drifter51
"One thing that government does exceedingly well!"
A Lunch Community
A library which is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources.
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Here is one of those rare subjects I think just about all of us can agree on. The public library is an absolutely indispensible part of any thriving community, Libraries serve people of every age group in a variety of ways. You might think that here in the digital age public libraries may have become less relevant. Exactly the opposite is true. The fact of the matter is that public libraries are busier today than ever before. I must give the devil his due. Libraries are usually something that government does very well.
+5
In my community the public library has a central branch and 4 or 5 satellite locations. As you might expect the central location is by far the most popular and offers the widest variety of services. It is here that I pick up a good many of the latest non-fiction titles that I read and review online. The price is certainly right. Likewise, my wife and I take full advantage of the thousands of movies that are available on both VHS and DVD. We are fans of flicks from the 1940's and 1950's and find that the library is the best place to grab the films we enjoy the most. Likewise, the library maintains a vast collection of audio CD's. This is a great way to sample the music of artists that I am not at all familiar with. Another extremely important service offered by our local library is the computer room. During these tough economic times more and more residents are using these computers to create resumes, search for job openings and do research for high school and college projects. Meanwhile, the library offers a variety of reading programs for youngsters. There is also a community room that offers lectures and art shows among other things. And on any given weekday you will find dozens of seniors perusing the vast collection of magazines and periodicals. The public library helps to keep these folks engaged and interested.
Here in the digital age public libraries are now able to offer services that just a decade ago were absolutely unimaginable. In doing a bit of research for this piece I happened upon the website for the New York Public Library. Here I discovered something called 'The NYPL Digital Gallery". This site provides "free and open access to over 700,000 images digitized from the New York Public Library's vast collections. Among the images available are illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints, photographs and more." I tried typing in the term "Uncle Sam" and discovered dozens of government posters featuring this personification of the American government. Very cool! I imagine that libraries offer many more online services that I am not even aware of.
So there you have it. I cannot imagine what life would be like without public libraries. They have always been an important part of my life. I have found that the people who are work at libraries are among the most dedicated and helpful government employees around. They are generally not in it for the money and it is quite apparent that they love what they do. When drawing up a list of priorities in my community I would always put the library near the top of the list. Very highly recommended!
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I love public libraries and would keep them around if I were in charge. That may sound like a common statement, but in my case it's quite a generous compliment. I'm one of those heartless, evil libertarians rightists keep saying are unpatriotic and leftists keep saying are racist. (And no, I'm not especially unpatriotic or racist. I can see the angle on the first one because I think nationalistic traditions are given far more relevance than they need and I hate the idea of … more
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Even in this age where reduce, reuse and recycle are three ideas that are on the minds of many, one place may get overlooked for it's green services. I'll give you a hint ...Shhh... if you enjoy books, like to save money and are an eco-conscious person look no further than your local public library. Instead of purchasing a book, see if your local public library has it in stock. As you probably know, when you are finished with the book, just return it and repeat the process. The best part is … more
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Our library has DVDs and Blu-rays. Movies, documentaries. Self help. How-to. The library is networked with over 30 other libraries in the area, so I can get just about anything I want for free, delivered to my branch library. It's like having Netflix. I put holds on several items and wait to see which ones come in first. I do this for books, too. Here's an extra tip. Browse Amazon.com for new books, movies, TV shows on DVD, etc. Then go to the library site and reserve the ones you want. Some take … more
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I believe that all public libraries should be cited as national treasures and given the necessary funding to thrive and help nourish the communities to which they belong. Libraries are depositories of information and opinions. Support your local libraries through your patronage and volunteerism and support the intellectual growth of your town! Books = knowledge = advancement of the species. Gee, not very subtle about this one, am I?
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i volunteered at a local library for the summer reading program. I got to meet all kinds of people and had a lot of fun reading the books for the story time hour. Public libraries are a good resource for everyone and they need to be better funded.
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Some need restoration,new books.
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review by jordanrothstein.
February 17, 2010
WorldCat.org is the world library catalog. Use WorldCat to find books in libraries near you. Tip: Most US public libraries will give you a library card if you live in the same state. Get cards from libraries in cities near you. Create accounts on their websites. Use WorldCat to find a book you want to read. Click through to a library near you that has the book. Reserve the book. They will put it on the Hold shelf for you to pick up. Review of WorldCat.org … more
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About the reviewer
Paul Tognetti (drifter51)
I guess I would qualify as a frustrated writer. My work requires very little writing and so since 1999 I have been writing reviews on non-fiction books and anthology CD's on amazon.com. I never could … more
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About this government
Public libraries exist in most nations of the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Public libraries are distinct from research libraries, school libraries, or other special libraries in that their mandate is to serve the public's information needs generally (rather than serve a particular school, institution, or research population), as well as offering materials for general entertainment and leisure purposes. Public libraries typically are lending libraries, allowing users to take books and other materials off the premises temporarily; they also have non-circulating reference collections. Public libraries typically focus on popular materials such as popular fiction and movies, as well as educational and nonfiction materials of interest to the general public; computer and internet access is also often offered.
In addition to print books and periodicals, most public libraries today have a wide array of other media including music CDs, movies on video tape and DVD, as well as facilities to access the Internet and inter-library reservations. Readers' advisory is a fundamental public library service that involves suggesting fiction and nonfiction titles (often called "readalikes"). Public libraries may also provide other services, such as community meeting rooms, storytelling for infants, toddlers, and children, or after-school programs. In person and on-line programs for reader development, ...
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In addition to print books and periodicals, most public libraries today have a wide array of other media including music CDs, movies on video tape and DVD, as well as facilities to access the Internet and inter-library reservations. Readers' advisory is a fundamental public library service that involves suggesting fiction and nonfiction titles (often called "readalikes"). Public libraries may also provide other services, such as community meeting rooms, storytelling for infants, toddlers, and children, or after-school programs. In person and on-line programs for reader development, ...
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... and providers of [mostly] free cds/dvds. :D
I'm awed by NYPL's website alone and can't wait to visit their stacks. They have a great book preservation department.