Do you use a library?

hooplah

Hi folks,

I'm a librarian, after a lunchtime conversation here at work today I thought I'd ask posters here if they use a public library?

If not do you have specific reasons?
Did you use one previously but have since stopped?
Where do you get your books?
Do you ever browse or read based on reccomendations?

SBWife

Yes, all the time. It's a great service.

Amirani

I used to use Ballyroan (my local library) a lot but now I just use the one in Trinity.

ger vallely

Absolutely use the library. It's a fantastic service. I use the Westside library in Galway. The staff are fantastic and can hardly do enough for you. I often read book reviews and on the basis of these I order books from the library. My children have been members since they were very little and still love our almost weekly trips there.

No, I prefer buying the books

The Mad Hatter

I think they're an absolutely essential service, and I do use my local one, but less than I used to.

I admit that these days, most public domain books I get I get for free download, rather than buying them or getting them in the library.

OakeyDokey

I also prefer buying books but I don't always have the money to go out and get some, the library is a great way to get you reading. I have discovered some wonderful books on spontaneous picks.

flyaway.

I use it all the time. I get about 6-10 books out of the library every week... it has saved me SO much money and also the librarians are lovely and always up for a chat.

I do buy books as well but I live about 2 hours from my preferred (secondhand) bookshop so I only buy a couple times a year. I also have 3 or 4 series that I buy the books for as they're my favourites and I like to own them.

johnayo

hooplah wrote: »

Hi folks,

I'm a librarian, after a lunchtime conversation here at work today I thought I'd ask posters here if they use a public library?
If not do you have specific reasons?
Did you use one previously but have since stopped?
Where do you get your books?
Do you ever browse or read based on reccomendations?

Used to use library when I was going to school.

Get my books Either in local bookshops or online.

The last 7 books I,ve read were all reccomended here on Boards.

I think I will buy a Kindle soon.

johnayo

flyaway. wrote: »

I use it all the time. I get about 6-10 books out of the library every week... it has saved me SO much money and also the librarians are lovely and always up for a chat.

I do buy books as well but I live about 2 hours from my preferred (secondhand) bookshop so I only buy a couple times a year. I also have 3 or 4 series that I buy the books for as they're my favourites and I like to own them.

My God, That is some reading. Well done. I am lucky to get through a book in a week or longer.:)

hooplah

Thanks for the answers so far folks.

bluewolf wrote: »

No, I prefer buying the books

What type of books do you read bluewolf? Do you browse before you buy, do you buy based on reviews or reccomendations at all?

hooplah

hooplah wrote: »

What type of books do you read bluewolf? Do you browse before you buy, do you buy based on reviews or reccomendations at all?

I have been a fantasy fiend for years, and to a lesser degree scifi as well. Branching out lately into general fiction as well. Think the last things I read/am reading have been fantasy, fantasy, woolf, nabokov.
Usually I am either continuing a series or going by recommendations. I did impulse buy from a random recommendation on amazon when buying another book, and it turned out quite well!

meitina

Yes ,I used library before.But forgot to return the book on time .Now its a year later.Would really loved to bring it back but scared ,i'll be charged a fortune .
Is there any way i can get away unpunished???

Stacey.

There's one in my local town but I hardly ever use it. I did more when I was younger though.

LimeFruitGum

Yes indeed. I haven't been in about two months, as I haven't been able to finish all the books I took out within the three weeks, so I've given it a miss for a while.

One of the first things I do when I move to a new area is register with the library

hooplah

meitina wrote: »

Is there any way i can get away unpunished???

Well you'll be liable for the fines but you could just drop the books back at the counter and run (some libraries have a returns box so you don't even have to run), at least that way someone else has the chance reading them.

If you talk to the staff they may or may not write off some of the fine.

Manach

If they use a public library? - Yes
Where do you get your books? - Local bookstores, Kindle, Library
Do you ever browse or read based on reccomendations? - Sometimes. But the great advantage of a library is that there is such a range of chosen books that one gets to explore different genres outside the normal recomendations.

paddyandy

Libraries are great places.I wish Rathmines would improve the WI-FI signal.

crotalus667

hooplah wrote: »

I'd ask posters here if they use a public library?

yes but not for books

hooplah wrote: »

If not do you have specific reasons?

