Fantasy Book Club discussion

I was at the library today and it occurred to me that it was probably the most people I had seen in there for a while (about five!). There is never more than a handful of people. So it got me thinking, does anyone still use a library on a regular basis? If so how often? Do we really need to? After all we have ebooks, just a few taps on my kindle and a brand new book is mine to keep.

I personally have always loved libraries and try to go at least every 2-3 weeks. A few times I come away disappointed, they have a rather limited fantasy section.

What are everyone else's thoughts on libraries?

i regularly get books from my local library and have to admit that anytime im in there's a good few people in it but by the looks of things for a variety of reasons.

A few ive noticed are:

1. kids using the internet
2. students using it to study
3. older asian men using it to read their foreign newspapers (i presume the library gets them in for them)
4. there's a informal baby/parents meet up every week by the looks of things

I use it simply to get books but my local libraries selection is duff so i tend to order books in and pick them up. I think ive twice picked a book from the shelf , I must live in an area where nobody reads Sci-Fi!

I use my local library very regularly.

Most of the books I read for group reads are library loans. I also use my library for cookbooks. Oh, it's so divine - I can try out cookbooks (and thus recipes) before purchase.

I do not "hang out" at my library like I did when I was a child. The library isn't quite the same place. I typically put in a reservation for books and then pick up when ready.

My library seems to get pretty high usage, though. It's always pretty full of people - mostly kids (under 21) - who are doing...whatever? IDK. I notice that a lot of people utilize the holds service, too.

I've noticed a lot of people use the library solely for the purpose of browsing the internet, I'm the only person my age (mid twenties) that checks out any books! It's mostly older people and parents of very young children.

Hi not sure what country everyone lives in but here in the UK libraries are used for lots of purposes.
My local library is used by book lenders adult and children. People on benefits can see advisors or report problems with their council tax or council homes.
There are computers with free internet for students or job seekers.
Likewise printers, dvd and cd hire, old book sales, childrens clubs, art clubs and so on.
I was a librarian 20 years ago and they seem just as busy now if not more so. Libraries should always be available for the poor if no other reason. They are essential for social mobility.

Sadly, the county I live in is full of corruption. The library I use is a big example of that. Although the library is new - the just randomly put books, etc on the first floor and the remaining spaces are for rent only. There are not any free meeting spaces or secluded areas to study/have quiet book talk.

the librarians have said that they don't mind for people to come and have discussions (outside of the paid areas) since they know the building isn't set up properly for that.

The children's area seems nice but the rest of the library is a large open box with shelving. We don't even have proper stacks in my library.

There are computers but I've not used them - not how sure many we have.

We also have - for some unknown reason - iPad check outs. It infuriates me every time I see it. People can check out an iPad for X amount of hours but they are not allowed off the premises. The use of those extremely expensive iPads are a mystery to me.

MrsJoseph wrote: "I use my local library very regularly. Most of the books I read for group reads are library loans."

Same here. Most of the group reads are books that I would not buy for myself, so off to the library I go. Unfortunately, the selection in smaller towns (where I now live) are nothing compared to big city libraries. In fact from the list of the next group read nominations, my library has only one. But I appreciate when I can get a book and join in. I've read many books I would not otherwise have bothered with.

I pretty much only take out books from the library at this point. My library has a pretty extensive ebook selection and I can put in request for new ebooks. So far they have purchased 13 of the 24 ebooks I requested. Since I only read ebooks though I only make it to the physical library when my 2 year old niece wants books or I need to return them.

I used to take my daughter when she was small but I haven't been for years. I always use my shiny kindle.

I joined partly because I couldn't afford all the books I wanted to read and partly because I want to encourage my three year old to love books as much as I do. I've always loved going.

I agree with all of the above. Writers should support libraries. In my childhood, libraries were critical in helping me to learn to read and to be subsequently inspired to become a writer.

My local, like a lot of other libraries in Sheffield, UK, was threatened with closure because of governmental reduction in support to local city councils, but a determined resistance from the local population stopped it happening. I strongly supported this resistance.

Cheers!

Actually I work at a public library and there are days where we are truly very busy. I think it really depends on the area and the size of the library. I will admit that my opinion is biased but I am not sure what people around here would do without the librarians. We help people use the computers, and teach people how to use their eReaders. Where I work we also hunt down items that you want from other library systems if we don't have it. I understand that e-books and technology are becoming increasingly popular but I don't think it will make libraries obsolete, so far it has just changed how we help connect people to the information that they need, no matter what format it's in.

