Does anyone use their local public library? One of the things I did when I moved to Texas is get a library card for the city that I live in. Because of where I'm located, the public libraries of two neighboring cities are closer than the one for my city, but I was able to get a free library card because of reciprocating agreements.
The funny part is that I'm rarely checking out physical books from my library. However, digital services are another matter. All three libraries that I belong to subscribe to Kanopy, Hoopla, and Overdrive/Libby which are digital services that offer ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming videos.
Anyways, what is your opinion of your public library?
On occasion. I have active library cards that I typically use for online services like Overdrive, which are really convenient.
Just used mine today for the first time in forever.
However, it was to drop off used eyeglasses in the Lions donation bin.
We bring my 3-year-old there all the time.
No, but I visited the Caltrans library last year. I also took a periodical donation a couple years ago from a BART director which was intended for the Oakland Public Library.
We're at our library branch about once a month - my son gets 2-3 books, my wife usually gets one, and I'll occasionally get one, but more often will browse their local collections. However, I just registered with their e-book service and have started to read on my iPad.
When I was in SoCal, I was at the Long Beach Main branch at least once every other week (it helped that it was directly across from where I lived). They had a lot of good stuff on local roads, particularly the Long Beach Freeway (CA-7/I-710) and the cancelled Crosstown Freeway (would have been CA -1). I also had a card at the Glendale library (the Brand Arts Library had some great collections, particularly for music).
Even earlier, it was at the Santa Barbara library that I found a copy of the 1920 California Highways book (https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa00blowrich/page/n21/mode/2up). This was right at the dawn of the web, so not much was available online, and this felt like quite a find for a young roadgeek.
Of course. Some library programs are funded by states based on use, so even it's important to use your library for whatever you see fit.
My home system has reciprocal agreements with neighboring areas that opens up a lot of other systems and their resources. I can get free access to newspaper archives, databases, and research assistance from various libraries, which I use a lot in my writing.
I use their online resources.
Yes. Physical books, e-books, audio, online news archives. Interlibrary loan, in the old days (now the remote library usually prefers to just scan things for you, if it's a few images).
I also used to carve out a full afternoon at the CT state library when I visited CT.
I've also helped with summer reading programs and other events (example: ESL students write short stories, usually autobiographical, that are collected and published).
Libraries are one of the remaining "third places" in the US where people and families can hang out, read, study, etc. and are not expected to spend money.
From my childhood, I've been known to haunt the local library mainly to read about potential travel destinations across the U.S. and Canada.
I used to go there about once a week before COVID-19 hit, but now it's more like once a month. It can be a little more often than that if for some reason, I have to print something out. I got to meet my now-former state senator at the local public library, FWIW.
I used to use mine as a kid when I actually read books. Now it's just to print things because I currently don't have my own printer access.
I do game night at one of the nearby public libraries, although not the closest nor the one corresponding to the municipality I live in.
We used to go regularly. Then they closed (most of) the free parking lot at our city's library, so we started going to one of the two cities next to ours (we have reciprocity). But during Covid we got used to using our Kindles, so we seldom go any more. My wife did check out a book from inter-library loan recently, to see if it was worthwhile for her to buy it.
Pre-COVID, I used the public library to print anything I needed printed. Once COVID hit, I just bought a printer and haven't been back since.
I'm at mine quite frequently, to the point that they know where to get the books I requested right when I come in.
Yes, I've stuck with books. Even though I have a Kindle, I primarily use it for music.
Quote from: elsmere241 on March 04, 2025, 01:13:18 PMI'm at mine quite frequently, to the point that they know where to get the books I requested right when I come in.
Yes, I've stuck with books. Even though I have a Kindle, I primarily use it for music.
Genuine question. What does a Kindle do for music that a phone doesn't?
Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 04, 2025, 01:44:59 PMGenuine question. What does a Kindle do for music that a phone doesn't?
For one, it's larger and easier to handle. Actually, I started putting music on it long before I had a smartphone, and I've kept that up, in part, because I don't want to take up the phone's memory if I don't have to.
