Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.
Today's topic: Love your library post
I’m actually rather new to the library system. I’ve had a card for forever but a few things have kept me away.
1) Back in the day I read a lot of PNR and sexy vampire books. I started to use the library because I was late to a lot of the current series and couldn’t afford to buy (or find the books in some cases) the backlog.
Then I read a few comments over at Laurel K Hamilton’s blog (or somewhere she posted) that readers were borrowing her books and reading them in bed…as a couple & used the…ahem… for inspiration…if you know what I mean. I got totally skeeved out wondering what could be on the books and never borrowed a book again. lol
2) I live in a let's ban Harry Potter kind of county so my selections are sometimes limited. Council members voted to override librarians when it comes to choosing books and they did in fact try to ban HP for witchcraft. I’m not sure if any of this has changed in recent years and it’s certainly not the library's fault but it turned me off and like I said – this also means most of what I like to read isn’t there.
(I should point out here that my local librarians are wonderful! They have always been super helpful and offer lots of great programs in addition to loaning books. It's the politicians that suck.)
I've been more of a book donator than borrower.
But…. a few things have changed recently!
1) e-books! Now I don’t have to touch germy books that may or may not have been used during sex acts.2) I just got a 2nd library card from the neighboring county and it’s a college town with a HUGE selection of books and they use the Overdrive/Libby app which is light years ahead of the RB Digital/Axis apps that they use at my local library. They are easier to use and have a better selection.
This year, I’ve checked out a few new YA hardcovers and have read a lot of magazines (using the RB Digital app) & I’m currently listening to Yes Please by Amy Poehler on audio. Audio books are my nemesis but I’m giving Libby a try to see if that (or different genres) changes things.
I’m still getting the hang of it and I currently have some ALA18 arc’s to work my way through before I have time to check out books but I hope to use my library even more in the future.
*I also want to thank (& recommend The Geeky Blogger for giving me the push I needed to finally renew my card. She is such an impassioned advocate for libraries - hosting #lovemylibrarycard and other events in support of libraries. I don't think I would have finally caved without her.
What do you love most about your local library? What do you use it most for?
Omg euwww euwwww! But yes, I once found a ...eh certain hair in a book and was all gross
ReplyDeleteSeeeeeeee THIS is my fear and IT HAPPENED! to you!!!!!
DeleteI used to but not so much anymore.
ReplyDeleteI will probably use it more next year as I finally make it through my physical TBR pile.
DeleteQuote: "Now I don’t have to touch germy books that may or may not have been used during sex acts."
ReplyDeleteHaha, that was something.
The HP ban is so stupid, there are no words for it. Witchcraft? seriously?
Yes :-( I don't think the ban made it but them removing the power to choose books from librarian's did. I think it was reversed after another election but I'm not sure.
DeleteMy county is so backwards at times.
My one question from all of this is...how did Laurel K Hamilton know this??
ReplyDeleteHow is the audio book working for you???
It was so long ago but I think it was on her blog. A woman had commented on her post that she reads the book in bed with her husband to help their sex life and several people agreed and said they did too.
DeleteNever got a library book again until this year. lol And it was new and YA.
It's going...ok. I definitely love the app but I still drift and I'm finding Amy's narration kind of stilted - and I wasn't expecting that.
That is not something you blast into the internet! Jesus.
DeleteThat's too bad about Amy's narration, and surprising. I forget, have you already read Trevor Noah's Born a Crime? One of my fave audiobooks.
I switched to Mindy Kaling for now and that's going better.
DeleteNo one has Trevor's in audio!!! *sobs* That's the one I really wanted to listen to.
"e-books! Now I don’t have to touch germy books that may or may not have been used during sex acts." I lol'ed so hard at work. You have a point though
ReplyDeleteI should have marked the post NSFW lol
DeleteI love my library and know the people there very well. I haven't been lately due to school but when I do I love it.
ReplyDeleteThat's great!
DeleteI don't use my physical library, but I love the eResources. I get access to Hoopla plus my library's site. I mostly take out audiobooks, since my home library only seems to get the latest and greatest when it comes to political books that foster hate, but my daughter takes books out for me (we share an Amazon library), and her eLibrary is a billion times better than mine.
ReplyDeleteMy library (mostly) only carries the bestseller books or realllly old books.
DeleteThis new library I got the card too is much better so I'm excited!
My library is awesome! I use it to try books I'm not sure about. They have an amazing selection of books and ebooks.
ReplyDeleteJen Ryland Reviews
Whoops forgot to say LOVE THE HEADER
DeleteThat' because you're a NYC girl!
