Comments on: why my public library is not much of a money-saver http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/ wealth, work and life success Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:05:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jen http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-29679 Jen Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:51:38 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-29679 I can relate, I grew up in Portland, Oregon where we had wonderful libraries. Now I live in NW Indiana and the libraries here are okay but leave a lot to be desired. You can only keep movies for 1 day, after which there is a $2 a day fine! This is obviously a huge money maker for the library so they aren't going to change it, but it's ridiculous. People need at least 2-3 days with a movie and in Portland they give you a week! The libraries here usually don't have any books I want either. I can relate, I grew up in Portland, Oregon where we had wonderful libraries. Now I live in NW Indiana and the libraries here are okay but leave a lot to be desired. You can only keep movies for 1 day, after which there is a $2 a day fine! This is obviously a huge money maker for the library so they aren't going to change it, but it's ridiculous. People need at least 2-3 days with a movie and in Portland they give you a week! The libraries here usually don't have any books I want either.

]]> By: Jen http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-27622 Jen Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:51:38 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-27622 I can relate, I grew up in Portland, Oregon where we had wonderful libraries. Now I live in NW Indiana and the libraries here are okay but leave a lot to be desired. You can only keep movies for 1 day, after which there is a $2 a day fine! This is obviously a huge money maker for the library so they aren't going to change it, but it's ridiculous. People need at least 2-3 days with a movie and in Portland they give you a week! The libraries here usually don't have any books I want either. I can relate, I grew up in Portland, Oregon where we had wonderful libraries. Now I live in NW Indiana and the libraries here are okay but leave a lot to be desired. You can only keep movies for 1 day, after which there is a $2 a day fine! This is obviously a huge money maker for the library so they aren't going to change it, but it's ridiculous. People need at least 2-3 days with a movie and in Portland they give you a week! The libraries here usually don't have any books I want either.

]]> By: Matt @ MyFinancialRecovery.net http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-26116 Matt @ MyFinancialRecovery.net Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:08:45 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-26116 I guess I should be grateful that my small town library has a pretty good selection of recent fiction and a handful of non-fiction that is moderately useful. Plus they are open on Saturdays for most of the day.<br><br>Sorry that your library is in such horrible shape. I guess I should be grateful that my small town library has a pretty good selection of recent fiction and a handful of non-fiction that is moderately useful. Plus they are open on Saturdays for most of the day.

Sorry that your library is in such horrible shape.

]]> By: MM http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-25572 MM Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:02:26 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-25572 This is one of the most embarassing things ever - but here is how a library cost me money - I failed to return a book. Inconvenient locations, had to get it to the branch where I checked it out, forgot about it - yes,my fault. After getting the fifth late notice, I finally chucked the book in the overnight drop and forgot about it. Til I started getting collections notices from a third party creditor! $65 for the late fees & value of replacing the book. I tried unsuccessfully to get the library to find the book I had returned, but it was gone from their system and not on the shelves. So after a few months, I paid the fines to the library itself, only to have the credit line continue to report for 6 mos! So that was a very expensive and long-term ugly trip to the library. But of course my fault! So I would say, if you can't get books returned, just buy cheap/used books at your favorite vendor of such (Half Price Books is mine) - it will be less costly in the long run! This is one of the most embarassing things ever – but here is how a library cost me money – I failed to return a book. Inconvenient locations, had to get it to the branch where I checked it out, forgot about it – yes,my fault. After getting the fifth late notice, I finally chucked the book in the overnight drop and forgot about it. Til I started getting collections notices from a third party creditor! $65 for the late fees & value of replacing the book. I tried unsuccessfully to get the library to find the book I had returned, but it was gone from their system and not on the shelves. So after a few months, I paid the fines to the library itself, only to have the credit line continue to report for 6 mos! So that was a very expensive and long-term ugly trip to the library. But of course my fault! So I would say, if you can't get books returned, just buy cheap/used books at your favorite vendor of such (Half Price Books is mine) – it will be less costly in the long run!

