Your public library is closing shortly. What did you check out?

[Extollager]

For me, the public library is the library of the very, very small university here. I'm getting four novels by Penelope Fitzgerald and her published letters, two books by Chrons favorite P. G. Wodehouse, a book about Magellan, and Paul Kenyon's Dictatorland.

Anyone else stocking up before a shutdown? (I should mention that I have emeritus professor privileges. I can keep these books indefinitely.)

 

[Star-child]

Ours closed without warning.

 

[Extollager]

Ouch. I learned about the closing this morning and by now they are closed to the public till who knows when; but I had been in email touch with one of the librarians earlier.

 

[tegeus-Cromis]

For me, the public library is the library of the very, very small university here. I'm getting four novels by Penelope Fitzgerald and her published letters, two books by Chrons favorite P. G. Wodehouse, a book about Magellan, and Paul Kenyon's Dictatorland.

Anyone else stocking up before a shutdown? (I should mention that I have emeritus professor privileges. I can keep these books indefinitely.)

What did you use to teach, Dr. Extollager?

 

[Extollager]

t-G, I didn't hold a Ph.D. Mostly I taught freshman comp, but I got to teach "Intro to Literature," a British literature survey, a first course in Shakespeare, and a course on Russian literature in translation -- though I don't read the language. (My thought was: these literary works exist, in English; there is no need to pretend they don't; they're worth reading and discussing in their own right, even if it is beyond the instructor's competence to assess the translations in terms of their fidelity to the originals, other than by checking reviews). Twenty years or so ago, for a little while I was able to teach some one-shot special-interest courses relating to sff. Shall I continue?

 

[Robert Zwilling]

I returned everything once I saw the library closing down all the events and activities I go to. Since then the website says the due date for whatever is out, is whenever they open again. The book return slot is nailed shut for oblivious reasons.

My library has been building an extensive online collection, you might as well call it an online library. It seems to be heavy on seeing and listening, with reading being an antiquated idea. The bulk of the easy to find stuff is movies, music, and audiobooks. Regular ebooks are scattered around and for them it is a warren of rabbit holes that ultimately lead somewhere, but time consuming to follow. That might only be for people who are not inclined to follow seemingly endless links and to shy away from installing everything under the sun.

There are a few collections of indie books, one for "local" authors, that is whoever lives in the state. I can submit my books to one of those. Amongst the best sellers, must read, and recommended thumbnails I found an author I like, and the library doesn't stock every book on the shelf, so I joined that service, of which there are many, found the book again, but there is no button to download it. Hold and wishlist are my choices. On the left side of the screen there is a link to buy things. The hold signifies how many people are waiting to download the book as there is a limited number of copies available. 10 days to read it.

Seeing as how I can't throw in the towel like I always do and just go to the library and get a real copy of a book or order one through the state wide intra library lending program, I guess I will muddle my way through it. There has to be a science fiction section somewhere.

 

[dask]

I checked out the last season of the TV series The Virginian retitled The Men From Shiloh about a week before they closed. Don't feel too much pressure to hurry up and watch all 24 episodes before they're due back.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Our library is closed but offering checkout by appointment -- the librarian will meet you at the door and hand you the books. I doubt that I'll try it, though, as I have tons of books at home.

 

[HareBrain]

Ours closed without warning. The day before, I'd been in there and seen a DVD of a Tom Baker Doctor Who I wanted to watch, but I'd forgotten my library card and missed my chance. Now I'm stuck with a Rick and Morty graphic novel I can't now return. I hope it isn't mentioned in my epitaph.

 

[Toby Frost]

"Sadly, this impressive body of work is overshadowed by his involvement in the 2020 Rick and Morty Comic Book heist..."

 

[BrightSparrow]

My library closed without warning too, so I just have Arcanum Unbounded, a Usagi Yojimbo volume and Xenozoic. Nice reads but if I had known I would have got some more manga volumes or graphic novels.

 

[Extollager]

Is anyone already buying books you would have got from the library? I am.

 

[Ray Zdybrow]

I have The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, Unmastered by Katherine Angel, The April 3rd Incident (short stories) by Yu Hua and Alex Through The Looking-Glass by Alex Bellos. I wasn't expecting to have them all for so long... I've finished Memory Police, very sad and difficult to read right now when we're losing so many and so much. About halfway thru the Bellos book and have read bits of the Hua and the Angel. I miss the libraries, and the second-hand bookshops.

 

[Laura R Hepworth]

I didn't get the chance to check anything out. All libraries closed in my state without any warning. However, I've been busy with my artwork and haven't had much time for reading any way. Even so, my ebook library is now 1,557 so I'm good for a little while yet .

 

[AlexH]

I have four library books I don't want taking up space that are racking up fines (they'll be waived) as my local libraries closed without warning too. I imagine the e-book service might be available, but I haven't used it before.

What would I have got last-minute? A travel book to wherever I wanted to go next and that large first volume of Ray Bradbury short stories.

 

[BigBadBob141]

I would burrow the complete set of "Encyclopedia Britannica" , all thirty-one volumes, then forget to take them back lol!!!

 

[Extollager]

Since then I’ve wished I’d checked out somebody’s recent book on M. R. James, that alt-History novel Fatherland by Robert Somebody, and King’s 11/22/63.

 

[Extollager]

The university library I used opened last week, to my surprise. I just learned that this morning & am on my way over in a moment. I anticipate checking out four books: The Astounding Science Fiction Anthology and the three books mentioned above.

 

[Trollheart]

Looks like Ireland is bucking the trend. Libraries OPENED a few months ago, one in the local shopping centre, and I haven't seen evidence of any of the ones around here closing. Of course, we are the Land of Saints and Scholars, after all...

 

[Extollager]

I also checked out Asimov's old anthology Tomorrow's Children. It was pleasant to have a messenger bag-type bag loaded with books once again (all hardcovers!).