TOP THREE REASONS I LOVE MY LIBRARY
1. Because these days it’s super-easy and convenient to borrow materials.
Their entire catalog is online! I simply log in to my account, search, put the item on hold, and I’m all set! Our local library system has 16 locations throughout the county, so if the one closest to me doesn’t have the book, it can be sent to my branch within a couple of days. If there are holds ahead of me, I’ll get an email when the book is available for pick up.
Within the past two years, their eBook and digital audiobook selection has really grown, making borrowing even easier! There are apps for my phone and Kindle for reading and listening to digital loans – Blio & Acoustik. Both very easy to use!
There’s a library app for phones too! I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a book, or a book has popped into my mind while I’m out, and I did a quick check on my phone to see if the library had it. Easy peasy.
2. Because if your library system doesn’t have it, there’s a good chance they can get it from somewhere else.
Interlibrary loans rock! My library has an extensive collection of books, though from time to time there’s something I want that they don’t carry. On their website, they have a link to the WorldCat database. It will show which libraries around the country (and the world!) have what I’m looking for. Just fill out a simple online request form, and they go to work finding the book at another library. I’ve made five or so interlibrary loan requests, and they’ve all been processed free of charge. Depending on the item and its home location, there may be a fee, though I’ve haven’t run into that yet.
3. Because it allows patrons to try new authors, new genres, and new formats for free!
Will I like audiobooks? (Yes!)
Would I enjoy that book getting all the hype? (Fifty Shades of Grey – No! Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Yes!!)
The library is a fabulous way to broaden your horizons without putting a dent in your wallet.
What could be better than that? 🙂
Thanks so much to Felicia for having me today and for helping to spread the love of libraries!
Felicia S
During her non-reading time you can find her hanging with her rescue furr children named after book characters: Lizzie a beautiful cattle dog mix (Pound Pup), Cinder a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Pound Pup), and Minerva a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Foster Fail). Gathering with friends and family, attending conventions, watching movies/tv shows, rooting for the 49rs, and crocheting.
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For all the reasons!! I love my library because I can find new to me authors by shelf browsing far more effectively than internet browsing. 🙂
Great post! I love the library for the same reasons! Now that mine has gone digital, I can borrow books onto my Nook ereader and have gotten into books on audio as well, all thanks to my library 🙂
Fantastic reasons Diana. I love that my library can locate books throughout the library system and it never cost me more than a dollar or two.
I so agree 🙂 I haven’t used ILL for fun reading – for some reason it’s tattooed into my brain as a resource for school books. I need to start using it for fun books too! Great guest post!
I just need to get on the ILL train!
I so agree with all your points!! Interlibrary loan had saved me a few times in college. 😀
I have never used it but after all of y’all I think I will start taking advantage 🙂
yay for libraries!!
Yep!
I so agree. I am constantly going with my kids and it is nice to get so many kids books without putting that dent in your wallet and I love that I can pick out what I want online before I get there to save time
IT is great to save on money and time. I love the hold system. It is probably my most favorite thing 🙂
Diana
Yes, libraries are keeping up with the times. We don’t have the extensive libraries you have available to you, but still work on same principles. I find I am using the library more, I find they have many more of the books I read than they used to. Also for no cost being able to get them from other libraries is great.
I have used their ebooks a little but no Kindle format at ours so have let that go now as my other ereader was hopeless – a first edition Kobo!
I love that libraries are trying which is awesome. They are a great resource for communities and even the smallest ones try so hard. 🙂
I would be SOL without the kindle versions though!
These are all great reasons to love your library! One library network in my area charges a $1 for interlibrary loans, but my preferred (and biggest) network doesn’t charge a thing. I have to say I’ve been using Overdrive almost 100% lately though. No fines & instant access = can’t beat it!
Overdrive is primarily how I actually use one of my libraries. Their “in-library” selection isn’t great but their online selection is fantastic.
I agree with your reasons Diana. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I totally agree with your reasons and thanks for sharing! I was away from a library system for several years and am so over the moon to have a great system within reach of me in my new town.
Love when we reconnect with our libraries. I didn’t use mine forever and then 2 years ago I fell back in love!
I’m mostly an online visitor at my library these days. It’s so convenient to reserve books and then just stop in to pick it up when I’m notified by email. I also love to borrow ebooks. I want to try borrowing an audiobook one of these days.
Isn’t it? Somedays I only visit the hold shelf (when I am in a hurry)! There is nothing wrong with that at all 🙂
You should borrow an audiobook. The overdrive app is freaking awesome!
Thanks so much for having me today, Felicia! The next book I’m reading is an interlibrary loan sent from an Illinois library – A Haunted Love Story by Mark Spencer. It’s a “true” ghost story set in Arkansas. Yay!
How Awesome! I love when books are based on “true” stories and set in areas I know 🙂
Thank you so much for the awesome post and the great pictures of that beautiful library on your blog!
I really, really need to go visit my library. It’s right up the street and I’ve only been a handful of times which is just absurd. I love that the entire catalog is online and you can just reserve things from home and then run to pick them up. YES, PLEASE!
You do if for no other reason than I love going to see what people do at the library. I am always so happy inside when I see the teen and children’s section buzzing with activity. Those are our future readers, leaders, and writers 🙂
All of these reasons are my reasons too. 😀
And I *just* figured out that my library card is good at any Minnesota library as long as I register the card ahead of time. Which is AWESOME! Especially since I bounce between counties during the week.
What an awesome find! Moving between libraries is one of my favorite things and I admit I put things on hold from multiple libraries just to see which one I can get first!
I also agree with all those reasons. Libraries Rock! 🙂
Libraries are the bomb diggity!
The metro library where I live groups with many libraries in the area to include an extremely large selection. I got started with audiobooks from the library. Now I’m a junkie and have to buy some of the lesser known. I’ve also great success in requesting purchases of audiobooks. This also puts me first on the list when the book comes in. 🙂
That is what happened in my area. There are libraries from neighboring towns that participate in an exchange program (aka we can belong to all 5 of them if we choose–I am up to 3). I am going to start taking advantage of TexShare too which is like interlibrary loan on the state level.
I love our library’s interlibrary lending system too! Very rarely is there a book I can’t get from one of the participating branches.
I need to start taking advantage of interlibrary lending! I am putting it on my to-do list 🙂
Ah, Interlibrary loans! That’s how I tracked down a copy of Get Even, which was a Cheerleaders series book written by, wait for it, Christopher Pike! It was a thing in the 80’s to publish a series using lots of authors, so this,as far as I know, is the only non-horror or supernatural or spiritual book Pike has ever written. Not even a single cheerleader died. lol
I agree with all 3 points though, I get to be a bit more free in my library book selection. I love that I can truly try a book without worrying if it’s worth the price. 😉
Seriously need to look into this feature, it is one that I haven’t used at my library. Next year when I am on a zero budget I am going to get very familiar with how to get the books I want from the library 🙂 🙂
PS: Nice paying off your fines so you could be a good library girl again LOL
I agree with all of your reasons. My library is fairly large and has a great selection. And every book I’ve ever suggested as a purchase has been bought. Win! I’ve not heard of Interlibrary. I’ll have to see if my library has that!
I have had good luck with that too. I am beginning to get to know my librarians pretty well and they take my suggestions!