When did you last visit your local library?

[MineralMan]

Libraries are in serious danger everywhere. One of the arguments against them is that they are no longer relevant and that few people use them. I realize that most of us get our information from other sources these days, and many of us don't actually read a lot of paper books these days, but library usage records are huge when it comes to seeking continued funding from local government.

There is great pressure to shut down our libraries. So, if you haven't been to the one in your community lately, go there. If you don't have a library card, get one. Check out a book you've heard about. Use the library's online resources - most have access to databases and sources that you'd have to pay for to use. The library pays, so you don't have to. If you have kids, take them to the library and leave with a stack of books.

Use your local library or you'll find it shut down the next time you want to use it.

[exboyfil]

1. Ours gets lots of traffic

I also see lots of kids in our neighboring city's library which has a more diverse demographic. I think they are doing a good job supplementing the public schools.

The internet has definitely changed things though. We have several online services available from the library where we can get books, audiobooks, movies, magazines, and music.

[MineralMan]

8. Excellent!

[nancy1942]

2. Last week, actually.

I go regularly. I prefer holding an an actual book in my hand over my kindle anytime. I don't want to curl up with a computer.

[MineralMan]

10. I'm very glad to hear it.

[treestar]

3. A lot

I don't buy books unless the library doesn't have them.

We can order online and they will get you a book from any branch in the system and get it to your branch.

[Gabi Hayes]

7. Same here. If you have interlibrary loan

You can get almost anything from across the country

I use this all the time for the most obscure stuff imaginable

You can still get videotape!

[Gabi Hayes]

11. By far the best use of my tax dollar

Over $150 per yr, itemized on bill

[Raven]

4. Yesterday...I'm a Trustee. Going there is

like meditating. It's a wonderful refuge.

[thucythucy]

5. I go pretty much every week

for books and DVDS I want to read or watch but don't want to buy.

Of course, it's easy for me, I live in a fair sized city and the nearest library is practically around the corner. It's smallish, but is part of a consortium so I can get pretty much anything I want. All it takes is a little patience.

Eliminating public libraries will be like eliminating public payphones. Now, just to survive, you have to pay into some mobile phone plan which is more or less designed to tap your wallet. Once all the libraries are gone, watch for all the "free" stuff available on-line to suddenly become much more expensive. It's all a part of the ongoing destruction of the commons.

[MineralMan]

6. You're exactly right.

Thanks to you, and the others in this thread who understand and who actually use their library resources!

[rainbow4321]

9. 3 times in 4 weeks

Got a library card. Needed to do work related stuff that had to be done on a desktop computer instead of my laptop. It was a pretty busy place considering it was middle of the day...in the computer section, the study rooms, and the book area.

[MineralMan]

12. Terrific!

[Shrike47]

13. A couple of times a week. I have also volunteered for Friends of the Library.

Our library gets lots of use. Positively crowded some days.

[MineralMan]

14. A Library's Hidden Benefits - 1. Meeting Rooms

Need a place for a meeting? Reserve a meeting room at your local library. It's free, in almost all cases. As long as you're not scheduling a rock band for your meeting, just about any group can hold meetings in the library.

[csziggy]

20. YES! Our loibrary system has meeting rooms in the main library and every branch

The branch meeting rooms are booked for no more than three months in advance and it can be hard to line one up, especially on Saturdays. Nearly every Saturday they have children reading groups, followed by LEGO team work, and if there is a time in between some community group is meeting there.

Some of the meetings of the local Democratic club are held at library meeting rooms - which is great because one of the requirements is that meetings must be open to the public. When possible the library system puts information on their calendar so that people will know what meetings are being held.

I am most active in a needlework group. Two or three times a year we have a stitch in public event. The national organization, the Embroiderers' Guild of America, has an official Stitch in Public Day in February, but our chapter meets that month and also once or twice over the summer to stitch at one of the library branches. Rather than use a meeting room, we select a table along the traffic flow so that people can see what we are doing and feel encouraged to stop and ask questions. A number of the members of our embroidery chapter are librarians so it is natural that we would gravitate to libraries for our events.

