Reader hopelessly in search of books
I wrote recently of my intention of borrowing more books from the library. I have just worked with two windows open: Dorset libraries and my Amazon wish list (which is really a list of books I would like to read). *Every single book* I wanted to borrow was either unavailable or would incur borrowing fees. I pay enormously high council tax on a small cottage. I absolutely refuse to pay extra to borrow a book which, if I lived in a city instead of in the sticks, would be easily accessed. This has left me fuming. I’d honestly rather *buy* a book than pay to borrow it. Now all you librarians out there can explain to me why it is essential that I pay two or three pounds to borrow a book when I already pay to support the library system. I shall remain unconvinced.
(Anonymous)
library fees.
I agree it is unfair and an extra tax often forgotten by the media.
Interlibrary loans are £7 a time---to get books out of the county.Terrible.
ANON
Re: library fees.
(Anonymous)
fees
No wonder i do not use this service.
It is 60p to get a book sent to my local library--it soon adds up.
ANON
Re: fees
(Anonymous)
fees
No wonder i cannot ask for rare ones like RHODODENDRON PIE by Sharp.
Re: fees
I am appalled. If I cannot access a book for nothing through the London library service it costs me under £1 to reserve it. The retired unwell and unemployed do not pay at all. I am happy to pay less than the £1.50 it would cost me to fetch it on the bus. High charges are not ok.
Don't you even get your books via library van? That service has disappeared in Dorset. It's very hard on people who can't travel or have no access to public transport (also very scarce here). Some people would say, 'Ah, but what a lovely area you live in.' Yes, if you have money and a car. (I'm all right, just thinking of others.)
It's not that there's a hard and fast city/country rule, just that cities, especially if they have a university, have bigger libraries and so there's no need for inter-county loans, which is what costs. Unfair but nothing I can do about it. With cuts to local government funding, libraries are struggling just to stay open.
Oh for the optimism of the Victorians, who started our once wonderful free libraries. I dread to think what my life would have been like as a child without the library.
You are paying for the service of your local library. Requesting books from other libraries/branches costs extra, I don't find that strange at all.
My gripe is that if I lived in London, say, the local library would have the books I wanted. It seems to me to be yet another countryside penalty.
I watched Mr Holmes last evening and was so envious of the beautiful garden and countryside!
I watched Mr Holmes a while ago. Not that good, I thought but Ian McKellen superb as always. How beautifully he wears a top hat!
I'm sure the deerstalker Holmes is supposed to wear wouldn't look half as good on him.
We have to pay for DVDs etc. but I've never bothered. I was thrilled when I found ebooks could be borrowed but there are very few available.
Glad you liked it.