I actually had a really bad experience with my local library, it is the only one in town. I got kicked out for improper dressing apparently, a flowy skirt that falls until mid-calf is too short and improper. I have never been there since.

The libraries near me (Twin Cities) are very heavily used as well. I visit libraries at least a couple times a week, and they are almost always full of people browsing the stacks, picking up holds, doing research/studying, using the internet, etc.

I live a couple blocks from the public library, but have only ever been there for free WiFi when we didn't have internet access. Unlike the one in my old community, which had tons of classes and events and catered mostly to adults and teens, this one is frequented by children and parents. That isn't a bad thing, but whenever I've been in there it's been noisy- some of the children having tantrums and parents simply shushing them instead of taking them outside for a talking to. This ruins the experience for other children and adults who like a quiet library and act accordingly.

I go to the library every so often. They have books there I can't find in bookstores or on Kindle - like Mazo de la Roche's entire Jalna series and many others. Plus, I donate books I either repurchase for kindle or know I'm not going to read again.

There are a couple of small libraries in my town, so their selection isn't the best, and they aren't connected to Overdrive, which is a bummer. They are neat and well maintained though.

The few times I've stopped by were in the middle of the morning, so they're usually almost empty except for perhaps a few retired folk (I'm in Florida - there are a lot of retired folk).

As a child, I loved the huge library in the city where I lived and my grandmother and I would spend hours there just wandering the aisles and then taking home a big stack of books that looked interesting.

Now I've made the transition to ebooks, and I can mostly afford to buy the books I want, I just don't find a library very useful personally, but I'm glad they are there for they people less privileged than myself.

Michele wrote: "There are a couple of small libraries in my town, so their selection isn't the best, and they aren't connected to Overdrive, which is a bummer. They are neat and well maintained though.

The few ti..."

wow. I'm glad you can afford the books you want. I work full-time and there are so many books I want I'll never be able to afford them all :) Thank GOD for the library.

I have to agree Martha, plus here in the UK we dont have ebooks from the library as yet.
I used to read loads until I became mod and could not have bought all of my reading needs.

I use the library for all of my kids and for them to do old fashioned book research for school instead of using the internet all the time.

Libraries are not just for adults who read fantasy. They are for all ages and without them the poor would have no access to computers or learning.

Well, I'm certainly not rich, but I am single, and I live very simply. Also I'm very careful about buying books on sale or when the price drops, I belong to the Kindle Unlimited and Audible clubs. I don't eat out a lot or buy coffees for $5 - my extra money goes to books always.

I'm a huge re-reader so any book I liked needs to be mine so I can read it again when the mood strikes.

Bev wrote: "I have to agree Martha, plus here in the UK we dont have ebooks from the library as yet.
I used to read loads until I became mod and could not have bought all of my reading needs.

I use the librar..."

My local library is sadly underfunded (Stockport, UK) and hardly ever seems to get any new titles in, honestly I was in a few weeks ago and Wise mans fear and 50 Shades we under the "just arrived" section they have. Its generally just a meeting places for mothers/special interest groups and a hub for people who need to use a computer.
On the plus side my job gives me access to a excellent university library and museum. They have regular fantasy readers meeting and plentiful copies of new titles.

I actually enjoy my library. If there is a book I want to read, my library will order it for me and not just an interlibrary loan. They have purchased at least 6 books just because I asked them to. I love my library!

As of the summer I started going back to my local library. I put my daughter in ghe summer reading program there and we try to go every Saturday for storytime. There aalways seems to be people there.

I used to go to the library every week as a child, with my voraciously reading mother. With the rise of Indigo/Chapters as big physical bookstores and Amazon, it became so easy to get the books that I wanted that I did for a while, and forgot about libraries.

But when my first son was born, I started taking him (mainly because buying a lot of kids books would be ruinously expensive), and rediscovered them for myself. Now my wife and I both use OverDrive, and whenever possible I read books from the library. I have 3 or 4 out now, while my kids have about 80 out (limit 100 per card). Which means most of my book purchases recently have been indie published books that my library can't get.
And the DVDs! We watch basically every movie on library DVDs these days, as well as sampling the CDs.

Our smaller branch generally has 5-10 people studying/reading, another 5-8 people browsing, unless it's just after storytime and a bunch of kids and their parents are running around.

The big town (we're a city-sized town, but keep the town designation) central library is always packed. Probably 50+ people studying/reading at all times, and a bunch more browsing.

There's no way I could afford all the books I want - but I'm pretty voracious.

In addition to library loans I spend a lot of money on books - though I utilize coupons, sales and used books.