Another way to encourage library attendance is if they have display areas. Right now our needlework group has a display at one of the local branches. We try to do a display at least once a year and rotate among the different branches and the main library. We have been told by the librarians that they get a lot of interest and comments when our displays are up, no matter which library has hosted them. Sometimes our display is at the branch where we are meeting - August 12 we will be meeting at the branch where our display has been up since July 1 and where it will be until the end of August.

[Generic Brad]

15. Does accessing it on line count?

I check out e versions of books regularly. I use my library virtually, not physically.

[Not Ruth]

23. Exactly

[Gabi Hayes]

16. Libraries fight for freedom!

'Not Sitting Quietly Anymore': How Librarians Are Fighting Trump


https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/43gvwm/not-sitting-quietly-anymore-how-librarians-are-fighting-trump

But wait, there's more:

https://www.google.com/search?q=librarians+fight+for+freedom&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHsPuR0J_VAhWG6oMKHTpgAbAQ_AUICCgA&biw=320&bih=460&dpr=2

[DURHAM D]

17. Friday the 21st of July.

[frazzled]

18. Funny you should ask

Throughout the years our kids were at home, and until they hit high school, we used to go every week. Of course, the local library was only four or five blocks away, and had a nice children's section. It was something to do in the neighborhood, and a nice excursion. And a way to expand the reading in addition to the books we had for them at home. I'd get out books sometimes for myself. (I used to have to use specialized libraries—universities or museums—constantly for my work (and still do sometimes), but that's a different matter; today I can often find things on the Internet, yet still sometimes need to consult an actual volume.)

I read a lot, but almost always buy my books—in bookstores, not online. Where we live now, I'd have to get on a train to get to the main library downtown, because it's the only one near me. And that's a good 20-30 minutes spent going each way.

But just this week I said aloud to the spouse that we ought to start going to the library. The impetus was having our three-year-old granddaughter with us for several days. She has an extensive collection of books at home, but we have only five or six that we keep at our house when she comes over. And she wants us to read to her all the time. I'm getting sick of re-reading Make Way for Ducklings and Madeleine and Owl at Home, over and over and over again! Yet while we buy her books that she keeps at her home, I don't want to keep buying kids' books to have here at my house. The library's the answer. So we'll probably start going again, after a long hiatus.

For me, though, it's a kid's thing. I still will probably buy most of my books. Stupid, I know, but my reading habits are often odd. I have read through 11 or so of the Rougon-Macquart novels by Zola over the past couple years. I only read the Oxford World's Classics translations (which the library might not consistently have). And I sometimes want to go back to previous ones to check who some character was that appears in another. I'm not running back to the library for that.

[Princess Turandot]

19. I'm reading a book at this moment borrowed from the eNYPL...

I was last in the physical library about six months ago; we need to renew our library card every 3 years. I did so at the same branch where I got my first library card quite a few decades ago.

The New York Public Library over time has made various digitized holdings and collections as well as databases available outside of the library; it also provides free access to a variety of commercial databases. It also has ~125,000 ebooks (as of right now) available through its main portal, overdrive.com.

While it receives part of its funding from NYC, the NYPL is a private non-profit organization which provides the rest.

[Igel]

21. Years, for the public library.

Used to regularly go to a college library when I had access.

Work in a high school, I have access as a teacher to the electronic databases.

I find that the public library is an entertainment center these days. The books are mostly fiction and there are a lot of activities to be "relevant". Meetings of various sorts, after-school programs. Can't read there.

Interlibrary loan at the public library is fine for some things. The last half-dozen works I've wanted to interlibrary loan had large fees attached to them because they were held at may 3-4 university libraries in the US and no public libraries--with the fee payable up front and no guarantee that they'd get the work. Again, university ILL is great. Public library ILL is usually for fiction or pop-science, preferably held in the local library system or, if necessary, in the other public library systems in the state.

[ghostsinthemachine]

22. January.

Shame, but my cancer didn't allow me to get out much. I do have five library cards though.

