How do libraries work where you live?

[LightPhoenix]

Wow, I guess i lucked out being in New York.

Onondaga County (Syracuse) has it's own system. There are thirty some-odd branches, and you can have items shipped to whatever branch is closest to you. They also have a very decent online site, which offers everything you can do at the desk. It's all one card, both the website and all the county libraries. Also, while I've never taken advantage of it (since I'm at SU), I believe the OCPL has an agreement with Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College, and possible LeMoyne College that allows the public access to materials in their libraries.

Broome County, where I went to college (Binghamton University), was part of a four-county system. Any library in the four counties (Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego) take the one card, and will ship between branches. They knew I was a student, and was only in Binghamton for three years, and they didn't care, all they wanted was a way to contact me when I moved.

Neither library card has an expiration date, nor a fee for signing up.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Poorly

Let's see, the nearest town(about 5 miles away) has maybe 2000 people and it's library is a singlewide on a foundation. I've never actually been in it but it's beside the town hall. I only really go their for the Tractor Supply or to vote at the town hall.

Next closest library would be 20 miles and it's not that bad actually but I don't think its bought new books in at least 10 years.

If I'm looking for a book I buy it, then it's mine. The only thing I'd really need to use a library for is research and then I use the college library.

 

[Nyaricus]

In Winnipeg (Canada) you get a free library card (I think it's free, or it's like 5 or 10 bucks for life or somesuch) and can check out books from any branch in the city at leisure - and if you branch doesn't have a book you want, you can order it in from another library.

Man, I like that system better then what I'm reading with some of these America stories . It sounds so difficult to get a book!

cheers,
--N

 

[RichCsigs]

I literally own more sci-fi/fantasy books than they do.

I find this to be typical of libraries actually and have come to the conclusion that sci-fi/fantasy fans tend to keep all the books they buy (at least based on my friends throughout my life). That's just a guess though. I haven't done any kind of study or anything.

Anybody with a valid Ct. library card can borrow a book from any library in Ct. You can also request a book from another Ct. library and have it sent to your local one.

I love my library. I can request holds on books and renew online, and they're always very friendly.
My library loves me. I work in a comic book store and have been using my discount to purchase and donate trades to the library.

 

[Glyfair]

And the price of a library card for is $60 a year, which is crazy, because the St. Louis County Library system offers non-residence cards for $50.

Wow, I've never had to pay for a library card here in Delaware. Of course, I haven't used the public libraries in about 8 years.

Our libraries mostly work on a county basis. However, the City of Wilmington library is separate. It has a different selection of books from the county libraries, often older. For example, a few years ago they had several books in the Scarlet Pimpernel series (I've never seen any other than the first anywhere else).

 

[Gilladian]

I'm a librarian in Texas (Waco, which is pretty much centrally located between Dallas and Austin). We're a City-county library, which means the city funds us from taxes, but we serve the whole county. There are other libraries in other towns in the county, and we have a sort of reciprocal borrowing program (generally, they borrow from us for their patrons).

We have four libraries, all within the city limits, so county residents do have to drive to reach us. We have full interbranch borrowing - usually one day to get things back and forth, and full (free) interlibrary loan for materials coming from outside the system. Our catalog is online, and patrons can place holds, check their accounts and even renew books online. We've just started in the past six months or so to have e-books and downloadable e-audiobooks.

Texas libraries all have access to an excellent suite of online databases for research (journals, newspapers and much material of other sorts) in library or remotely. Libraries are fun!