I have too many books in my to be read pile , but if i did want an expensive book i may check it out rather thqn buy it

hooplah wrote: »

Where do you get your books?

online / eason's / hughs and hughs

hooplah wrote: »

Do you ever browse or read based on reccomendations?

yes

Callan57

I go to the library every month & get my 6/7 books. I use Ennis Library & find it excellent .. I especially love their online site so I can check that the books I want are available before I go in.
I also buy books & find I'm using my Kindle more & more.
I get my recommendations from John Kelly's The View, The Irish Times book reviews, friends recommendations & of course various book sites (including Boards)

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

paddyandy

Hav'nt read a book in years i'd go in for a sit down and get news on the wi-fi but rarely open a book.In London when i lived there the Libraries would disinfect books from time to time but here i'd feel contaminated psychically and Mentally from a book.Rarely touch em'.

OakeyDokey

flyaway. wrote: »

I use it all the time. I get about 6-10 books out of the library every week... it has saved me SO much money and also the librarians are lovely and always up for a chat.

I do buy books as well but I live about 2 hours from my preferred (secondhand) bookshop so I only buy a couple times a year. I also have 3 or 4 series that I buy the books for as they're my favourites and I like to own them.

Wow at the most I'd take out about four and even at that I cut it very close to the renewal times if not needing to renew one of them again.

There's is a great system with my local library, they give me my own pin number and account with borrowbooks.ie and if there's a book they don't have in I can order it and they can borrow it from a different library. I can also renew my books online which is handy if I can't get to them in time to bring them back.

paddyandy

Staff are great in Libraries and they are still great places to visit.' they help me to avoid mcDs when i only want to sit down for ten minutes.I learned to sleep while i look like i'm reading .....Great recharge and over in a short while.

E.T.

I love the library, I use my local one all the time. The librarians there are lovely, and they'll always try to order books from other libraries if I'm looking for them. It's a brilliant way of reading outside your comfort zone as you can just return the book if you don't like it! The library has introduced me to a lot of authors that I wouldn't have heard of or noticed otherwise.

Kinski

Haven't borrowed a book from a public library since I was child, but I use college libraries all the time, and there is one thing that really bothers me - patrons writing in the books.

Seriously, I've opened books to find just about every sentence underlined, with different users over the years having variously employed blue pens, red pens, highlighters...and then there are the notes some have written in the margins. Grr. Who are you people? Those books are not your property - stop it!

Does this happen to public library books too? I guess it's probably less of a problem, as people wouldn't usually be using those books for research.

hatful

Kinski wrote: »

Haven't borrowed a book from a public library since I was child, but I use college libraries all the time, and there is one thing that really bothers me - patrons writing in the books.

I've very rarely come across a public library book that has been written on. Whereas back in college the books I took out would be full of idiotic annotations, ruled and highlighted in a rainbow of colours. Really pissed me off. I suppose after a while it's hard for librarians to flick through and figure out if someone has just damaged the book or if it's historical damage. There are some real morons in higher education.

hooplah

Kinski wrote: »

Haven't borrowed a book from a public library since I was child, but I use college libraries all the time, and there is one thing that really bothers me - patrons writing in the books.

Do you read outsied of your course at all Kinski, fiction or non-fiction? Where do you get those books?

Kinski wrote: »

Does this happen to public library books too? I guess it's probably less of a problem, as people wouldn't usually be using those books for research.

It does a bit, language learning books and plays would be the worst. It wouldn't be as bad as a college library I don't think though.

SBWife

I wrote in a library book recently. It was a cookbook and there was an error in the ingredient list for one of the recipes which I neatly corrected. Felt guilty for a week afterwards, my mother obviously raised me a little too well.

Kinski

hooplah wrote: »

Do you read outsied of your course at all Kinski, fiction or non-fiction? Where do you get those books?

Yes. Some I get from college libraries, but I buy a lot of books too.

hooplah

Kinski wrote: »

Yes. Some I get from college libraries, but I buy a lot of books too.

Where do you normally buy your books?

Do you browse and then buy based on what looks good or do you go to a shop or website with a clear idea of what you want based on reviews or reccomendations?

SandraManson

I buy books on my Iphone/ or download them for free and read them on my Iphone anywhere.

Kinski

hooplah wrote: »

Where do you normally buy your books?

Do you browse and then buy based on what looks good or do you go to a shop or website with a clear idea of what you want based on reviews or reccomendations?