[cwydro]

24. I love my local library.

Crap, just realized my audio book is overdue.

[old guy]

25. Yesterday.

[DesertRat]

26. Yesterday

I visit at least once a week. I also use their online services to check out audio books.

[spicysista]

27. Regularly

My kids and I just love our local library. It's an awesome community resource that's safe and actually fun. We usually visit every other Saturday.

[lucca18]

28. Last Thursday. I love going to our library.

We are planning a trip to Prague, and need related books for our trip.
It is also a beautiful library, as it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright!

[guillaumeb]

29. We are going today for our monthly game day.

When we were homeschooling our children, they were at the Library weekly and took out hundreds of books every year. Our town of 60,000 has a very large Library that is well patronized.

Recommended.

[japple]

30. I go at least weekly. I am also on the board of directors of Friends of the Library.

Our small, regional library receives an enormous amount of foot traffic. Most people are there to use the computers, but there are also a lot of programs for people of all ages. We have a weekly children's program, and a therapy dog (Carl the golden retriever) that comes twice a week so children can read to him. We have computer classes, ESL classes, crafting classes. Every other Saturday is Family Lego Day. This year, we have also participated in the summer feeding program for at-risk school age children. Teens and adults make tie blankets/throws for children who are in foster care or for residents of nursing homes. I am happy to say that it is one of the busiest places in town!

[MineralMan]

37. Bravo!

I volunteered at my local library in California for 15 years, one afternoon a week. When I moved, I discovered that I had over 2000 hours of volunteer time on the books. It was rewarding and often fun. I never even noticed the time.

[Zoonart]

31. This past Friday, MM.

LOVE the Library.

[Paka]

32. Amen!

I love libraries and I get very distressed when I hear people make the claim they are irrelevant. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Thank you for this great plug.

[nilesobek]

33. It has been years.

However, our local library is an excellent resource. After I broke my leg I spent nearly 5 years jushardbaharbooks into my truck and limping back to my campsite. That's how I began to love classic Russian literature.

One alarming thing is happening these days at the library: the Head Librarian is a censor with a heavy hand and she has butchered a beautiful collection in order to satisfy her psychotic psuedo morality.

[Ligyron]

34. Darn, that reminds me I have an overdue book!

[KT2000]

35. Our is expanding

small town with a very busy library that is bursting at the seams. Saturdays are usually very busy with parents taking their kids to the library. If anyone tries to close it - there will be resistance - big time!

[MineralMan]

43. That's excellent!

[ananda]

36. Two weeks ago.

I'm reading The Miniaturist.

Great book, btw!

PBS is going to show it as a miniseries,
so I wanted to read it first.

[MineralMan]

38. That is a good book!

[Tracer]

39. Our library is very busy!!

Just a few years ago, the town had to add a large addition (for the third time). I'm there every Saturday to pick up my weekly reading.

There's a big children's section, a teens section, computers all over, a new books section, magazines, DVDs, comfy chairs --- I love it. And obviously, a lot of other people in my town do too!

[planetc]

40. Physically, Thursday 7/20. Online, yesterday.

Our local library is nicely organized. The many and lively efforts to rope in children are confined to the children's room, to one side of the checkout desk, and the computers are on the opposite side, being clicked quietly. There is a reading room for young adults, and regular programs for teens and adults. You can read local job opening notices on paper and apply online in the next room at our library, you can pick up tax forms every spring, you can find large type books, and pick up books on inter-library loan after they've been delivered. Of course in this climate I love being able to find a book at 20 or more regional libraries. I have used libraries all my life, starting in about 1949, I think. Not only was my mother a teacher, but she was raised on a farm during the depression, so she valued the wealth of books, and also the quiet time for herself when her three active children had their noses buried in one. I am sitting in a room with about 20 linear feet of bookshelves, and that's maybe 40% of my available shelving. I only buy books I'm sure I want to reread. Without libraries, I would have been up literacy creek without a paddle. Support your local libraries, appreciate your hard working and creative librarians, and bring a non-library-using friend to the library. Of course! they have e-books! There IS no downside.

