Public Libraries

jbcohen · 01-22-2014, 11:18 AM

I have been looking for books to read in my local library and so far I have been convinced that the library has nothing. I tried a list of fifty books that I might read this year and looked to see if they had any of them and the answer was no they did not have any of them. So I looked again for fifty other books that I have not considered reading but might in 2015 and they did not have any of those either. That makes 100 books that they did not have, I am thoughly convinced that my local library does not have anything wether I want to read them or not. Anone having luck finding ebooks at their local library?

tubemonkey · 01-22-2014, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I have been looking for books to read in my local library and so far I have been convinced that the library has nothing. I tried a list of fifty books that I might read this year and looked to see if they had any of them and the answer was no they did not have any of them. So I looked again for fifty other books that I have not considered reading but might in 2015 and they did not have any of those either. That makes 100 books that they did not have, I am thoughly convinced that my local library does not have anything wether I want to read them or not. Anone having luck finding ebooks at their local library?

I don't have any problems at all. But then, I have access to multiple libraries with large collections. So I'm quite lucky in that respect. Between free books from the library and free books from Amazon, I have no need to shop elsewhere.

speakingtohe · 01-22-2014, 01:58 PM

My local library has too many books I want to read. And adding more all the time it seems. When I am looking for a specific book I have about 50%+ success, but generally those books show up eventually if not the first time I look.

Mostly I read mystery/thriller/urban fantasy books with a smattering of other things. Maybe you have a really small library (mine is not humongous but certainly good enough) or your tastes are more exotic/specific than mine. I can't imagine looking for 100 books and not finding one of them unless none of them were available as ebooks. perhaps you have show only available checked and the are all checked out?

I would suggest that you try browsing by category and see what is there just in case they actually do have something you would like.

Helen

HomeInMyShoes · 01-22-2014, 02:11 PM

No luck with ebooks at my library, but I have a Kindle in Canada which is useless unless I'm circumventing DRM and stuff. My library has been very good with paper and the books I am reading...they had 61 of the 70 books I put on the list originally. A good batting average, better than ebook availability through Amazon and other sources which scored 48 out of 70. Sometimes it depends on the specific book whether you will have luck or not.

Do you have the list of titles handy, I'd like to search my library for them in electronic and paper formats.

elemenoP · 01-22-2014, 02:33 PM

About half the books I read are ebooks from the library, and I have 196 titles on my wishlist right now. So the library is doing pretty well by me! Are you in the US? Does your library use Overdrive? Did you know that you can search the Overdrive catalog, to find out if the books you want are available for your local library to purchase or not? Then if they are available, you can request them. But it's up to your librarian if they purchase it or not!

eP

Hamlet53 · 01-22-2014, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I have been looking for books to read in my local library and so far I have been convinced that the library has nothing. I tried a list of fifty books that I might read this year and looked to see if they had any of them and the answer was no they did not have any of them. So I looked again for fifty other books that I have not considered reading but might in 2015 and they did not have any of those either. That makes 100 books that they did not have, I am thoughly convinced that my local library does not have anything wether I want to read them or not. Anone having luck finding ebooks at their local library?

Whew, it was not until your last sentence that I realized that you were only referring to ebooks.

My local library system still has a fairly limited selection of ebooks that interest me, but I generally follow the addition of new books (about once every month) and there are generally from zero to six I make note of. The good news is that if I want one of the ebooks from my local system I can usually obtain it immediately, or with a fairly short wait.

The selection at the FLP is much more extensive, but usually requires a lengthy process of putting a hold on titles I am interested in.

AnemicOak · 01-22-2014, 02:55 PM

My library has one of the larger collections in the US AFAIK and fairly often have luck finding stuff I'm looking for. The problem I run into is that often books I want are checked out with a decent length wait/hold list so I can't check them out any time soon. This can be especially problematic with series.

I probably need to utilize it a little differently than I do now as I don't usually go looking for anything at the library until/unless I'm looking to check it out now. I probably need to spend some time browsing around and looking for titles that interest me instead of only looking for specific things as the urge to read them hits. Since I was just told I'll be layed off as of Monday I expect to be making much more use of what my library has to offer.

Mike L · 01-22-2014, 03:14 PM

Quote:

I am thoughly convinced that my local library does not have anything wether I want to read them or not.

