How do YOU get the most out of your library?
March 9, 2009 12:02 PM Subscribe
What else can I get at the library, aside from the obvious (books)?
I live in Portland and LOVE our library system (especially the Central Library branch, which I live near). I often check out music, and occasionally a movie, but I've heard there are all sorts of other things available too.
How do YOU get the most out of your library?
I live in Portland and LOVE our library system (especially the Central Library branch, which I live near). I often check out music, and occasionally a movie, but I've heard there are all sorts of other things available too.
How do YOU get the most out of your library?
Well, since you're asking about my library I'll tell you. I'm in NYC so I basically order everything online and then pick it up. The NYPL LEO system allows you to look something up, request it, specify where you want to pick it up, and when it's ready I go and pick my requests up. As a classical music person I also use the library to get the CD version of recordings and then I copy them to my computer in a lossless form. Free and higher quality than mp3. I look for everything I need at the library first and then consider buying. I can't imagine how much money I've saved, most of the music I own is from the library. So, I generally use my library for classical cds and dvds, copying of scores, libretto translations and IPA. But it's the requesting system that I love the most. It is kind of a necessity since the decimal system used at the NYPL is completely crappy and awful.
posted by scazza at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by scazza at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2009
Ask a librarian at your library. Seriously. They will be able to tell you. That is what they are there for.
posted by Knicke at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Knicke at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2009 [3 favorites]
Best answer: My local library runs all sorts of programs. ESL for new immigrants, movie nights, computer classes. 2oh1, I recommend that YOU go to the Central library and ask them what they've got going on. I'm sure they'll be delighted to tell you!
posted by the dief at 12:22 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by the dief at 12:22 PM on March 9, 2009
There are sometimes free art exhibits (Post Secret), lectures, and seminars to help you get a job and/ore resume building.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 12:22 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 12:22 PM on March 9, 2009
Be sure to pick up a volunteer application while you're there.
posted by box at 12:22 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by box at 12:22 PM on March 9, 2009
Best answer: Portland Maine or Oregon? I'm thinking Oregon. In any case, there are a few things people don't think of when they think of their library
- databases mean you have back issues of almost every magazine, the New York Times from 1851-2005, every auto repair manual, grant opportunities [foundation DB at the library], scanned images of every census that has been released [via HeritageQuest] and academicky stuff via JSTOR
- ebooks via NetLibrary, a mixed bag but still sort of cool
- PC users might like Library2Go Mac users can just seethe
- you can ask reference questions 24/7 via IM
- apply for space in the writer's room if you write. I did this at Seattle public and it was great.
- Library doesn't have it? order it. The library makes a lot of purchases from requests. Alternately, don't forget Internlibrary loan, it's like Communism!
- read a book to a dog! play chess! Listen to cartoonists talk! [seriously do not miss this, Joe gives a great talk]
- lastly, be useful by volunteering. Use your big brain to keep the library awesome.
Note: IAAL IAYL.
posted by jessamyn at 12:23 PM on March 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
- databases mean you have back issues of almost every magazine, the New York Times from 1851-2005, every auto repair manual, grant opportunities [foundation DB at the library], scanned images of every census that has been released [via HeritageQuest] and academicky stuff via JSTOR
- ebooks via NetLibrary, a mixed bag but still sort of cool
- PC users might like Library2Go Mac users can just seethe
- you can ask reference questions 24/7 via IM
- apply for space in the writer's room if you write. I did this at Seattle public and it was great.
- Library doesn't have it? order it. The library makes a lot of purchases from requests. Alternately, don't forget Internlibrary loan, it's like Communism!
- read a book to a dog! play chess! Listen to cartoonists talk! [seriously do not miss this, Joe gives a great talk]
- lastly, be useful by volunteering. Use your big brain to keep the library awesome.
Note: IAAL IAYL.
posted by jessamyn at 12:23 PM on March 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I leave my kids there all day for free babysitting.
I'm kidding! I wouldn't do that, although my kids would happily spend all day at the library.