[Roy Rolling]

41. Need rebranding

"Library" is associated with books. Maybe a name like "Information Center" or "Public Archive" might broaden the facility's appeal.

[Phentex]

42. Two weeks ago. Ours is always busy.

You can tell from the parking lot. I always see people at nearly every computer as I walk past (the holds section is through that area). There are always people in chairs reading magazines. People in the children's area. It's always confusing to me when I hear people say libraries are obsolete or that tax money should go elsewhere. I, too, want to ask them "When is the last time you've been to one?"

I keep a list of books on a wish list and usually almost always have one on hold when I am finished with the last one.

[defacto7]

44. Yesterday, last Thursday....

I read last week "somewhere" that Millennials are more likly to use libraries than previous generations are using them now. Maybe there's hope.

[lapucelle]

45. At least once a week.

We pay high taxes, but have amazing and abundant libraries. They're vibrant and welcoming community centers in my neighborhood and the surrounding towns.

[MineralMan]

46. Excellent!

[lapucelle]

63. I have a friend who is a librarian at a private school.

The board of trustees (all corporate business people rather than educators) floated a plan to get rid of 65% of the books in order to make the library "more like a university library".

This library, mind you, abounds with dozens of pcs, macs, and specialized computer terminals and has multiple excellent databases available for student use. Who needs books?

Here's my university library. It has room for books, but alas, no Starbucks.

https://library.nyu.edu/locations/elmer-holmes-bobst-library/

[Stonepounder]

47. At about 1:30am this morning since I can log into my libraries 24x7.

And I actually visited two of the four libraries that I have cards for.

Between interlibrary loan and E-Books and other services, I would say that I 'visit' my libraries 3-4 times a week. Getting my library cards was one of the first things that I did when we retired and moved back to Kentucky from Kansas City.

I always check DU as one of the last things I do before turning out the lights at night and one of the first things I do in the morning. I saw a post about 'Democracy In Chains' and decided I wanted to read it. It is $16 on Amazon, wasn't at my nearest library, but was available an my library in the next county over. It is now on hold for me and they will email me as soon as it comes back in.

I would be lost without my libraries! (Not even mentioning Audible books, DVD movies, CD Music, research, etc.)

[mrs_p]

48. I go frequently and it is always busy

I'm in Portland, OR

[MineralMan]

49. That's great. It's not true everywhere, though.

In many places, libraries are in serious trouble.

[mrs_p]

55. Oh, I believe that

But, we have been lucky. Having a little one, we go to the library regularly and the last three cities we've live in have had great libraries. The two places before here were college towns with lots of kids.

[linuxman]

50. Years. Honestly, there's not any reason for me to.

[Ilsa]

51. Our libraries are well-funded, have great programs, including "Banned Books" week. nt

[Thirties Child]

52. Wednesday

[whathehell]

53. Awhile ago, and I keep reminding myself to go, as it would save me a lot of money, for one thing

but you're absolutely right about the continued need for them

[hibbing]

54. Couple times a week

I work a block away from the main library. I very rarely buy books. I like looking through cookbooks and books about whatever else I am currently interested in. I aldi get books to read of course.
Our system also provides many other services, storytelling for kids, free tax filing assistance, free computer classes and a myriad of other services and activities.


The system wants to build a new 50 million dollar main library, that's going to be a heavy lift to get that passed on the ballot.


Peace

[PoorMonger]

56. Going Today

I go twice a week on average because I am nothing if not a compulsive and constant reader. (Check Hermetic's what are you reading threads to get a sampling) Our local library is very good and was renovated & expanded three summers ago. In my opinion it was the best use of local tax dollars I've ever seen.

It's usually pretty busy - although I will say that our library also lends movies abd tv show dvds and lots of people only seem to go for that reason. Still I am very lucky for a relatively small town Nebraskan.