I had a bunch of holds come in so I took a trip up and pick up the 10 in for me and 6 for my daughter and it was actually busy up there. Like a line up and everything made my heart happy.

One thing i can say about libraries in the state of Ohio (USA) is that they do an excellent job meeting a variety of needs. My library also now has ebooks from a variety of sources, and that's opened up even more options. Our libraries are fairly busy. Of course, some are there for the internet, music and such, but many are there for books as well.

Personally, I love the "order" that you find in a library. Not sure what that says about me? *GRIN*

wf

What a fantastic topic :) I love libraries, and always have, they are one of my most favourite places in the world.

Like Bev, I'm in the UK and I agree that the local library is more than a book source. The main one in my area has a citizens advice bureau attached, free use of computers and internet and also sometimes has meet-ups for pensioner groups or kids classes.
I've also turned up at the library more than once, to find some sort helpdesk set up giving info about local health services so its a place to find information of all kinds.

In fact, I've written to my local council to commend them on our libraries (I have three in walking distance). The thought of so many libraries shutting down fills me with dread; not everyone can afford to buy every book they want to read. I certainly couldn't. The library is often the first place to discover a new author or genre and we need to support this.

As for Fantasy, there is only one shelf in my local library but I've found that some books which I would class as Fantasy have often been cross shelved into General Fiction. Also the teen reads are good and up to date.

Gosh, writing this makes me realise how lucky I am! And like lots of other book lovers, I do feel a cozy, romantic attachment to libraries. Long may they live.

My local libraries fantasy section isnt large by any means but its alright. I noticed that some authors/series are shelfed in other sections then one would expect to see them. I love the inter library loan system too, I request soo many books the daily post they get probably has something for me in it.

My local library rarely has the books I want but our inter-county and inter-state loan system is amazing. Simply amazing.

My hometown - in NC - had one of the best library systems I've ever been exposed to. I get jealous just thinking about how its probably even better than ever.

Every now and again I see posts by librarians from my hometown announcing author readings and signings that I NEVER get access to here in the DC Metro area. *jealous*

My local library was threatened with closure a number of years ago and after signing the petition to save it, I vowed to use it more, even though I read mostly on my Kindle. I probably visit at least twice a month.

These days, it's quite well funded and I use it to read newly published books and to try out new authors. In the past, I've used it for the free internet and also to rent DVDs.

Fully online, I'm able to search through the library's catalogue, reserve books and also renew books that I have on loan.

If my books are close to the return date, I will receive an email from the library, so no more fees to pay!

I do think however, they have lost a member of staff recently, replaced by a machine that scans the barcodes of the books so you can borrow and return books quickly without having to queue at the counter.

I've also found that it's a very cheap place to take my young niece and nephews when they come to visit as they will happily spend an hour reading and are spoilt for choice!

Long live the library!

I love the library. My family and I go regularly. Usually every one to two weeks. I enjoy being able to pick the books I want and then going in to pick them up. I do live in a city though Auckland, NZ. I'm always pleased with the variety of books on offer and I don't mind having to wait as often the most I wait is a couple of weeks for a book to arrive.

My kids get their reading from here and my eldest often requests his books online and then we collect them.

It's always busy. A lot of people do use it for the internet and study as well. The library also often has really great holiday activities as well going on in the school holidays. Plus reading groups / DVD / Magazine / Music rentals as well.

When I was a little kid, I would get dropped off by my dad at the local library and spend the day there while he was at his office. Oh, the time spent there! Finding a book I liked was like finding an Easter egg -- a pleasant surprise. I prefer the instant availability of today where almost any book I want I can buy and download in a matter of minutes. But I never forgot that feeling of discovering a book of interest in the stacks.

Oh yes! I love libraries. They usually put me into the mood of reading but are also a time consuming.

I visit libraries only when I know I can have at least 4 hours for myself, since everytime I visit I need more time to find something suitable to read. Lately, I've been coming from a library with bare hands, 'cause I couldn't spare 6 hours for searching, so like almost always, I visited one of my two favourite bookstores and just buy a book that seems interesting to me.

I visit bookstore more frequently than libraries, though. Nothing can compare with the paperback I own.

I used to enjoy going to the library and walking around and finding new authors and books to read. But with budget cutbacks the hours became so few I could not get there when they were open. Then I found sites like goodreads and found myself wanting to go less and less and just buying books.