One thing I learned just recently is that I can log into all kinds of databases and access a huge ebook library by logging in via the library web site. My library also offers free notary service, which has come in handy a couple of times.
posted by COD at 12:24 PM on March 9, 2009
I'm kidding! I wouldn't do that, although my kids would happily spend all day at the library.
One thing I learned just recently is that I can log into all kinds of databases and access a huge ebook library by logging in via the library web site. My library also offers free notary service, which has come in handy a couple of times.
posted by COD at 12:24 PM on March 9, 2009
In Somerville, I used to get Books, CDs, DVDs, museum passes, and the occasional phone number.
Outside of the city, and now being married, I just get Books, CDs and DVDs. I haven't tried the museum passes or phone numbers... though I may try the museum passes someday soon.
posted by Nanukthedog at 12:29 PM on March 9, 2009
Outside of the city, and now being married, I just get Books, CDs and DVDs. I haven't tried the museum passes or phone numbers... though I may try the museum passes someday soon.
posted by Nanukthedog at 12:29 PM on March 9, 2009
Best answer: Getting to use Rosetta Stone language software for free is one of the nicer perks of belonging to my library, though there's almost always a waiting list.
posted by notquitemaryann at 12:32 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by notquitemaryann at 12:32 PM on March 9, 2009
Response by poster: I've checked their website. In fact, I searched it today because I'd heard about museum passes (or, maybe they were called cultural passes?) but didn't find any info. I guess I was hoping to find out some lesser known but cool features of the library that I wouldn't even think to search for, as jessamyn eluded to.
posted by 2oh1 at 12:33 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by 2oh1 at 12:33 PM on March 9, 2009
Some places you can check out paintings. That's pretty cool.
posted by OmieWise at 12:34 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by OmieWise at 12:34 PM on March 9, 2009
Teaching Company courses, DVDs, CDs, tools (less common, but Berkeley's not the only city with a tool lending library), sometimes truly incredible access to commercial electronic resources (that in same cases you can use from your own home, just by virtue of being a library patron) like dictionaries, encyclopedias, magazine archives, or O'Reilly's Safari.
One of the ways I get the most of my library is extensive use of placing holds on things. If I place a hold on a book as soon as I hear of it, when it's still on order, I can get my hands on things that will be continually in demand and unavailable for a long time. That's how I read Outliers when it was new, and how I'm reading The Graveyard Book now. Also, I never worry about which branch something's from -- I just have it sent to the branch that's convenient for me when it's in.
posted by Zed at 12:45 PM on March 9, 2009
One of the ways I get the most of my library is extensive use of placing holds on things. If I place a hold on a book as soon as I hear of it, when it's still on order, I can get my hands on things that will be continually in demand and unavailable for a long time. That's how I read Outliers when it was new, and how I'm reading The Graveyard Book now. Also, I never worry about which branch something's from -- I just have it sent to the branch that's convenient for me when it's in.
posted by Zed at 12:45 PM on March 9, 2009
Best answer: I've never seen museum passes at the Multnomah County Library, but you probably qualify for a card from the Clackamas Country Library, which does have them.
posted by celkins at 1:02 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by celkins at 1:02 PM on March 9, 2009
I've fallen out of the library habit, but my local library used to have paintings you could check out, as well as tools, everything from sledge hammers to garden tillers. Some libraries have games, both board and video for checkout.
posted by Ookseer at 1:19 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by Ookseer at 1:19 PM on March 9, 2009
My library system has a tool lending library. I think you can get gardening tools as well as items for household and car repair and whatnot. Oh, and I use the library for audiobooks to get me through long drives. Seconding the database access as well. Some libraries let you use this remotely, too.
posted by JenMarie at 1:23 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by JenMarie at 1:23 PM on March 9, 2009
Multnomah County residents can also get a library card for Washington County libraries, and they have Cultural Passes too.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:39 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:39 PM on March 9, 2009
Best answer: In addition to books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, computer and internet access, and the vast riches available through intra- and inter-library loan system, my local library offers:
- an in-house piano (in a practice room, a small room with a door)
- a typewriter (also in a small room with a door, so you can clack-clack away without disturbing others)
- apparently, tools are available for check-out; a friend told me last week that he checked out a device to read the energy efficiency of his large appliances!