I'm sorry, but I don't get what you are saying. Clearly, the library must have some books, otherwise it wouldn't be a library. In fact, it probably has a very large number of books. Most public libraries have.

As far as I can see, all you have proved is that you can draw up a list of 100 books that are not in the library. That's no surprise. I'm sure I could do the same.

The obvious solution would be to look for books to read that are in the library. That's what everyone else does - and always have. Or, look elsewhere for the books that you want to read.

By the way, most libraries will happily obtain any book for you if you put in request for it.

Mike

Dazrin · 01-22-2014, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

My library has one of the larger collections in the US AFAIK and fairly often have luck finding stuff I'm looking for. The problem I run into is that often books I want are checked out with a decent length wait/hold list so I can't check them out any time soon. This can be especially problematic with series.

That is my situation too, I have learned that I need to reserve books in a series with the future in mind since the popular ones have such long waiting lists. I will guess when a book is going to be available based on # of copies and # on the list and then reserve the next one in the series so that it should be available shortly after the first one, even if I am not sure I will want to continue, I can always cancel my hold if I don't care for the series or want a break.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Since I was just told I'll be layed off as of Monday I expect to be making much more use of what my library has to offer.

Sorry to hear that.

I hope you are able to find something again quickly!

HarryT · 01-22-2014, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

I'm sorry, but I don't get what you are saying. Clearly, the library must have some books, otherwise it wouldn't be a library. In fact, it probably has a very large number of books. Most public libraries have.

As far as I can see, all you have proved is that you can draw up a list of 100 books that are not in the library. That's no surprise. I'm sure I could do the same.

The obvious solution would be to look for books to read that are in the library. That's what everyone else does - and always have. Or, look elsewhere for the books that you want to read.

By the way, most libraries will happily obtain any book for you if you put in request for it.

Mike

Take a look at JB's choice of reading matter in his "reading challenge" thread, Mike, and you'll understand why his library doesn't stock it. Not exactly mainstream books. "Mack Bolan" and "Warhammer 40000" aren't the type of books that libraries tend to stock.

JB, have you ever read any Agatha Christie? Jolly good author, and I'm sure your library has Agatha Christie books.

4691mls · 01-22-2014, 09:33 PM

As Helen suggested, make sure you are looking at all books in your library's collection. If you search only the books that are currently available, you probably won't see a lot of the more popular books. You may need to look at the whole library collection and put some books on hold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

That is my situation too, I have learned that I need to reserve books in a series with the future in mind since the popular ones have such long waiting lists. I will guess when a book is going to be available based on # of copies and # on the list and then reserve the next one in the series so that it should be available shortly after the first one, even if I am not sure I will want to continue, I can always cancel my hold if I don't care for the series or want a break.

Sorry to hear that.

I hope you are able to find something again quickly!

I do this too - as soon as I check out one book in a series, I place a hold on the next. I typically will have two or three series going at any give time; that way usually at least one book I want to read will become available soon. My library allows only five holds and four checkouts so there's a limit to the series juggling I can do.

My library has a pretty good selection, but some series have only a few books, or big gaps. Of course this works out well for the publishers - sometimes I just have to know what happens in the next book so I buy it rather than wait and hope the library will acquire it. Maybe the publishers are colluding with my library to make me buy books

eschwartz · 01-22-2014, 10:36 PM

I make sure to put all books I am currently interested on my wishlist (till it has 100+ items) then reserve blocks of them when I get interested. It helps that I can reserve from multiple (friends') accounts; I can actually reserve the same book 3 times and keep it out on each account till claiming it on the next account, so I get 9 weeks straight to read it. A workaround for the lack of ability to make an OverDrive hold inactive.

CRussel · 01-23-2014, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

No luck with ebooks at my library, but I have a Kindle in Canada which is useless unless I'm circumventing DRM and stuff. My library has been very good with paper and the books I am reading...they had 61 of the 70 books I put on the list originally. A good batting average, better than ebook availability through Amazon and other sources which scored 48 out of 70. Sometimes it depends on the specific book whether you will have luck or not.

Do you have the list of titles handy, I'd like to search my library for them in electronic and paper formats.