I grew up in Queens (just outside of Manhattan) NYC, where each neighborhood had libraries, they were usually small in size and would be duplicated the next neighborhood less than five miles away, we also had libraries in our schools. Children had fairly good exposure, and could walk to these locations. I enjoyed my first forays into books, loving to walk down the aisles and admire all the covers. This was the 1960's and early 1970's.
Today many of the local libraries have been closed or have limited hours, now in New Jersey where I live, I find that many of these local libraries have very small selections and limited ones at that. They are not very well updated.
I have to say in this age, it is a shame that these local establishments are shrinking into ambiguity for school age children and young adults.

Depends on the library. I've regularly gone in ones where most people are using the internet. Others where many go after books. How busy they are depends on the hour, a lot.

I'm on the board of trustees for my town library and I can tell you that we are at all time highs for circulation numbers. Mine at least is more popular than ever.
I use the library a ton for audio books (who can afford to buy them) or for non-fiction books that I would never buy.
Love libraries!

I have a lifelong love of libraries. My Mom would take me when I was a child and our county had a bookmobile that would stop in my neighborhood so we could check out books that way. When I went away to college or took a job outside the city I live in, one of the first things I did was to get a library card at the local library.
I read a lot of serial mysteries and like to start at the beginning of a series so I tend to find many of these books at the library. In fact, I just downloaded a book from my library a few minutes ago.

Our library system is great. The parking lot is full at the one closest to me most of the day and we get to pick three items for order every month and most months they order all 3 items. Tons of audiobooks... Just a really well run place.

I use my library all the time for the unlimited access of the computers, and all the new books that has no holds, but it does not have the best selection of SFF.

I used to love going to the library, but I read all of the books worth reading there a long time ago, I went in a few months back and the selection of books had not improved. I live in a small village and our council is cutting funding to the libraries regularly so do not get new books in very often.
I also love owning my own books, I like to reread books and will spend hours browsing at book shops to do d a pile to buy, so libraries are not really appropriate for me anymore. But I think at least my local one could be used more as a community base to bring in more people, every time I go past there is usually only one car in the car park.

Our public library is very busy. I've NEVER been in there when there are not lines about people waiting to checkout. I found this to often be the case in area libraries...so I'm not sure if it just my location or the the time of day I'm going, but they are busy.

Weenie wrote: "I do think however, they have lost a member of staff recently, replaced by a machine that scans the barcodes of the books so you can borrow and return books quickly without having to queue at the counter."

My University's library (the one I'm using the most, for studying and research) has these machines on every floor (5 floors total, all with different topics) and while we also have about two people working there, they're usually just doing something on the computer and sometimes (I say sometimes because we, the students, are often asked to join for the part-time job) place books back to their places.

I, however, adore the University library, it's my home more than my apartment, I spend hours in there when the classes are ongoing. Lately I been also borowing books from there, even fantasy (they had most of the books our group here is reading monthly, even in audio).

Okay I seem to be praising my library too much, but the truth is I used to avoid this one and going to local for first 3 years of my studies. Now when I'm almost done with studying, I can't get enough of it.

The local library is good, but I can hardly find something to read, but when there're holidays its the only one working so I need to use it even tho I need 4+ hours to find something. For that purpose I rather browse bookstores. I have two favourites that usually have sales going, so I can always, even with my limited college student budget, buy a book. Or I just place an order there and return after about 6 weeks to pick the book up and pay.

Edit: The good thing is, I guess, that I'm picky reader and that I don't have many books I want to read. No fav authors I'm looking forward to or anything. Also a sad thing but whatever

I am kind of addicted to buying books tho - I have over 100 books that I've bought and never read. And the pile is still growing.

Update from my library. Apparently I'm one of the few who reads the Sci Fi and Fantasy section at my smaller branch, as they recently cut the total shelf space in half, moving those other books to other branches based on usage. I can still request them in, but hurts the browsing fun. :( General fiction invaded.

Similarly they cut down about 50% of the graphic novels in the kids section, with French-translated books doing the encroaching there.

I attended a meeting at my local library this morning, the council is proposing that it become a volunteer run library as it can no longer afford the costs of having staff run it. They would still provide the books, computers and pay for the building, but they are unwilling to meet the cost of having qualified staff. Its not the only one, another three in my area are facing the same issue. Thirteen fulltime positions are under threat resulting in approximately twenty people losing their jobs (as some are part time). It's such a shame.

eBook lending app my Library now has is the only thing I worry about. But it IS nice to visit with my kid. She loves to look over the books. Not quite a tablet/reader junkie like me yet.

I do wish my local had a SFF section.

I've been in libraries where they had an SF section but put all the Fantasy in general fiction. . . .

Hmmm. Mine doesn't. Or didn't.