I was recently reminded why I happily support my local library, and yes, this is all about me.
The backstory: A friend recommended a few movies over dinner the other evening. The local video store didn't have them, so after remembering a conversation with another friend, I went to the local library, from the comfort of my desktop.
After a brief catalogue search, all my movies were placed on hold to be delivered to the branch near work when they're ready to be picked up.
Ãœber convenient, and since this is all about me here's 5 solid reasons my library is convenient:
- Hard to find books, CDs and DVDs -- In my experience, libraries will tend to have more varied selection, not being driven by the need to sell more units of the popular stuff, they can have one or two copies of more eclectic works.
- Live streaming and downloadable music -- this one surprised me. The Edmonton Public Library has the Naxos music catalogue available for streaming, as well as time-limited downloads of of eAudiobooks Overdrive (Windows Media only (boo!) a service I've not used, yet).
- Online catalogue with reservation system -- I can reserve books when it's convenient for me, say, at 2am.
- Modest price, huge benefits -- Library fees are inexpensive. Their value to me, and to my community are huge. My library has programming for kids, annual book sales, is a great meeting place, and is an awesome resource.
- The Edmonton Public Library gets social media -- Heck, how many stodgy old places do you know that develop their own Facebook Application?
Photo courtesy Nrbelex
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, EPL rocks. I have a constant request list of books, audio books (the bees knees when you are driving or cooking or doing something else when you can’t read a print book), and dvds. I see something that catches my interest, put in a request and wait for the email to tell me it’s waiting. Very handy. I buy lots of books, but I often read them from the library first — either because they’re first out in hardback and I don’t want to wait until I can buy the paperback, or because I am not sure I want to own the item at all. The library has saved me tons of money on stuff that really wasn’t worth the purchase — far more than the cost of my annual membership. By the way, if you buy 3 years membership at a time you get a discount.
Jane! Cool point re: the discount. I wasn’t aware of that…but yeah, we do value our library.