]]> By: dawn @ iowahippiechick http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-22708 dawn @ iowahippiechick Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:02:12 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-22708 I feel bad for your kids ... a public library can be such a good experience for them. For you & your wife, is there an University library you can get access too? That might be a good option! Also - here are a couple of links for donating gently used books: *The Half Pint Library will bring your old childrens books to sick children. For more info., call 800-883-2114 or check out http://halfpricebooks.com *And if you have adult books, the New York's Prisoner Reading Encouragement program would love to receive them. For more info., call 212-349-6741 or log on to http://prisonreader.org I feel bad for your kids … a public library can be such a good experience for them. For you & your wife, is there an University library you can get access too? That might be a good option!

Also – here are a couple of links for donating gently used books:

*The Half Pint Library will bring your old childrens books to sick children. For more info., call 800-883-2114 or check out http://halfpricebooks.com

*And if you have adult books, the New York’s Prisoner Reading Encouragement program would love to receive them. For more info., call 212-349-6741 or log on to http://prisonreader.org

]]> By: Jim http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-22233 Jim Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:20:53 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-22233 Yeah I think your library isn't that good. By comparison : My county's library system shares 12 copies of "Getting Things Done" and 38 copies of "Rich Dad Poor Dad" (+6 more in Spanish). The main branch in my city is open until 8pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends. They accept donations and have a form in the library to make requests. If the local library sucks then personally I'd look to local used book stores or thrift stores for books. I can get used books at Goodwill fairly cheap or trade books at the local paper back bookstore. I think eBay is good for buying books in bulk, like a lot of multiple titles from the same author since your cost of shipping is less per item that way. Jim Yeah I think your library isn’t that good.

By comparison : My county’s library system shares 12 copies of “Getting Things Done” and 38 copies of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” (+6 more in Spanish). The main branch in my city is open until 8pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends. They accept donations and have a form in the library to make requests.

If the local library sucks then personally I’d look to local used book stores or thrift stores for books. I can get used books at Goodwill fairly cheap or trade books at the local paper back bookstore. I think eBay is good for buying books in bulk, like a lot of multiple titles from the same author since your cost of shipping is less per item that way.

Jim

]]> By: katy http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-19220 katy Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:32:48 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-19220 I used to donate to my library. Hundreds of dollars of books. But I noticed over the years that a core group of volunteers, older, probably retired folks, glean the books for lst editions, sellable books to hawk on websites, etc. ....so, when the library has sales, it's mostly crap. :( Just my sad two cents. OTOH, retirement homes and hospitals love book donations. I have been a patient a few times and really appreciated the books and magazines. I used to donate to my library. Hundreds of dollars of books. But I noticed over the years that a core group of volunteers, older, probably retired folks, glean the books for lst editions, sellable books to hawk on websites, etc. ….so, when the library has sales, it’s mostly crap. :(

Just my sad two cents.

OTOH, retirement homes and hospitals love book donations. I have been a patient a few times and really appreciated the books and magazines.

]]> By: EVAS http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-28 EVAS Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:35:25 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-28 Once your son starts school, go meet the school librarian and suggest a once-a-semester book swap. Our school tried this with kids' books and it was a great success. In fact, it was such a success that our librarian is considering trying it for the parents this coming year. I know that this isn't an immediate solution, but file it away for future use. Once your son starts school, go meet the school librarian and suggest a once-a-semester book swap. Our school tried this with kids’ books and it was a great success. In fact, it was such a success that our librarian is considering trying it for the parents this coming year. I know that this isn’t an immediate solution, but file it away for future use.

]]> By: EMF http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/comment-page-1/#comment-22 EMF Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:10:04 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/why-my-public-library-is-not-much-of-a-money-saver/#comment-22 Your library sucks!! Makes me realize again how lucky I am to have a good public library. And to remember when I lived in a city that doesn't have one. Some good tips. I wonder if the Internet could be used somehow for a book swapping club in your local area. Might be some hurdles to cross, but could be an interesting experiment. Perhaps a shared blog would work. But you'd still have to meet F2F once in awhile to physically trade books. Your library sucks!! Makes me realize again how lucky I am to have a good public library. And to remember when I lived in a city that doesn’t have one.

Some good tips. I wonder if the Internet could be used somehow for a book swapping club in your local area. Might be some hurdles to cross, but could be an interesting experiment. Perhaps a shared blog would work. But you’d still have to meet F2F once in awhile to physically trade books.

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