[LeftishBrit]

57. It's closed right now for refurbishment; but I go every couple of weeks when it's open

Although there is not much danger of this particular (quite central) library closing long-term, there have been lots of threats to other libraries in the county, which would indirectly affect the services offered by my local one, as demand would increase, and staffing and stock wouldn't. Due to much public objection, and also because the exceptionally awful former leader of the County Council finally stepped down, these threats have receded for the moment; but with all the cuts in central goverment funding to local governments, it is a long-term worry.

Agree about the importance of public libraries!

[mgardener]

58. You local hospital may have a library that needs support too!

Your local hospital may also have a medical library that supports the hospital staff and local community.
They are in danger too.
I know that every hospital does not have a library, but a lot do.
They can provide up to date medical information for you about any medical conditions you have.
They are a great resource.
I volunteer in one and know the great things they do!

[Doug the Dem]

59. Different Question

Why do we sound the "br" in Library but not February?

[MineralMan]

61. I pronounce the "r" in February.

[Doug the Dem]

65. So do I

I've always been slightly annoyed with everyone who says "Febyooary."

[MineralMan]

67. Oh, well. It's not something I particularly care about,

and it's really a regional or lazy-tongue thing, anyhow.

But I do pronounce it. Some people do and some don't. You know what does bother me, though? It's every last freaking news person who says "presenitedstates" when they mean "president of the United States." Now that bugs the heck out of me. I'm very, very tired of that multiple elision pronunciation.

[raccoon]

60. Friday I attended a workshop on "Identify Theft for Seniors."

It was presented by the assistant DA.

I go to mine lots. The local library system has lots of workshops for children, teens, and adults. Yours probably does too.

[freddyvh]

62. I live in a town of 300

We just have one of those tiny book depositories in a tiny case on a post. Maybe 50 paperbacks in there. Most are romance novels.

The nearest "real" library to me is 20ish miles.
I go there once a week to read a couple Sunday papers from around the nation.

There is a vote in that town to sell 25 million in bonds to build a new library. It is getting nasty.....letters to the editor on both sides (of course the NO votes are the ones getting nasty, calling into question the personal backgrounds of the people supporting the vote).

The current building is small. They had to buy a storage site for close to half their books. So if the book you want isn't on hand, it takes 3 or 4 days for someone to go get it from the "vault".

I love libraries

[onethatcares]

64. monday, a week ago

great main branch here in sunny west central florida

[alfredo]

66. Yesterday. The parking lot is always full at our branch. Ours has a great jazz collection.

Not near enough opera.

[Lucca2]

68. Ours is very busy

It's a big part of the community and people of all ages use it; even tourists come in frequently. It's a treasure!

[MountCleaners]

69. I just went yesterday

I currently have three big fat books checked out. Of course I live four blocks from the library, so I pop in once every week or two.

My library has a great magazine section, I certainly save money by reading them there.

[badhair77]

70. I volunteer in our library about 5 hours per week.

We have a tremendous volunteer program with about 70 volunteers. Many of them are retired teachers, nurses, and other professionals; some are in their 90s. They donate magazines also, which is a big help for our very tight budget. The people who are employed by the library do not make much money but do it as a labor of love. Very cold weather and very hot weather pull in some of our library members. We always worry when we're closed for bad weather, where do these people go? It's great to work with these people with such big hearts who serve so many children, educational classes, and even the lonely in our community.

[DinahMoeHum]

71. Yesterday morning. Returned a few, checked out a few.

It's closed in the pm on Saturday and all day Sunday during the summer.

I'm blessed to have a county library system that is worth every penny that goes into it and much more.

In the Hurricane Sandy aftermath, our libraries were virtually community centers where people could charge their computers (they had generators) and grouse about the lack of electricity in their neighborhoods.

[Runningdawg]

72. Sundays are our day

it opens in 30 minutes and we will be there. Its a weekly activity I have enjoyed with my husband for the past 33 years.

[worstexever]

73. It's been years, so long that I no longer know where my library card is

As an avid reader, I buy (and sell) used books at the Bookworm, a used bookshop with several outlets in town. I also find books at yard sales, rummage sale and other such purveyors of gewgaws. And, I have both Amazon Kindle and Google Play book apps on my tablet and download books as needed. We travel extensively and internationally and online books eliminate the need to haul a bunch of dead trees in my luggage.