I find about 15% of the books I read at the BCLibary site. Yes, I have to convert them to read on my Kindle, but that's such a simple step that it doesn't slow me down for a moment. Though I must admit that I often have to wait quite a while for a book to become available. And in the last year, I'd have to say that the overall quality of new books available has declined noticeably, probably because at least some of the big 5 are refusing to allow their books in libraries.

Dazrin · 01-23-2014, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

And in the last year, I'd have to say that the overall quality of new books available has declined noticeably, probably because at least some of the big 5 are refusing to allow their books in libraries.

I hope that JA Konrath's indie books for libraries idea takes off and we can start seeing indie books in the library too. Another fire under the big publishers feet!

radius · 01-23-2014, 02:51 PM

I am going to put in another vote saying that OP is using the library backwards.

Instead of thinking of what you might want to read and then checking to see if the library has it, it's more fruitful to look through the books which your library carries and then borrow/hold the ones you might be interested in reading.

Doing this, I can't keep up with my local library and often have to give up books that become available because there are too many for me to get around to reading within the three week lending period.

01-22-2014, 11:18 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Public Libraries I have been looking for books to read in my local library and so far I have been convinced that the library has nothing. I tried a list of fifty books that I might read this year and looked to see if they had any of them and the answer was no they did not have any of them. So I looked again for fifty other books that I have not considered reading but might in 2015 and they did not have any of those either. That makes 100 books that they did not have, I am thoughly convinced that my local library does not have anything wether I want to read them or not. Anone having luck finding ebooks at their local library?

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01-22-2014, 01:58 PM	#3
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	My local library has too many books I want to read. And adding more all the time it seems. When I am looking for a specific book I have about 50%+ success, but generally those books show up eventually if not the first time I look. Mostly I read mystery/thriller/urban fantasy books with a smattering of other things. Maybe you have a really small library (mine is not humongous but certainly good enough) or your tastes are more exotic/specific than mine. I can't imagine looking for 100 books and not finding one of them unless none of them were available as ebooks. perhaps you have show only available checked and the are all checked out? I would suggest that you try browsing by category and see what is there just in case they actually do have something you would like. Helen

01-22-2014, 02:11 PM	#4
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	No luck with ebooks at my library, but I have a Kindle in Canada which is useless unless I'm circumventing DRM and stuff. My library has been very good with paper and the books I am reading...they had 61 of the 70 books I put on the list originally. A good batting average, better than ebook availability through Amazon and other sources which scored 48 out of 70. Sometimes it depends on the specific book whether you will have luck or not. Do you have the list of titles handy, I'd like to search my library for them in electronic and paper formats.

01-22-2014, 02:33 PM	#5
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	About half the books I read are ebooks from the library, and I have 196 titles on my wishlist right now. So the library is doing pretty well by me! Are you in the US? Does your library use Overdrive? Did you know that you can search the Overdrive catalog, to find out if the books you want are available for your local library to purchase or not? Then if they are available, you can request them. But it's up to your librarian if they purchase it or not! eP

01-22-2014, 02:55 PM	#7
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	My library has one of the larger collections in the US AFAIK and fairly often have luck finding stuff I'm looking for. The problem I run into is that often books I want are checked out with a decent length wait/hold list so I can't check them out any time soon. This can be especially problematic with series. I probably need to utilize it a little differently than I do now as I don't usually go looking for anything at the library until/unless I'm looking to check it out now. I probably need to spend some time browsing around and looking for titles that interest me instead of only looking for specific things as the urge to read them hits. Since I was just told I'll be layed off as of Monday I expect to be making much more use of what my library has to offer.

01-22-2014, 10:36 PM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I make sure to put all books I am currently interested on my wishlist (till it has 100+ items) then reserve blocks of them when I get interested. It helps that I can reserve from multiple (friends') accounts; I can actually reserve the same book 3 times and keep it out on each account till claiming it on the next account, so I get 9 weeks straight to read it. A workaround for the lack of ability to make an OverDrive hold inactive.

01-23-2014, 02:51 PM	#15
radius Lector minore Posts: 649 Karma: 1738720 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Aura One, Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, Google Pixel Slate	I am going to put in another vote saying that OP is using the library backwards. Instead of thinking of what you might want to read and then checking to see if the library has it, it's more fruitful to look through the books which your library carries and then borrow/hold the ones you might be interested in reading. Doing this, I can't keep up with my local library and often have to give up books that become available because there are too many for me to get around to reading within the three week lending period.