On the Spectrum: There's never enough money for our libraries

Cynthia,

Seriously libraries are a thing of the past, at one time if your folks didn't have a set of Encyclopedia Britannica on the bookshelf the only place to go look things up and research for a termpaper or report was the public library. Today it's as close as the family PC, Yahoo or Google it and find the information.

Sadly nine out of ten times I go looking for a book on the inter-county library website it's not avalable at all, not just out on loan but just not in the catalog at all.

What can be done, nothing! It would take millions to upgrade the system and it would be as obsolete as it is now within six months time.

Sorry kid technology has doomed the library system as far as public librarys go, too slow to keep up with information and too costly to change.

We have a fantastic library system here in Lake County. I have found that about 80% of the books that I look for are available through the tri-library system. We are regular visitors to our local branch--usually 2-3 times/ week. We have a preschool-aged daughter and she loves to pick out new books every week. And we are thankful not to have a growing pile of books that she has outgrown. Same for us--we are avid readers, and prefer to borrow books rather than accumulate piles of books that we have read only once.

I'm glad to see that our local library system is adapting to fit its community's needs by increasing access to computers in the library. And the librarians have always been helpful and friendly when we've needed assistance.

Keep up the good work Lake County Libraries--you're a valuable part of our community, and we appreciate you!

What a sad world! Without books, what a crappy place this world would be. Books educate people much more than TV. Libraries should have people's support, not be shut down because the government can't fund them.

Napa, St. Helena, Cordelia, Suisun City, Fairfield and more have all linked and the libraries are outstanding. I am not sure why Lake county hasn't linked with other cities outside of the county but that might be a possibility. Has anyone looked in to this? Libraries are amazingly great and in the larger cities offer video and audio that is out of the world. Also offer classes on many subjects like use of PC's and use of new advanced telecommunications and digital photography all by volunteers and for free. Amazing amount of great education.

To MIA-
Lake County Library has shared a catalog/circulation system with Sonoma and Mendocino County Libraries since 2001. All four public libraries in Lake County are part of that system which is similar to your SNAP system.

Library Fan wrote:

We have a fantastic library system here in Lake County. I have found that about 80% of the books that I look for are available through the tri-library system. We are regular visitors to our local branch--usually 2-3 times/ week. We have a preschool-aged daughter and she loves to pick out new books every week. And we are thankful not to have a growing pile of books that she has outgrown. Same for us--we are avid readers, and prefer to borrow books rather than accumulate piles of books that we have read only once.
I'm glad to see that our local library system is adapting to fit its community's needs by increasing access to computers in the library. And the librarians have always been helpful and friendly when we've needed assistance.
Keep up the good work Lake County Libraries--you're a valuable part of our community, and we appreciate you!

Agree. We have had no problem requesting books, if they are not available. Our librarian is very helpful. We love reading and have several books going at once.

Jan Cook wrote:

To MIA-
Lake County Library has shared a catalog/circulation system with Sonoma and Mendocino County Libraries since 2001. All four public libraries in Lake County are part of that system which is similar to your SNAP system.

And for those few books that we can't find in our immediate tri-county network, we can also access the "SuperSearch" consortium of Bay Area libraries. Our local catalog's Web page should have a link for accessing "SuperSearch." Have your library card handy, select a user name and password and you can begin using "SuperSearch."

wow