Re: OT: Public libraries

On 4/22/2025 11:38 AM, Christopher Howard wrote:

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.

This (ILL) is similar to my past usage.  But, the limit there has been
3 *weeks* for items outside the local (city) collections.  I have
assumed this is a condition imposed by the lending institution
and not MY library.  Perhaps some sort of "treaty agreement" that
they all observe?
Borrowing limits aren't usually an issue for me as I am usually looking
for a particular piece of information and not an entire "reference".
So, I can return it in a matter of days, once acquired.
[I've spent a shitload on books over the decades so usually have what I
need on hand; waiting for a copy to be located is often more time
consuming than purchasing new and writing it off as a business expense]

(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.

This represents my current usage.  As we tend not to "go to the movies",
it is how we end up seeing released films -- albeit considerably delayed
from theatrical releases.
However, more and more "recent" titles are offered only as streaming
products (even though the service is sponsored by the library, you
still need an internet connection to view the content.  Folks who
are using the library FOR internet access are thus screwed.

(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.

Ah, well...   <grin>  When they start *telling* you that you've
missed (SKIPPED!) a page...

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

Those sorts of "meeting room access" can be accommodated at other
city facilities.  There are some rules regarding whether or not
they must be "open to the public" (and not "private" groups).
E.g., SWMBO used to meet at the local park to *paint* with
friends.  No charge for the space (but you are expected to keep it
clean -- no paint drippings on furniture or floors).  These
spaces are better equipped than library space (e.g., a sink is
available, better quality power, natural lighting, etc.)
Many businesses also extend meeting space to groups in the
hope of picking up some additional business (e.g., serving lunch)

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.

I have a HUGE dead tree library that I have systematically been
scanning and converting to epubs and PDFs (novels for the former;
reference books for the latter).  That to rid myself of this
bulk while preserving content.  In doing so, I stumble on titles
(fiction) that tickle a memory and merit a re-read.  Many NEW
titles seem to be sold by the pound (compared to when a paperback
was ~$0.60)
I'd like to find a ~14" diagonal tablet ("letter sized") to
convert to an ereader for the PDFs as I have a shitload of technical
papers that are hard to process into flowable text (graphics,
tables, etc.)  But, for now, view them on a regular monitor.  As
this is likely where I will be consulting their content, it's
an acceptable tradeoff (easier than finding space on my desk for
a book!)

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.

But, what do you see in terms of investments, other traffic, trends,
etc.?  Are they making changes that increase their relevance?  Or,
destined for obsolescence as the services they offer prove to no
longer be uniquely provided by that sort of organization?
When I was a kid, our town library was a *house* that had been donated
to the town for that express purpose.  (The police station was another
such house; the post office was a coatroom in a third house, etc.)
There were *five* parking spaces (one being used by the librarian).  It
was reasonably small (the "reference" section was the space that had
been the home's living room -- complete with fireplace) but used
exclusively for research (you went there expecting to gather information
for a particular topic) or to check out fiction, etc.
The stacks were very tall (and narrow) and often the librarian had to
fetch your title with a rolling ladder -- first, checking the catalog
to see if the title would be ON the shelf vs. already checked out.
(remember when books had a card in a pocket in the rear that recorded
each rubber-stamped due date?)