrounded by all those analog scores, even though I use a tablet or a smartphone for reading music. Libraries rock. 

 

[shanksalot]

My wife and I used the library all the time until it closed down do to lack of funding three years ago. They have since reopened, but we both have kindles so we get most of our books from Amazon. Although we have probably over 100 hard cover books in the house that we both go to and reread them. 

Hacker James we still get the newspaper delivered to the house, but only Fri, Sat and Sunday. Of course we are both over 70 years old and old habits die hard.

 

[cutchemist42]

My library is like yours when it comes to choices.

I personally do use my library a lot. I like reading physical books (I've tried the Kindle and sold it after a year) but I dislike the room they take up. Funny but my obsession with de-cluttering came from one of my fave books I ever took out from the library, Marie Kondo books were life-changers for me. http://tidyingup.com/

And while I dislike digital books, I've read a few through the library's website. Its how I read Every Shot Counts.

I've found that if my library doesn't have the book, the inter-library loan system works great.

Edited January 31, 2017 by cutchemist42

[NJpatbee]

I enjoy reading and keeping physical books and have not used our library in years.  I do have an extensive library on fly fishing and a much smaller golf selection.  I have had a Kindle Fire for the last year and admit to reading several books on it, including a couple of fly fishing books that I wish I had the paper copy.  I have donated many books that I never go back and re-read so electronic books make sense for these, but I will stick to buying books on my two passions which I often refer back to or read cover to cover again.

[dbuck]

I still like to read real books, and I usually buy them. My wife is almost exclusively Kindle. We both will swap over to the other format, and both occasionally use the library. I don't have a newspaper delivery nor an online subscription, but occasionally will buy a physical paper or read the free format online.