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From: Christopher Howard <christopher@librehacker.com>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: OT: Public libraries
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:17:29 -0800
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legg <legg@nospam.magma.ca> writes:

> One of the benefits of library computers is access to the 
> catalog. Most technical stuff or 2nd language content is in the 
> stacks at a central branch or even in different cities.
> This reduces 'shelf browsing' considerably, if you know what 
> you're looking for, even for fiction or 'other' entertainment. 
> Hence the 'reserved' service use. 
>

I would say the state-wide catalog system is the biggest feature for me.
Most of the stuff I want is at the university library, and it is
difficult and expensive to get good parking there. Also, many of the
biggest and most well-funded libraries in our state are in South-Central
Alaska, which is 300 miles from where I live. So it is pretty handy to
be able to get any of those books shipped to my library for free, and
then take advantage of the same renewal policy — one month checkout with
up to two renewals. I checkout a lot of engineering, science, and math
books this way.

ILL is nice too, though the checkout times are much shorter usually,
like three weeks and no renewal.

-- 
Christopher Howard