This almost feels like a market survey

I buy online usually, on Book Depository and Amazon. The "Look Inside" feature on Amazon has really made a big difference to me. I used to enjoy browsing in physical bookstores, but the appeal of that is starting to wane, thanks to the sheer breadth of selection online. Since I can sample any number of books on Amazon, I'm less and less motivated to make the trip to real shops, as I already know they can't compete with the sites on price.

hooplah

SandraManson wrote: »

I buy books on my Iphone/ or download them for free and read them on my Iphone anywhere.

you buy them on your iphone? wow, i've a HTC with a decent screen and have read some of the books that come with it for free but would just find the screen too restrictive.

How do you decide what to buy or download?

amacachi

I generally buy what I want to read, but only because I don't read so much that I can't afford it. :pac: If I pick up the amount I read I may head back to the library but it's a long time since I was there.

hooplah

Kinski wrote: »

This almost feels like a market survey

I buy online usually, on Book Depository and Amazon. The "Look Inside" feature on Amazon has really made a big difference to me. I used to enjoy browsing in physical bookstores, but the appeal of that is starting to wane, thanks to the sheer breadth of selection online. Since I can sample any number of books on Amazon, I'm less and less motivated to make the trip to real shops, as I already know they can't compete with the sites on price.

Oh it's totally a survey. But its nothing offiial, just out of interest. I'm interested in how people who read but don't use libraries decide what to read.

I guess I'm interested in why they don't use libraries and am trying to get a picture of how they make choices or reading decisions...

Amazon preview makes a big difference all right in that it gives a browsing type experience (for individual books anyway). I like physical shelves and selection because I will often pick somethig up based on the cover or title. 'If you liked that you might like this' features on online shops don't really achieve the same thing. That said when I buy books I often do it online.

If I use a bookshop these days its usually Chapters (because its cheap and convienant), the Gutter Bookshop in Temple Bar (because they have signings, events and are lovely) or A.N. Other because I'm willing to pay extra to get something straightaway rather than wait for delivery.

hooplah

amacachi wrote: »

I generally buy what I want to read, but only because I don't read so much that I can't afford it. :pac: If I pick up the amount I read I may head back to the library but it's a long time since I was there.

how do you decide what you want to read? Reviews or reccomendations from other readers or?

mikeyboy

I absolutely love the library. I use it to preview series that I'm considering, to re-read out of print books and for research. I also use the free wi fi to compile books on wikipedia which I then download and read on my e-book reader.

Kinski

hooplah wrote: »

Oh it's totally a survey. But its nothing offiial, just out of interest. I'm interested in how people who read but don't use libraries decide what to read.

I guess I'm interested in why they don't use libraries and am trying to get a picture of how they make choices or reading decisions...

Are you planning any innovations? Have you or your colleagues thought of any ways to make local libraries more attractive to people?

hooplah

Kinski wrote: »

Are you planning any innovations? Have you or your colleagues thought of any ways to make local libraries more attractive to people?

Yes, in the library I work in we've put a lot of effort recently into programming events to draw people in, which are advertised outside the libraries. Mixed sucess but its working. I can't speak definitively but most places I'm aware of would consistantly be trying to improve things within staffing and budget restrictions. There have also been some fairly large advertising campaigns (on signs provided through the Dublin Bikes scheme) in Dublin City.

Just to be clear though, I am a librarian, I work in a public library. I'm not a spokesperson though, not by any stretch.

Kinski

hooplah wrote: »

I'm not a spokesperson though, not by any stretch.

Oh, I didn't think you were. I was just curious about how libraries try to draw people in these days.

hooplah

not to drag this thread too far off topic but the old reliables would be bringing in school classes, hosting bookclubs and reading groups and programming events. These days most library authorities would be trying to increase their web presence.

All libraries would offer books in paper, cd and mp3 player, some ibraries have downloads available too.

Travel is good

hooplah wrote: »

I'd ask posters here if they use a public library?

If not do you have specific reasons?
Did you use one previously but have since stopped?
Where do you get your books?
Do you ever browse or read based on reccomendations?

I absolutely love libraries, wonderful places.