[Iris]

102. You can checkout online books at most libraries now

[beveeheart]

74. Friday.

Go once or twice a week.

[Liberal In Texas]

75. My wife goes all the time.

And I get to benefit from her visits. She discovered that it's a lot cheaper to use the library than even used book stores. Plus we don't add to the already loaded up shelving with more books.

[no_hypocrisy]

76. Yesterday. I go every other day. Have had a card since age 4.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

77. Not for a long time since a card costs sixty dollars a year.

[MineralMan]

78. Hmm....they're still free where I live.

[raccoon]

79. Is that for the county you're living in, or out of county?

I know That in a. County here in my state used to be if you lived in the county you didn't have to pay for your card. But if you were out of county there was a fee.

[Chemisse]

82. Your public library costs money?!

That is unfortunate. In fact, I have never heard of that.

[obamanut2012]

104. Would like a link to that

Because, I doubt that is true.

[Nay]

80. Our county's libraries are incredibly busy. I go all the time, since I've been a big

reader since age five.

We can also download books; that service is used a whole lot. The library building has a large section with computers (about 20) and this area is always full.

Last year a new library opened because the existing libraries were so overrun with patrons. It's great here.

[Chemisse]

81. Yesterday!

Or rather, my husband picked up the book I ordered via interlibrary loan for me yesterday.

I go every couple of weeks for more books; I rarely buy them.

[crazycatlady]

83. In person? A few months ago

However, they have an ebook lending system that does not require me to leave the couch. I've checked out many books from there since my last physical visit.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

84. Yes i live out of county, very rural. There is one tiny library at the county seat 35 miles away.

It costs 10 dollars a year there as I don't live in the county seat. Not worth the 10 dollars.

[Hekate]

85. My husband goes at least once a week and brings home piles of books for both of us...

A number of years ago our community had to vote ourselves a special tax measure to keep our branch open. They struggle valiantly on -- like you, I hope they survive.

[eleny]

86. This past Friday

Our library here in Jefferson County, Colorado gets a lot of traffic. The parking lot is almost always jam packed.

I like to purchase non fiction but almost always borrow fiction and DVDs. I get lots of info from the web but am using the library very often. I always have.

We also have a delivery service for the disabled. I was a volunteer for that service. There's a great need for it out there.

[Awsi Dooger]

87. Last October to vote for Hillary

Here in Miami they use libraries for some of the early voting stations.

I was confident that day. I think it was a day or two before Comey intervened.

I have never read a digital book. I buy books on Amazon and keep them. I have a book set aside to read later today, called "Hunting a Psychopath" regarding the East Area Rapist. My bookshelf is filling but nope I don't do my part to support local libraries anymore. Maybe I can see if they have workshops or other events, something to get me out there.

[Xolodno]

88. Honestly....

...not since I was in my teens and really poor. I practically lived in them from seven years old until I went to college, then I used the library at the university.

After that, I could afford to buy a lot of the books I wanted.

Which reminds me, I have a shit load of books, I'm guessing I should donate them to the local library.

But libraries are indispensable places for the those who don't make a significant income. It's what gave me the extra edge in school and jump into a college.

[mantis49]

89. About 45 minutes ago.

n/t

[icymist]

90. Once or twice a week.

Two of what I put a hold on are in so I'll be visiting our library tomorrow. I use the library as a tool for finding employment, charging devices during inclement weather, borrowing books and DVDs, using the public wi-fi when it is down at my house, and even buying the books the library sells. I also see that a lot of our senior citizens utilize the library in reading the numerous magazines and newspapers it offers.

[peacebuzzard]

91. Every week.

I still read books. I prefer that method vs iPad, hard copies are easier on the eyes and easier to find where you left off.
But since I am a minimalist I prefer not to buy more books, I have most of my books in storage as it is.
The library is a great place for the community to browse current events, use a computer and printer, and have quiet time. I have a great time every time I go. Recently went into the main library in Manhattan, 5th Ave by Bryant Park and was amazed. Could not really do quiet work there however with all the tourists. But it is a must see as far as libraries are concerned!

