Library cards and morality

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by Amalthia

I don't mind people using the library through various means, the libraries still gather stats on the usage and it helps funding regardless if the user has a card through questionable means. Really, it helps libraries when their collections are used, it helps justify their budget to city councils and etc...

I'm a librarian so I have some knowledge on how circ counts help libraries. Even ebook circulation helps. Plus most librarians I know just want people to use their resources! They even count items as used when the items aren't checked out but someone pulled it off the shelf and read at a table for a while.

I’ve heard a few librarians say this. Digital catalogs have made me a library patron again. The only thing I ever used my local public library was the adult book club. However, that ended with the pandemic. I think they’ve started back up, but I’m high risk so I won’t be attending. BookTube book clubs have filled in that gap for me. In fact it’s better because my library’s club only 6 books a year. This year I committed myself to two year long clubs.

Originally Posted by Amalthia

What I have a beef with is when non taxpayers for that library issue book challenges! I feel that only the local community should have a say on the library collection development.

This feels outrageous to me too! The nerve of some people.

I don’t know how you feel about this, but I think it’s weird to hear people say they ask the libraries to buy books when they don’t contribute any money to those libraries. If I’ve paid into the system I have no problem with making a recommendation. I’ve never made a recommendation before, but I’m just saying I would have no issue with doing so. However, I could never bring myself to do that where I have permission to borrow, but I don’t contribute. I’m a patron of a library with OverDrive that gives access to everyone in my state. The catalog is super tiny, but I would never make a recommendation. It just doesn’t sit right with me.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by JBaby

I’m a patron of a library with OverDrive that gives access to everyone in my state. The catalog is super tiny, but I would never make a recommendation. It just doesn’t sit right with me.

I am guessing that the reason they give access to everybody in the state is because they receive state money to help cover expenses. Otherwise, they would be overgenerous to a fault, to the detriment of their local patrons. Assuming you pay state taxes, you are contributing money to that library. I certainly wouldn't judge you as unethical for making a suggestion for a book that they might want to consider acquiring. No one's going to force you to make a suggestion, but you shouldn't feel shame if you decide to do so. You are paying for access to that library, whether you realize it or not.

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by haertig

I am guessing that the reason they give access to everybody in the state is because they receive state money to help cover expenses. Otherwise, they would be overgenerous to a fault, to the detriment of their local patrons. Assuming you pay state taxes, you are contributing money to that library. I certainly wouldn't judge you as unethical for making a suggestion for a book that they might want to consider acquiring. No one's going to force you to make a suggestion, but you shouldn't feel shame if you decide to do so. You are paying for access to that library, whether you realize it or not.

Except it’s not the state providing this access. The state’s provided catalog is CloudLibrary. This particular city is providing their own catalog through OverDrive so their patrons have access to both. I don’t pay any taxes to this city, but they are still allowing anyone in our state to join.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JBaby

Except it’s not the state providing this access. The state’s provided catalog is CloudLibrary. This particular city is providing their own catalog through OverDrive so their patrons have access to both. I don’t pay any taxes to this city, but they are still allowing anyone in our state to join.

Is Overdrive access between the city library and other Overdrive reciprocal?

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by John F

Is Overdrive access between the city library and other Overdrive reciprocal?

The city’s library is Overdrive the state’s library is CloudLibrary. So there’s no official not access between the two. I have access to the state library through my local library. The city with Overdrive is 2.5hrs away from me.

[JSWolf]

I do have Overdrive accounts for places I don't live in. But they are in the same state. I got them in person. So I was allowed to have them by the library.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I do have Overdrive accounts for places I don't live in. But they are in the same state. I got them in person. So I was allowed to have them by the library.

Washington doesn't have a statewide library system, but most of the libraries have reciprocal borrowing agreements with other libraries. I have six cards - my home card plus five reciprocal cards. I'm eligible for more. Some I registered for in person and others online. I'm able to renew expired cards online.

I use my libraries strictly for audiobooks and I'm very pleased with the large selections. I have no need to seek out libraries and services that will cost me money.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JBaby

Except it’s not the state providing this access. The state’s provided catalog is CloudLibrary. This particular city is providing their own catalog through OverDrive so their patrons have access to both. I don’t pay any taxes to this city, but they are still allowing anyone in our state to join.

Originally Posted by John F

Is Overdrive access between the city library and other Overdrive reciprocal?

Originally Posted by JBaby

The city’s library is Overdrive the state’s library is CloudLibrary. So there’s no official not access between the two. I have access to the state library through my local library. The city with Overdrive is 2.5hrs away from me.

I'll try and rephrase my question.

Ignoring the state library. Your library is LIBA. There is another library that is LIBB. LIBA allows patrons of LIBB access to LIBA's Overdrive. Dose LIBB allow Overdrive access to LIBA patrons?

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by John F

I'll try and rephrase my question.

Ignoring the state library. Your library is LIBA. There is another library that is LIBB. LIBA allows patrons of LIBB access to LIBA's Overdrive. Dose LIBB allow Overdrive access to LIBA patrons?

Sorry I misunderstood. LIBA doesn’t have their own digital catalog. LIBB does allow LIBA’s patrons to access Overdrive. But I don’t know if LIBA knows that. If they do it’s not shown anywhere. I discovered it by accident when trying to find an alternative to BPL. I do know LIBA does interlibrary loans on occasion with LIBB.

[spacepope]

Honest, I think with the amount of libraries that allow you to "buy" into their catalog, then I don't really understand why you would have to get a library card by underhanded means.

However, I started getting into reading during the pandemic - when I was living in Japan. English books are terribly expensive. My US address was my parents' house, so I registered a card through that address. I guess, technically, that would not have been allowed as I was not a "resident" - not that I would have paid taxes anyways due to the foreign income exclusion putting me well below taxable income rates.

I will say I'm not up in arms about the issue. I have 2 free library cards through my county/state and 1 paid one - that's enough for me.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by spacepope

However, I started getting into reading during the pandemic - when I was living in Japan. English books are terribly expensive. My US address was my parents' house, so I registered a card through that address. I guess, technically, that would not have been allowed as I was not a "resident" - not that I would have paid taxes anyways due to the foreign income exclusion putting me well below taxable income rates.

FYI - libraries are funded by property taxes.

[John F]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

FYI - libraries are funded by property taxes.

And other ways also?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

And other ways also?

Such as donations, fund raising, and out of state library cards.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by John F

And other ways also?

Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to which taxes funded libraries and neglected to point that out.

[John F]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to which taxes funded libraries and neglected to point that out.

I would guess that there are other "taxes" that also help fund libraries. The taxes may get used indirectly (for example, a city or state income tax may make it to a library through certain special programs (a literacy incentive program, a child education program, internet for libraries program, ...)).

Just a guess.