Quote from: elsmere241 on March 04, 2025, 02:08:37 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on March 04, 2025, 01:44:59 PMGenuine question. What does a Kindle do for music that a phone doesn't?
For one, it's larger and easier to handle. Actually, I started putting music on it long before I had a smartphone, and I've kept that up, in part, because I don't want to take up the phone's memory if I don't have to.
Fair enough!
Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 04, 2025, 01:44:59 PMQuote from: elsmere241 on March 04, 2025, 01:13:18 PMI'm at mine quite frequently, to the point that they know where to get the books I requested right when I come in.
Yes, I've stuck with books. Even though I have a Kindle, I primarily use it for music.
Genuine question. What does a Kindle do for music that a phone doesn't?
The Kindle doesn't ring and interrupt the music when you get a phone call.
This is precisely why I like to keep my audio listening devices separate from my phone. If only there was a way to turn off your phone but keep your data service handy for streaming audio...
I listen to podcasts on an old iPhone 6s that's had its SIM removed. I download them via wifi and play them in the vehicle.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 04, 2025, 05:21:22 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on March 04, 2025, 01:44:59 PMQuote from: elsmere241 on March 04, 2025, 01:13:18 PMI'm at mine quite frequently, to the point that they know where to get the books I requested right when I come in.
Yes, I've stuck with books. Even though I have a Kindle, I primarily use it for music.
Genuine question. What does a Kindle do for music that a phone doesn't?
The Kindle doesn't ring and interrupt the music when you get a phone call.
This is precisely why I like to keep my audio listening devices separate from my phone. If only there was a way to turn off your phone but keep your data service handy for streaming audio...
I listen to podcasts on an old iPhone 6s that's had its SIM removed. I download them via wifi and play them in the vehicle.
Also fair enough point. I guess I only average maybe one phone call a day, so not too much of a deterrent for me.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 04, 2025, 05:21:22 PMThis is precisely why I like to keep my audio listening devices separate from my phone. If only there was a way to turn off your phone but keep your data service handy for streaming audio...
There should be a 'do not disturb' setting on your phone? I use that all the time to turn off calls/texts/notifications while still streaming/browsing. You can also specify certain contacts who will ring through anyway (emergency contacts, etc.).
Quote from: DTComposer on March 04, 2025, 07:48:00 PMYou can also specify certain contacts who will ring through anyway (emergency contacts, etc.).
This depends on your phone. Some are 'all or nothing', others allow you to specify certain contacts. (I only know this because of my wife.)
We use both the city and county libraries, which have a mutual use program for residents of one or the other.
I have the ringer silencer on the side of my phone (it's an iPhone) but I'm not sure if that would stop an incoming call from interrupting audio or not.
But to answer the original question, I use the local library and I have a card from the state Division of Libraries & Archives.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 05, 2025, 03:22:35 PMI have the ringer silencer on the side of my phone (it's an iPhone) but I'm not sure if that would stop an incoming call from interrupting audio or not.
That's an interesting question: does 'Do not disturb' or whatever allow your music to keep playing when a call comes in, or does it stop the music but not ring either?
You know there's an easy way to find out. Just play music and have your wife call you.
Quote from: kphoger on March 05, 2025, 04:10:26 PMQuote from: hbelkins on March 05, 2025, 03:22:35 PMI have the ringer silencer on the side of my phone (it's an iPhone) but I'm not sure if that would stop an incoming call from interrupting audio or not.
That's an interesting question: does 'Do not disturb' or whatever allow your music to keep playing when a call comes in, or does it stop the music but not ring either?
You know there's an easy way to find out. Just play music and have your wife call you.
Yes, basically turns the iPhone into an iPod. Music and/or streaming and/or browsing are not interrupted.
One thing I've done during my travels is to stop at various libraries with reciprocal agreements and pick up their card. I've got about a dozen cards from systems all over Washington, including most of this map:
(https://i.imgur.com/JKmsQsW.jpeg)
Once in a while, I'll use some of our local libraries. But every time I do, someone rips a big, loud fart.
I don't use libraries as much now, because the Internet takes care of most of my research and investigative journalism needs.
