Re: OT: Public libraries

We use our library mainly for the following:

(1) Conveniently, most of the libraries in our state are on the same
catalog system, so I can put holds on books from the university and
other places, and get them shipped for free to my library. I use this
and ILL to occasionally get technical books, like math or electronics,
which are usually not in my library collection. Books in our state
system can be checked out (with renewals) for up to three months, so
this saves me buying a lot of otherwise very expensive books.

(2) My wife checks out a lot of DVDs for the kids to watch, and
occasionally a movie for us. This is because we do not subscribe to any
streaming services.

(3) Each visit my wife will check out about 40 picture books for the
little kids to read. I can't tell you how many mind-numbing childrens
books I've read over the last few years, at bedtime.

(4) The local chess club and some chess competitions meet at the
library.

Personally, I refuse to use any DRM or JavaScript based Ebook services,
but my wife does occasionally. She reads a lot of paper fiction as well,
usually checked-out from the library.

There are a number of things I really don't like about libraries, but
since it is there that is what we use it for.

--
Christopher Howard