Quote:
Originally Posted by pwalker8
Quite a few here seem to approach books the same way. They see no reason to spend more that $X (considerably less than the normal list price) for a book since they can find plenty of books they like in that price range. Seems rational to me. I do think they are the exception rather than the rule when it comes to book buying, even if they do seem to assume that everyone thinks like they do.
|
I think we can all fall into the trap of assuming that everyone feels the way that they do, or at least should feel that way. Politics at the moment offers a particularly extreme example.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pwalker8
Frankly, it really comes down to what role libraries play. Locally, it seems like a lot of libraries have split their duties quite a bit. The main library downtown appears to have become a combination of a place for people to get out of the weather and a place to access the internet for free. I think they are the main repository of books, but tend to loan those books out to the branches rather than have people come to the main library.
Other branches seem to be focused on what the community around them wants with a lot of focus on kids. That's really the way I remember it when I was a young reader, the library as a combination of research and older novels (with an emphasis on kids books), rather than a place to get the latest/greatest best seller. A lot have extensive children's programs.
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine was involved with a book drive at her local library (it was one of the slightly more rural counties), so I donated a few hundred hard backs that I had the replace with ebooks and were just sitting in a closet. This included mostly well known authors and books, including a complete set of Harry Potter hard backs. They were all sold to a book discounter since the point was to raise money, not buy books. That does tell me that many libraries no longer see acquiring books and making those books available to the public as their primary task.
|
The changing role of libraries is very interesting. Our local library network offers a lovely central library in a relatively new building, together with quite a few branches. The main branch features a small cafe with comfortable seats and tables nearby. Books, chiefly paper books, remain the main business, though they have offered for some time Audio-books, music CD's, video DVD's and magazines. They have an excellent local history section. They offer extensive online resources, including for e-books Overdrive and Cloud Library. They have a large number of computers available to access the internet, and some branches have computer labs with 3d printers etc. They offer classes in using these computer resources. As well they offer extensive programs and classes on a variety of topics for children and older people. They often have academics from one of the local universities giving talks on various subjects. There are also book clubs and social type clubs. They promote books heavily, with a special selected reads type program and recommended lists for genres. They host workshops for local authors and often have authors visiting for talks etc. Anecdotally this is common amongst libraries today. They have generally acted to integrate themselves more tightly with their communities, and are no longer just about books. They can be described as community hubs with some accuracy. A good strategy for survival.