[Poll] As a child... were you?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Yes. After switching to English reading in 1998, I've not visited a library in the Netherlands, but I imagine it is still the same.

edit: I've looked it up for you. See the attachment. It got worse: now you don't only pay for borrowing the books, you'll need to have a subscription as well, costing at least €22.

Basically, there are three subscriptions: Basic, Comfort and Royal. With a higher subscription, you'll be able to loan more, for a longer time, and/or pay less (or sometimes nothing).

Prices here are a bit different. Also three subscription levels (small (max 10 items), medium (max 25 items) and large (max 50 items)).
Small is €34, medium €45 and large €60. And you pay €0,20 per book for the small subscription and nothing for the medium and large. The time you can borrow a book is the big difference between medium and large (3 weeks vs 6 weeks)


And I stopped going to the library for the same reason as you. I started reading in English. And while the library I went to at that time had a great selection (it was a very large library, with an awesome selection), once I moved to a smaller town (non-university), I stopped going (which was around 1999). The selection was just not there and the price too high for what they offered. And the fact that I just couldn't go to the library anymore because when I was free, it was closed...

[Cesca]

My mother would always let me know when the Bookmobile arrived on our street. I remember climbing the hill on hot summer days, then going inside to the dark, quiet of that tiny library on wheels that seemed filled with children's books. It was like a magic world to me.

[Latinandgreek]

I vividly remember secretly reading in bed way past my bedtime, and I still get nagged by my mum (and by other family members as well) for reading too much, despite now being a mum myself!

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I vividly remember secretly reading in bed way past my bedtime, and I still get nagged by my mum (and by other family members as well) for reading too much, despite now being a mum myself!

Haha... I didn't think to add that to the survey. :-)

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Prices here are a bit different. Also three subscription levels (small (max 10 items), medium (max 25 items) and large (max 50 items)).
Small is €34, medium €45 and large €60. And you pay €0,20 per book for the small subscription and nothing for the medium and large. The time you can borrow a book is the big difference between medium and large (3 weeks vs 6 weeks)

So, it's not the same in the entire country? First time I've heard that. Now you can see that I've been ignoring libraries for 15 years at least.

[Andy_T]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

edit: I've looked it up for you. See the attachment. It got worse: now you don't only pay for borrowing the books, you'll need to have a subscription as well, costing at least €22.

Germany, Austria, the same.

Lending a book from the library for one week cost 1 Austrian Schilling in the 1970's when I was a kid (approximately 10 c). I normally selected between 5 and 10 books during our familys weekly library visit (library was in neighbouring village, about 15 minutes drive)

I am another one of those who read way more than what "normal" people did, encouraged by my parents. I would never have considered reading under the blanket with a flashlight - simply because I knew that the batteries would be dead after one night.

Best regards,
Andy

[Anthem]

I didn't have to hide my reading and my parents always let me read as much or as little as I wanted to.

[QuantumIguana]

Count me in for "Parents encouraged me to read". I learned to read very early, which was unusual back in the late 60s. My kindergarten teacher was amazed that I could read. I remember we had picture books with no words in kindergarten. I guess the idea was to introduce us to the idea of stories on paper, which assumes there's been no exposure to books.

We had a lot of books in the house, which was good because the nearest public library was two towns over and the nearest bookstore was 60 miles away (which just might justify assuming the kids have had no exposure to books). I devoured the small library at school had, and I always liked when the bookmobile came by. The day for ordering Scholastic books was always a big deal. I usually ordered science books. I do remember those occasions when I got to go to B. Dalton's and going to the science fiction store, not knowing what books were worth getting. In the school library, I just read whatever was available.

[Mel]

Reading was a split decision when I was a child. Mom is an avid reader who encouraged it. Dad believes fiction in any format is a waste of time and we shouldn't be reading anything but textbooks or watching anything except documentaries (he also didn't believe children should have any possessions outside of a little sports equipment. Life is a continuous gerbil wheel of self-improvement). Mom won as Dad was away at work most of the time.

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by Apache

I still carry a book with me when I use the restroom.

I used to -- now I carry my cell phone, which has at least one book on it in the Kindle app.

Originally Posted by Apache

I no longer differentiate between books and ereaders. Whether it is paper or electronic hardware it is my book to me.

Indeed! It's all about the story.

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

The day for ordering Scholastic books was always a big deal. I usually ordered science books.

I first ran into the Scholastic books when I taught 2nd grade. I guess I'm a bit older than the majority of you guys.

[Tattncat]

I read constantly and consequently was in trouble with both teachers and parents for reading too much. Generally everyone tried to stop me form reading so much.

[dandelioncottage]

Same for me. In kindergarten, I remember the teacher having me read the newspaper aloud to the the principal and both were astonished. I never had a bit of trouble with my parents for reading too much (both were voracious readers and our house was full of books), but later at school I was discouraged when I preferred reading to playing games at recess.

I always think it's a good thing I started reading early, because even so, I'm never going to be able to read everything I want to.

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Count me in for "Parents encouraged me to read". I learned to read very early, which was unusual back in the late 60s. My kindergarten teacher was amazed that I could read.

[gabby98]

i'll throw in my two cents...my parents were happy that I loved to read, but not very happy about my choices in content (i was a stephen king, anne rice, etc reader from a young age)

[Angst]

As a child, I was encouraged to read as much as I wanted. My mother would have to say "It's a nice day. You should go outside and play," just to get me out of the house. My Dad would punish me, (for poor grades, etc.), by taking away my library privileges. Grounding didn't work; I was happy to stay in my room and read.

[chookie2]

Came from a family of readers with a private mobile library that called to the door fortnightly but limited us to four books each. So i read everyone's books by the end of the fortnight. Dad's westerns & sci fi, grans mysteries, brothers adventures (Tarzan a fav) and my fantasy.(mum decd). Ended by becoming a Librarian myself so no harm done. Reading in bed, in chair and outdoors was the norm but conversation was not often an agenda, a silent home with solitary people in it...as readers tend to be in some cases. Nearing 65 years on i still read and am still solitary...but never lonely (books make good friends)..... as is my son who follows the family trend.