Libraries Can't Meet eBook Demand

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

If you start closing down branches in favor of more online stuff, you more or less doing that. What good is having access, if you now have to go further and further to make use of it?

No it's not, since you need to drive or take a bus to get there to begin with. Better that than to see hours and content acquisitions cut back because of budget crunches.

Libraries need to streamline and make more efficient uses of their dwindling budgets.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

tubemonkey is not going to the only eReading patron who calls for closing library branches. And indifference from people who no longer visit libraries may be a bigger problem. I would not not want to be a public library director over the next ten or twenty years.

I'm far from being indifferent. I want libraries streamlined so access hours and content don't suffer.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

No it's not, since you need to drive or take a bus to get there to begin with. Better that than to see hours and content acquisitions cut back because of budget crunches.

Libraries need to streamline and make more efficient uses of their dwindling budgets.

Eh, here, budgets really haven't been cut, so "dwindling budgets" isn't always the case.

And it does make a difference if you have one five minutes away, and you have to go a half hour for one.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Eh, here, budgets really haven't been cut, so "dwindling budgets" isn't always the case.

And it does make a difference if you have one five minutes away, and you have to go a half hour for one.

One of the libraries I belong to, but rarely use, shut down two branches last year due to budget cuts. Then they turned around and spent money on a new state-of-the-art digital lab for their main branch. That branch is more than five minutes away for the vast majority of the patrons who would use this new service.

Personally, this is the kind of thing I favor, but it irritated quite a few people.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

I'm sure you would.
I'm equally sure that people who don't have cars or ereaders would rather have local libraries they can get to, with actual books in.

Sweden is not exactly densely populated, think Wisconsin or North Dakota, so we have a long tradition that the library comes to you. Most libraries also run book buses, it is a small rolling library that will bring you books you ordered and bring a fairly decent collection of books together with the newest acquisitions.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Sweden is not exactly densely populated, think Wisconsin or North Dakota, so we have a long tradition that the library comes to you. Most libraries also run book buses, it is a small rolling library that will bring you books you ordered and bring a fairly decent collection of books together with the newest acquisitions.

Bookmobiles

They're a great way to bring library services to remote locations, the disabled, seniors, etc.

[Kumabjorn]

Here they actually tend to primarily serve children. Driving license is from 18 years and it takes a while to actually get it, not to mention the expenses, so most people don't get their license until they enter university or graduate high school at least. So when households are two income nobody has time to drive the kids to the library, hence the library comes to the kids.

[jehane]

A few things i'd like to comment on:

1. I would guess that most library ebook borrowers are not aware that books can be returned early. I found out here on MobileRead how to do it. It wasn't helped by the fact that when my library started with ebooks it actually said as part of the FAQs that ebooks couldn't be returned early. That's now fixed, but it takes a bit of digging to find that out, and it just says that books can be returned using the software, but no instructions.

2. A lot of people can't physically get to the library, and it does seem to defeat the purpose to make people go to the library to download. On a personal note, I've been away from home for a lot of the last two years (but I still have to pay local council rates) and being able to download ebooks from my local library has meant that I could continue reading the books I want to read without having to buy half a year's worth (I read a *lot*) in paper and cart them south with me. I've also had times where I was not able to get to the library because of limited opening hours and long work hours. When I am at home, I do physically frequent the library and borrow (and reserve!) paper books.

3. I am also bemused by the people complaining about wait times. Borrowing popular library books has always involved wait times - and at least with ebooks you can calculate the *maximum* wait time. With paper books there is always the risk that the book is lost, damaged, or kept for 10 weeks by unscrupulous library patrons. And yes, I know people that have done that. When the maximum fine is $10 (varies library to library) and a full-priced hardback book is $45 (Australia) there is a strong temptation to just keep the book and tell the library it's lost. But I guess we at MobileRead are all too much upright and considerate citizens to do this sort of thing.

[spindlegirl]

I agree with the above, wait times have never ever phased me. Then again, we perpetually put stuff on hold in our household, so while we are waiting for one thing, a different thing comes up as available.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I live in the greater Seattle Metro Area and my library is more than two miles away. It's not within walking distance. You'll need a car or public transportation to get there. And that applies to the majority of the people it serves.

My closest library is also a good two miles away. I consider this walking distance.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

My closest library is also a good two miles away. I consider this walking distance.

*envy*

[carld]

I have a small library within long walking distance, though not in the cold and snow. If that library were "streamlined" out of existence the next closest would be downtown. It's much further away and harder to get to. If I had to drive downtown to get ebooks from the library I'd never use it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by carld

If I had to drive downtown to get ebooks from the library I'd never use it.

If I had to visit a library to check out ebooks, I'd quit using the library altogether.

[anamardoll]

I love library ebooks and the convenience of not having to leave the home to get them. I'll fight tooth and nail anyone who tries to implement things otherwise.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I love library ebooks and the convenience of not having to leave the home to get them. I'll fight tooth and nail anyone who tries to implement things otherwise.

I'll donate the teeth