I buy a lot online and download books to my i-pad. I also purchase books in book shops, where I find you can come across the unexpected. For example, Chapters & especially The Gutter Book Shop are great for those quirky books that I love. I also reserve books online with the DCC library’s website, it is a fantastic service. The books I mainly get from the library are for book club choices. However, recently I have ordered fairly new books from the library with great success. I often of course, go into the library, just for a browse. I particularly like browsing the history/biography/travel sections.

I buy/borrow a lot of books based on recommendations from many places:

Newspapers – Guardian/Irish Times
Websites (particularly Goodreads, Boards and Twitter) and Dublin City Council’s Reading group choices list
Verbal recommendations from friends/Bookcrossers/other book club members

I really like it when someone recommends a book to me that is not normally one that I pick up. I’m willing to be adventurous.

I applaud the fact that the libraries are becoming more active online and in the social media. I love the events/readings in the libraries, and try to follow as much as I can on Twitter/FB etc. I hear that some libraries (I can’t remember where I heard this) will allow you to “borrow” a downloadable version of a book onto your ipad/kindle for a few weeks.

Also it’s a good idea to interact with us here on boards.

Keep up the good work!

amacachi

hooplah wrote: »

how do you decide what you want to read? Reviews or reccomendations from other readers or?

Reviews but generally I prefer reading factual stuff so it often picks itself. :pac:

SandraManson

hooplah wrote: »

SandraManson wrote: »

I buy books on my Iphone/ or download them for free and read them on my Iphone anywhere.

you buy them on your iphone? wow, i've a HTC with a decent screen and have read some of the books that come with it for free but would just find the screen too restrictive.

How do you decide what to buy or download?

I read reviews on about the books, the majority of them are free to download, plus I can adjust the writing size and brightness to my own comfort level.

Monkeybonkers

First thing I do when I move to a new area is join the local library. Most of the books I read are chosen by browsing in the library. A valuable commodity in any community.

steve_r

Yes, as it really was my introduction to reading in the first place.

I find the online service ideal for finding books quickly, you can arrange to have them collected at your local library for a 50c fee, which is great value. This is really useful for books that are old and out of print, and are not carried by bookshops. However, it can sometimess take a while to get the actual book, which is why I still buy books online.

Without wishing to derail the thread, while writing this I've realised I only sem to go into bookshops when I can't get what I'm looking for online, or need a hard copy urgently. Looking at the thread, others don't seem to be encountering this, I'm hardly the only one?

Toby Take a Bow

I've recently started to re-use my library, after many years of working and just buying books. Primarily because I was made redundant. Libraries are wonderful places, and even though my local is quite small, and one of the librarians there needs a course in dealing with members of the public, being able to get any book for free (or maybe for a 50c charge) is fairly amazing.

There also seems to be a sense of community in my local library, despite its small size (in terms of the building, collection and staff) with lots of interesting photos of the area and a nice looking kids' area. The ILAC library, despite being in a horrible shopping centre and being a fairly horrible looking library itself, is an AMAZING service with brilliant staff who really go out of their way to help you. And it always seems so busy. So much more than books there.

Travel is good

I agree about the ILAC library, it's a pity about the environment of the library itself. It's a shame that our Central Library in Dublin has such a dingy interior. Maybe someday it will be re-located/refurbished.

I agree about the library staff, they are all so helpful. I love it when they engage with you to recommend books. I just have one exception to this. There is a librarian in one of the libraries who I find very difficult to deal with, as he never wants to talk to the customers.

Overall though, I think the staff are doing a great job. I've said this before, no, I don't work in a library. I have just always loved them, from my younger days. I only rememebered yesterday how many classic books I read as a young teenager. I used to visit two different libraries each week.

The library has an even more important role in these straightened times.

Toby Take a Bow

Travel is good wrote: »

I agree about the ILAC library, it's a pity about the environment of the library itself. It's a shame that our Central Library in Dublin has such a dingy interior. Maybe someday it will be re-located/refurbished.

It was said that it was going to be relocated to where the Ambassador Theatre is (was?). This was during the 'boom' and it never happened. Doubt it'll happen for many, many years now.

Travel is good wrote: »

The library has an even more important role in these straightened times.

Which makes it all the worse that in these straightened times is when budgets for libraries are cut.

paddyandy

The Ilac used to have a problem with vents and i would'nt use it and others too ..proper Ventilation is no. 1 coming up to winter now.Great place the Ilac library and the staff ... they're so helpful.