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I'm late! I'm late!!!
I'm having A WEEK so I'm falling behind on all the things right now but let me catch up with this weeks question while I have a minute.
Question: It's Library Card Month! Libraries - Do you use yours?
I do but I'm fairly new to the library. I used it as a kid and as a high school student - ahhh the good ole days of searching through draws of index cards and microfiche lol
But I was not a big reader as an adult until I started blogging (I didn't even start the blog to talk about books). As my reading picked up I tried going to the library instead of buying every book but I admit to being a bit of a snob. I don't like used books. Or dirty books. I once read an erotica author talk about her readers trying out some stuff in bed while reading the library book. NOPE. So stopped that.
Then years later, e-books became a thing and I got myself a library card (this was when I still lived in FL) and started browsing the catalogue and was disappointed. We had a horrible app and I lived in a district that banned books (Harry Potter is witch craft & local politicians approve the books) and had very little variety in YA - like no LGBQT and next to no romance other than the NYT best sellers. So I almost let my card expire when Kevin discovered that I could get a card in the next (much larger, college town) county over and they had Libby! I used my card much more then but I was still getting more review books so still not too frequent.
About 2 years ago, we moved to WA, and I got a library card for here. It's a small county but we have a pretty decent selection in all genres AND we have both Libby AND Hoopla. That's been a game changer for me.
I pretty much stopped accepting ARC's and I don't go to book conferences anymore so I would say close to 90% of my reading is from the library these days. The other 10 a combination of arc's, Kindle Unlimited and purchases.
My little town library just had a mural done on the side of the building that focuses on reading, the PNW and local landmarks - and here it is...
I also want to check out some of the other libraries in nearby, larger cities. While I can't get a card, many of them have beautiful art displays. Mine even has a seed exchange program so that's fun too.
And did you know that you can get a library card for the Brooklyn Public Library - even if you don't live there? It does cost $50 per year but if it you read a lot and have a dud library like I used to have, then it might be worth it.
Do you use your library? What are your favorite library apps/library programs?
HAPPY LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH!!! I was just looking at a neighboring library to see how much their library cards go for - $350!!
ReplyDeleteOurs are $35 if you don't live here and I think that's crazy. We're just a small county. Not a bad selection but not to pay for.
DeleteI love my library and there are so many resources available for the local public, unfortunately most ppl don't take advantage of it. I get access to so many free books and it supports authors too.
ReplyDeleteI had mostly just donated books but libby and hoopla changed everything.
DeleteI don't use mine which is sad. We have a brand new beautiful library and I've only been there a handful of times.
ReplyDeleteYeah some books from the library are nasty. I don't mean to be a book snob ha but I like buying new.
I've only gone to mine once to get my card.
DeleteYou should check yours though.
If they have libby or Hoopla - they both have a great comic/graphic novel selection. Especially hoopla.
Ooh good to know!
DeleteThat's good to know about the Brooklyn library. I'm lucky to have really good public libraries around me. I used to get books from the library all the time. I don't as much these days, because I have so many I own that I want to get through. However, I still visit and get some here and there because I love it!
ReplyDeleteLauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
See I'm the opposite now. I have my physical TBR pile that I'm working through but I think I'm at around 50-60. That doesn't seem to bad to me.
DeleteSo when I want a new book it's the library I go to. It's mostly because of the apps though. I don't think I would go for physical books though.
Our library's ebook and online audiobook inventory is pretty shoddy unless one likes Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, or historical biographies, ha ha, so I use Overdrive/Libby seldomly. I love Hoopla though! Physically getting to my library is usually too difficult for me, so I'm glad I have those online options. 😊
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like my Florida library. Their romance section was basically still Jackie Collins and Danielle Steele & very limited, curated YA.
DeleteLike you, my library use was sporadic until they had Overdrive which I enjoy using.
ReplyDeleteIt makes life so easy!! lol
DeleteI'm glad you've started to make use of your library! I love my little library, even though I am in a small town it does have a great selection. Librarians are so full of knowledge and I appreciate all that they do for the community.
ReplyDeleteI'm in a much smaller town now then before - yet my selection is SO much better!
DeleteOurs has been closed to visitors for over a year but I used to walk around outside because they have a pretty rose garden and nice places to sit.
I admit I do like to own my books. But I do use my library often, especially for audiobooks. Overdrive and Hoopla are so great for that. Right now I actually have a physical copy of Jay's Gay Agenda from the library but only because they didn't offer it as an ebook. Pretty cool about the Brooklyn library. That's a great option for someone who doesn't have access to a good library system.
ReplyDeleteI like to hold my books and own them too but my slump made it ridiculous to keep buying books and not love them or take years to read. Also moving and getting rid of 100's of books hurt lol
DeleteI try to stick with only buying what I think I'll love but the library has been SO much easier for me.
I don't use the physical library, but I am all about the eLibrary. I have access to Hoopla as well as my libraries eBooks like you, and that's my #1 source of audiobooks. I get lucky with new releases too. I love the mural. My library did this neat knitting thing where they yarn-bombed outside the library. It looks awesome
ReplyDeleteHow fun!! The pic is of my tiny local library downtown - about 5 minutes from my house.
DeleteThe slightly larger one is two towns over but does lots of fun things too.
What a cute library! I have similar issues as you with the catalogue at my library. It's frustrating. Right now, the majority of my books are ARCs, and the library has a pretty robust YA catalogue for my girl, so I'm okay... for now.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been in this one yet because of covid. My card is for the library I was renting from and that one is cute too. They have a rose garden to read in.
DeleteI didn't use mine when I took on more arc's. There's no time! Lol
That's great that your daughter has a lot to choose from though.
Back when I had a car I would visit the close libraries but I haven't been in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI do love the e book, audio option. I'm not sure if use it if I had to go there lol
DeleteWow, I do like that art:D
ReplyDeleteIt's brand new. I've been watching them paint it for the last month.
DeleteI love the library in my area, and I can use a lot of surrounding libraries for free. Sorry to hear about the horrible selection at the old library you went to, though. Sounds like a very sad state of things, to be sure!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It's sad for teens trying to find people in books that look like them. And it's just creepy.
DeleteI have two different cards for two library systems (lucky me!) but I request a lot of books and then can't remember which library card I should use to download them.
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me when I first moved here. My FL card was still good for a year so they overlapped lol
Delete