I used to work at my local library back when the Internet was first becoming popular. We still had the old card catalog with the file cards.
Also, I infamously tried using the NKU library in 1995, and I was arrested for "trespassing" because I was no longer a student there.
A few years later, I got away with using this library, but then someone falsely accused me of using their computers to make obscenity-filled Usenet posts. I debunked this claim repeatedly by showing I wasn't on campus at the time, but they stuck to their lies.
Anyone else remember these famous stories?
Quote from: bandit957 on March 06, 2025, 12:39:29 AMBut every time I do, someone rips a big, loud fart.
Is it you?
Hm. My alma mater welcomes alumni to use their libraries.
Quote from: Rothman on March 06, 2025, 08:44:53 AMHm. My alma mater welcomes alumni to use their libraries.
And I've never been challenged at university libraries I've used in the past few decades, as long as I pay for my copies. (Not that I've tried to check books out.)
Quote from: bandit957 on March 06, 2025, 12:48:32 AMAlso, I infamously tried using the NKU library in 1995, and I was arrested for "trespassing" because I was no longer a student there.
Quote from: Rothman on March 06, 2025, 08:44:53 AMHm. My alma mater welcomes alumni to use their libraries.
Quote from: elsmere241 on March 06, 2025, 08:50:23 AMAnd I've never been challenged at university libraries I've used in the past few decades, as long as I pay for my copies. (Not that I've tried to check books out.)
Even more to the point, isn't NKU a public university? As such, my first thought is that the public has a legal right to be on campus. That's how I've always understood it to be. Maybe I'm wrong about that?
Quote from: kphoger on March 06, 2025, 10:32:20 AMEven more to the point, isn't NKU a public university?
It is indeed.
I think the problem was that there was an incident on campus in early 1995 in which someone showed up and threatened a bunch of people. He didn't fit my description at all, but the university tried pinning it on me. It took until 2019 for me to prove I had nothing to do with it.
The school scapegoated me because there was a prior incident in which I was kicked off the radio station because I got in an altercation with a star basketball player. The school sided with him because he was a star player. But later, someone told me he got in trouble for rape, and the school covered it up.
Now he's doing time in prison after he was convicted in the biggest drug bust in the history of the state of Tennessee.
Quote from: bandit957 on March 06, 2025, 10:47:33 AMI think the problem was that there was an incident on campus in early 1995 in which someone showed up and threatened a bunch of people. He didn't fit my description at all, but the university tried pinning it on me. It took until 2019 for me to prove I had nothing to do with it.
Aha! And even if they weren't trying to pin it on you, security still would have been skittish and over-eager.
I was once hitchhiking to a date with my then-fiancée (now-wife). While I was standing on the sidewalk outside the campus library at College of DuPage with a sign that said "Naperville", campus security drove up behind me, parked, approached, searched my backpack, and told me to leave campus. After they were done, a lady who had watched the whole thing offered to give me a ride to Naperville. (My fiancée and I had a nice date, thank you.)
Anyway, I was a student at COD at the time. A few days later, I walked up to the campus security office and asked them to show me what campus code or ordinance I had violated. They told me to contact the student services department or something like that. So I did, and they told me I hadn't violated any code or ordinance, that they had been hearing an increasing number of complaints about campus security harassing students, and that they would look into the matter.
Quote from: DTComposer on March 05, 2025, 05:43:35 PMQuote from: kphoger on March 05, 2025, 04:10:26 PMQuote from: hbelkins on March 05, 2025, 03:22:35 PMI have the ringer silencer on the side of my phone (it's an iPhone) but I'm not sure if that would stop an incoming call from interrupting audio or not.
That's an interesting question: does 'Do not disturb' or whatever allow your music to keep playing when a call comes in, or does it stop the music but not ring either?
You know there's an easy way to find out. Just play music and have your wife call you.
Yes, basically turns the iPhone into an iPod. Music and/or streaming and/or browsing are not interrupted.
Tried this at work. Played a YouTube music video and called my cell from my desk. The phone call interrupted the music.