- group passes to the local art museum
- seasonally varying public programs, e.g., tax assistance for those who qualify
- Page To Stage, a program coordinated with a local theater in which writers or directors discuss the process of translating a written piece of art to a performance piece
- reading programs, including a book club for adults and reading series for younger children
- a lunchtime lecture series, for which attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunches to eat while an author speaks.
- motivational workshops
- an online genealogy database
- Pimsleur language programs available for download
- test prep services (e.g. SAT, citizenship tests, civil service tests)
Particularly useful for me: the special collections room, where the library houses rare or antique materials, including books, maps, pamphlets, and ephemera.
posted by Elsa at 1:55 PM on March 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
- an in-house piano (in a practice room, a small room with a door)
- a typewriter (also in a small room with a door, so you can clack-clack away without disturbing others)
- apparently, tools are available for check-out; a friend told me last week that he checked out a device to read the energy efficiency of his large appliances!
- group passes to the local art museum
- seasonally varying public programs, e.g., tax assistance for those who qualify
- Page To Stage, a program coordinated with a local theater in which writers or directors discuss the process of translating a written piece of art to a performance piece
- reading programs, including a book club for adults and reading series for younger children
- a lunchtime lecture series, for which attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunches to eat while an author speaks.
- motivational workshops
- an online genealogy database
- Pimsleur language programs available for download
- test prep services (e.g. SAT, citizenship tests, civil service tests)
Particularly useful for me: the special collections room, where the library houses rare or antique materials, including books, maps, pamphlets, and ephemera.
posted by Elsa at 1:55 PM on March 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My library has puppets my kids can check out.
I subscribe to my library's RSS feeds for new mysteries and DVDs.
I place holds on-line, so when I'm there I can just breeze on over to the hold shelf and grab them.
I can use the OED from my home.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:59 PM on March 9, 2009
I subscribe to my library's RSS feeds for new mysteries and DVDs.
I place holds on-line, so when I'm there I can just breeze on over to the hold shelf and grab them.
I can use the OED from my home.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:59 PM on March 9, 2009
I could swear that some libraries in my system allow you to check out fishing poles.
posted by craichead at 2:26 PM on March 9, 2009
posted by craichead at 2:26 PM on March 9, 2009
Best answer: The eponymous corpse beat me to the OED mention. Seriously, the online resources that libraries purchase for cardholder use are probably the most obvious "hidden gem" service that people could get a ton of use of, but a lot of people don't think about or know about. Business, demographics, specialty articles and journals by subject, photo archives, all kinds of stuff.
In some areas, those products are purchased regionally or statewide, so even if you have a card at a dinky small-town library, you may still have access.
posted by gimonca at 2:44 PM on March 9, 2009
In some areas, those products are purchased regionally or statewide, so even if you have a card at a dinky small-town library, you may still have access.
posted by gimonca at 2:44 PM on March 9, 2009
Response by poster: JenMarie -
"My library system has a tool lending library."
As a city dweller living in a small space downtown, I would LOVE it if my library had that! What a great idea!
posted by 2oh1 at 3:57 PM on March 9, 2009
"My library system has a tool lending library."
As a city dweller living in a small space downtown, I would LOVE it if my library had that! What a great idea!
posted by 2oh1 at 3:57 PM on March 9, 2009
Best answer: I'm on a Mac, so I use the cool-as-beans Library Books menu bar icon to keep track of what I have checked out, what I have on reserve, what's coming up on it's due-date, and what reserves have come in for me.
Also, I've just started using the InterLibrary Loan service which is great for those few titles that Multnomah County lacks but others have.
Also, just via the
posted by blueberry at 12:11 AM on March 10, 2009
Also, I've just started using the InterLibrary Loan service which is great for those few titles that Multnomah County lacks but others have.
Also, just via the
multcolib.org web site, keep in mind that you can "freeze" any of your holds, so if you go out of town of something they don't come in while you're gone. (just remember to click the Update list button (after ticking the particular freeze box) to make the freeze take effect)posted by blueberry at 12:11 AM on March 10, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by moxiedoll at 12:15 PM on March 9, 2009