[NNadir]

92. I live in walking distance of my closest library. It's a highly active place and I always have...

...4 or 5, sometimes more, books out. Books can be requested from any of the other branches, without looking, I'd say we have 9 or 10 branches in the system.

We have a county wide system with an Interlibrary loan system and I can pretty much get most published books, including some highly technical books, through this system, often from universities across the country. There's seldom a charge for this amazing system.

I also utilize extensively the Princeton University Library system - for which I pay for access privileges - and the Rutgers University system. One of my sons is a student there, and he uses it quite a bit and if I ask him, he'll sometimes take out a technical book to aid me.

Our library system is excellent, healthy, widely used and not under assault.

Of course it helps that our county is run by Democrats; we don't regard ignorance as a virtue, unlike those traitor assholes in Washington.

[MineralMan]

93. Thank you all for sharing your love

Of libraries!

[NobodyHere]

94. It's probably been at least 20 years since I've stepped into the local library

[BendigoJeff]

95. I'm at one now :p

responding to this thread. I usually come here to use their PCs rather than to loan books though, I must say.

[Lord_at_War]

96. Unfortunately...

My local library puts books third on it's list- They seem to emphasize internet access and lending out DVDs.

And, if they've bought a new book in the last ten years, I'll eat my hat.

[obamanut2012]

105. amd your whole post is wrong

and misinformed

[Amaryllis]

97. Several times a week. We can put 15 items on hold and I always have 15 becasue i have a list and as

soon as one comes in, I put another on hold. My city is one of the highest in the country for library use.

[raven mad]

98. I usually read 4 or 5 books a week.

If we didn't use our library? LOL! We couldn't eat, because there'd be no money for food.

I admit I can't eat a book - but I can't NOT read.

[alarimer]

99. Now this is an issue we ALL should get behind.

I love libraries, I always have. I despise the argument that, because you can use Google, libraries are redundant and useless. This is untrue. For instance, my local library has access to a variety of learning tools including Rosetta Stone. You can learn any language they have, online, for FREE. Those programs cost hundreds of dollars to buy. One of our branches has fishing poles and equipment for people to check out. Another one has 3-D printers and information on how to use them. They offer e-books, audiobooks and (less commonly these days) cds and dvds. My point is that libraries are about more than books. They are about learning and technology. Most importantly, they are a community resource that serves the local population in many different ways. They offer computer resources to people who lack them at home. Our libraries are "cooling centers" in summer for people (especially the elderly) who might need it.

Of course, library systems, as part of local governments, vary considerably in their resources. Some are well-supported, others not so much. I find that in places where people are allergic to taxes, libraries are suffering like everything else. Liberals know what our taxes support and libraries should be the easiest sell on earth, but often isn't because we can be short-sighted as well. I expect libraries to be a tough sell in red districts, but they can also be undercut in more liberal places in the name of austerity or belt-tightening.

[Number9Dream]

100. Last Thursday, 7/20. I take out books regularly.

Check out DU > Reading & Writing > Fiction > What are you reading this week?

[marylandblue]

101. We visit once every few weeks

My little girl loves to read and she always takes out a stack of books. I also sometimes get lectures on CD to listen to in the car. The library always seems to have a lot of people in it.

[leftyladyfrommo]

103. I go almost every day.

our libraries are really busy.

[haveahart]

106. last week

It was very busy with lots of students doing last minute summer assignments including my grands.

[Sorceress]

107. Wow, didn't realize there was an issue.

I go to the library every other week. A couple of years ago, I realized how much money I was spending on books and was trying to figure out how to save money on my habit. I had actually forgotten about the library, lol. Anyway, with the online access of my library system, everything is so easy. I can reserve whatever book I need, including upcoming releases. They have a pretty good amount of ebooks and the overall selection is top notch. It is rare that I can't get a copy of a book I want to read from my library. An unintended benefit is that I don't have to make room for books I've read in my home. These days, I only purchase books I've already read and love.