Some libraries had soundproof booths. One cool thing people used to do was stand just outside the booth and yell really loud just to see if they really were soundproof.
Quote from: kphoger on March 06, 2025, 10:32:20 AMQuote from: bandit957 on March 06, 2025, 12:48:32 AMAlso, I infamously tried using the NKU library in 1995, and I was arrested for "trespassing" because I was no longer a student there.
Quote from: Rothman on March 06, 2025, 08:44:53 AMHm. My alma mater welcomes alumni to use their libraries.
Quote from: elsmere241 on March 06, 2025, 08:50:23 AMAnd I've never been challenged at university libraries I've used in the past few decades, as long as I pay for my copies. (Not that I've tried to check books out.)
Even more to the point, isn't NKU a public university? As such, my first thought is that the public has a legal right to be on campus. That's how I've always understood it to be. Maybe I'm wrong about that?
The general public generally has a right to be on campus, as long as they follow campus rules such as no smoking, etc. But they do not have a right to access buildings. However, most colleges and universities will allow access to facilities like a library, bookstore, student union, etc. (There could be state-specific rules that I am not aware of.)
For the University of Washington at least, the main libraries are open to the public but certain amenities (such as PC access, Wi-Fi, certain collections) are restricted. Most on-campus buildings are also locked for obvious reasons, but the grounds are a major tourist attraction and thus always open to the public.
The Stanford library allows the public to visit ("for research purposes"), but they need to register with ID, and they're limited to seven days per year.
The San Jose State library shares their space with the main branch of the San Jose Public Library, so it is open to all, although students have extended hours.
Yes.
For whatever reason it looks like my local library has a lot of money. Every title I have suggested to them to add to their collection (except for college textbooks) they were able to acquire! Even super obscure titles like the personal bible of Turkmenistan's former president!
When I was growing up, I used the public libraries in our area (including the many Fairfax County libraries as well as the ones in the City of Falls Church and Arlington County) all the time. Not just to check out books to read, either. In high school I was at the main branch in Fairfax City all the time to work on school assignments. When I was a little kid, we often went to children's events at some of the branches. My mother was really good at finding either free or inexpensive things for kids that often had an educational component (not necessarily apparent to us as kids), and a lot of the time there were library programs of that sort. I guess she's still good at that now because she regularly attends things like lectures at the National Gallery of Art or other museums, and some of the ones she attends are at one of the Fairfax public libraries. ("Libraries"—the county system has 22 branches.)
Nowadays, the only thing for which I've visited the library in recent memory is to use the drop box for our car tax payments each October in lieu of mailing the envelope. I view the drop box as more reliable. I tend to read fairly long books, 600+ pages, and I don't want to limit myself to the checkout period to try to finish something. More importantly, I also prefer reading on my Kindle and a lot of the books I read these days are not available through the system the library uses for Kindle patrons.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 05, 2025, 03:22:35 PMI have the ringer silencer on the side of my phone (it's an iPhone) but I'm not sure if that would stop an incoming call from interrupting audio or not.
....
One important caveat about the "silent switch" on an iPhone: If you use the "VIP" feature to designate certain priority contacts, and if you have it set to allow VIPs to ring through if your phone is in "Do Not Disturb," the ringer will still sound if one of those people calls you, even if you have the silent switch enabled. I found this out the hard way once when my wife called me at work and my phone started blasting the Guns N Roses song I have set as her ringtone. Recently I wondered if that would still happen, so I tested it the other day by enabling the silent switch and calling myself from our home phone—sure enough, the ringtone sounded. So if you use the "VIP" feature in the way I mention above, you have to turn the ringer all the way down using the volume buttons if you want to make sure it will not sound.
(Partly because of that issue, I enable airplane mode in certain circumstances—if I'm at Mass or at the movies or in a courtroom, where I don't want my phone making noise, or if I'm at the dentist or the barbershop, where I don't want my phone startling me in a way that might cause me to move my head at the wrong time.)
I'm more of a computer guy than a book guy, so not really. I do sometimes use my Boston Library membership to get e books.