Thursday, May 17, 2007

I just can't help myself

...I just love to join libraries. Yesterday I was in the city and found myself near the city library. As with most public libraries these days you can become a member no matter where you live. I found some good craft books which I was able to borrow straight away. Recently I realised that all my library cards were starting to clog up a large amount of real estate in one part of my wallet, so I moved them all to a previously underused section. They make rather a pretty picture, as well as representing quite a few branch libraries for each of the cards shown here.
(I have removed this photo today as a blogger buddy has pointed out all my ID numbers are showing which could present a security risk...). Instead, this is a photo of my wallet with the cards, without all the details. Strangely though, I had uploaded this earlier today, but it hasn't shown up, plus the Google server was down. Does this sound ominous to anyone else??

And I enjoy using the online catalogues from home as much as actually being in a library. Fiddling with library catalogues was an essential and favorite part of my working life, and now I can make that work in my own interests. I usually plan my various book conquests before leaving home. It pays to thoroughly check out a library's website to see what else they offer in terms of databases and full text newspapers and magazines. Some catalogues allow you to set up an alert so that an email will be automatically sent out when the library acquires something that you are interested in.

I have never been one for buying books unless I felt I was going to use them again and again. Rarely have I bought fiction. There are just too many books I still want to read the first time, let alone having the time to read a book again. Sad but true.

15 comments:

catsmum said...

I know my 14 digit Goldfields Library patron ID number off by heart cos I've used the database so often. Does that make me a sad person?
btw have you used the database since they revamped it in April? much more user friendly ... you only have to enter the patron ID once now instead of eleventy million times.
btw I was glad it's been considerably milder overnight this week ... thinking of you camping out on the block.

John Cowart said...

Hi Val,

One of my daughters is head librarian in Maxville, Florida. I'll ask her about issuing you a library card from there for your collection.

If you ever do break down and actually want to buy one of the books I've written... Never mind, you can order one from the Library of Congress Interlibrary Loan Section for free. But you'd know all about how to do that already.

Alice said...

Are they reciprocal libraries or do you have to take the book back to the library from which it was borrowed? I'm sure I'd lose track of what came from where.

Cris said...

Wow Val, you are so lucky to have so many libraries there. The La Trobe card even has an electronic chip? The car was fixed and they had a complete tune up, and my car also broke down! The battery was dead...

Jellyhead said...

Eight library cards??! Eight?!

I think you have some sort of disease.

You may even be a libraholic.

Susie said...

I was wondering the same thing as others: Do you have to return the book to the same library from which you borrowed it.
Here we can request books from the on line catalog and they come to our library for pickup. (They email when the book is in)
You do have quite the collection!
xo

Unknown said...

I only have three including the marvellous City Library. Marvellous, Val.

Tammy said...

I have periods of buying books only to find I don't like them and that gets expensive...I love the local library as I can go online and order and they call me when it is available :)

Rebecca said...

When I was a girl at Boarding School I worked in the school library to earn a little extra cash. I learned all about rebinding books etc. Reading your blog has brought all sorts of memories up that have been dormant for years.....Good Ones....Thank you

Carole Burant said...

You put me to shame...I only have one library card and I haven't used it in a longgg time! lol With the price of books these days, it's no wonder more and more people are borrowing books from the library!! xox

Merle said...

Hi Val ~~ You sure must do a lot of reading, apart from your lovely book
making - loved the butterfly one and
also your trip one for MIL. Very
talented lady, now if you could just get Carlton to win a few games, that
would really be something. I live in hope of them winning every week!!
Glad you enjoyed the Handwriting on the Wall, as I did. Take care, Love, Merle.

Val said...

thanks for your comments, everyone! And I enjoyed reading about the services in the libraries near you.

Concerning returning books to the different libraries, each of the library systems has a number of branches, so there is some choice. But it would be too expensive for libraries to be sending books all over the metropolitan area. They do that in their own group of libraries of course.

And yes it IS difficult to remember which books come from where and when they're due. So I keep them in different bags, along with a slip of paper with the due date. I have always NEEDED to have a number of library books nearby, just for emergencies!

Jeanette said...

Hi Val.
Oh my you are an avid reader I would certianly get mixed up with all those library cards
Im a slow reader but buy afew new releases..
BTW I have tagged you see my blog. Boo Hoo Tigers not doing to good hope we get a win soon and have something to cheer about.

Gwen said...

Hi Val.
Just popped in hoping to find you well.
I often wish I could read a book,
but I spend more time sleeping than reading when I try.
Stay Well

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Hi Val,
I've just renewed the books we borrowed at Blackburn Library 3 weeks ago, as they are due back this week. I haven't read them yet ... too many others to read, and work, and stuff ... gosh, too much to do, too little time !!
Take care, Meow