DeleteThat's how i'm starting to use it too. If after a few pages, it's not my thing, then it's no big deal to return it.
I have found some disgusting things in library books. I actually wrote a whole blog post about it. I went to the library a lot as a teen, but nowadays I prefer used bookstores. I’m a slow reader and don’t like deadlines to read a book.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I would love to read that post! lol
DeleteI don't like the deadlines either even though I read fast. I pretty much only request something if I know I can read right now.
I love my library...they have a great physical book selection in romance but their ebook selection isn't so great. But they also have a great used book store section which is fun when books only cost $1 each.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to their sale days but I certainly donate a lot of books for them lol
DeleteUgh! I'll never borrow another library book again! Seriously, our library is so out of date with book choice, it lacks the genres I mainly read and you have to pay for so many different services that I gave up on it!
ReplyDeleteThat one comment traumatized me against the library for years! lol
DeleteAnother great post! I practically live in the library, and they all know me by name. I love that they suggest new books and have personal conversations which cover books or their lives. What sucks is that going in there when kids get out of school and come in to "study" is a nightmare!(lol) No such thing as being quiet, and often there are groups piled around one person on the computer listening to music or checking out social media. I also love going to a college library which stays open until midnight through the week, and that's pretty cool. Kudos to Geeky Blogger for reminding you of the goodies in the library. Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteMy librarians know me but more because I donate so many books and when I do borrow - it's new YA and they seem to think that makes me cool since I'm old lol
DeleteI know I shouldn't but I had to laugh at the germy books comment and the comment about what some readers got up to with those books. I mean, it might have been their own books they were reading and using for inspiration but I was cackling regardless. It's disgusting and funny. I don't use my library anywhere near enough and I'm actually a member of three different ones because I'm greedy like that but still I find the selection lacking because funding sucks for libraries everywhere. I am continually jealous of US libraries who have a massive selection of books because some libraries have access to so many good ebooks and I wish my library had the funding and access for that.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to check out the even bigger city libraries that I might be able to have access to. It never occurred to me that you could get a card outside your own county until my husband checked.
DeleteI love that we can get ebooks and audiobooks from our local libraries now. I've always been a library fan but I totally understand your reasons for staying away. I check out more electronically nowadays. :) Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThe ebooks is a game changer for me!
DeleteWell you have officially made me very thankful that I rarely use my brick and mortar library for books and instead use Overdrive for electronic downloads. LOL (Ewww!) Banning HP? Is that actually still a thing? Gah! So ridiculous. And so infuriating that some politicians want to tell me what I (or my non-existent kids) can and can not read. Grrr!
ReplyDeleteIt was over a decade ago so I'm not sure how things have changed but I know we don't have any LGBQt YA or other popular books that we should have so....
DeleteI don't have kids either but it pisses me off too. I'm always sure to donate my sinful books and hope they make it past the old guard at least for sale days lol
As a librarian, I'm really happy that you renewed your card - and that you got a card for a nearby county with a better selection! :) I have been reading more e-books from the library, and it's great! I have a pretty good selection in person too though, so I try and check out physical books here and there. I'm in a book club through one of my libraries so I always check out a book for that.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I didn't know you were a librarian Lauren!!! How did I not know this?? lol
DeleteI'm more of a donator than a borrower but I hope to change that with my new card!
OMG GROSS! I mostly use overdrive because I'm too lazy to drive all the way across town to the library and pick things up that I'll probably never read in time anyway. I used to trade books on PBS but got some that were so nasty I had to throw them away.
ReplyDeleteI'm a snob. i like new books lol Unless it's from a friend I trust.
DeleteEbooks are the best though!
Yeah I don't check out very many library books and frankly one of the reasons is... they're sometimes kinda nasty? Like there'll be dried food or who knows what spilled on it? Although THAT kind of contamination isn't something I had thought of!!! Eww.
ReplyDeleteI do love a good library though, after all books are so darn expensive!
I've mostly checked out brand new books so I'm like the 2nd or 3rd person to read it lol
DeleteI don't know what I would do without my library. I just try not to think about where the books have been lol I did find a blood stain in a book one time, that was really gross! But honestly, I couldn't afford to buy all the books I read and MOST of the books seem to be nice and clean.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of my book reading has been arc's but I've cut way back on that so I've been taking advantage of the library more.
DeleteYou bring up some good point but man, ewww on the Laurell K. Hamilton stuff. I love my library and they are great at ordering in requests. I use them all the time for books and cds and thankfully, none of the books I've read have seem really grungy.
ReplyDeleteYeah - it was traumatizing lol
DeleteMy library is horrible with requests but I'm hoping the new one I got a card to is better.