Wendy the on-blogging-FIRE Superlibrarian asked not too long ago where we get our books, so I thought I’d answer.
Depending on how you define “piracy”, almost every one of the following sources could be considered “piratical” – to use a term the genre first introduced to me, and which I inject into every possible conversation, much to everyone’s irritation.
1. The library. Our town has about 30,000 people, and our library’s circulation is over half a million books per year. I’m told that’s really high. (See the bottom of this post for a picture of the home of the famous author who built the addition on the right side of the main building.)
I can often be found here, in the new fiction room, although I have never seen those flowers. They must reserve them for special patrons.
2. Used book store. There are only two in town. One of them eschews genre fiction. This one has a huge section of romance, although much of it is categories circa 1985.
3. Borders, near the mall.
Notice how close the Romance section is to the Literature section. I approve!
4. The supermarket. They have a table of used books for charity, fifty cents for a paperback, $1.00 for a hardcover. I have gotten very lucky with this one, even if my family wonders why the ice cream is always melted by the time I get home. (I bought the Janice Kay Johnson, BTW).
5. Amazon.com. The bulk of my reading is on the Kindle, and my purchases are through Amazon. Shopping is so much easier on my laptop than on the Kindle itself, that, unless I know exactly which title I want, I usually purchase on my laptop. the Kindle downloads it wirelessly the next time I turn it on.
6. The house, a few blocks from mine, which I mentioned in #1 — belongs to a writer whose books are perfect for Halloween.
A closeup of the gate:
All except the first two pics are my own, which I probably didn’t need to tell you.
Happy Sunday!
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#1 by Jane on November 1, 2009 - 3:35 pm
That is a gorgeous library. I’m totally jealous. My library has a drive through though which I think is pretty sweet.
#2 by Maili on November 1, 2009 - 3:40 pm
I spent the entire day heaving and retching and now looking at these photos, I’m sick with envy.
Beautiful place, especially the library.
@Jane
Your library has a drive through? How does that work? (That’s unless you were joking.)
#3 by Kellie Richardson on November 1, 2009 - 3:58 pm
I love this library. Its awesome:) its so beautiful. Our cities library is being rebuilt again. When it was in its old building it was nothing like this.
#4 by Wanderer on November 1, 2009 - 4:04 pm
Your town is gorgeous! Great post
#5 by SonomaLass on November 1, 2009 - 4:09 pm
That is a lovely library. Our new one isn’t so gorgeous, but it is very nice and the county’s computer system is excellent. We can find and get books much more easily now.
I do most of my buying at Borders, too. I try to support our local stores, but one of them stocks almost NO genre fiction, and the other has a fairly limited romance selection. Of course I still have to buy online as well, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised lately at how many of the books I want are there at Borders on release day.
We have a new local UBS that I like, too — all MMPs are $2, and they have a decent romance selection. Nothing rare or unusual, but pretty good for backlists of major authors, and very little of that is category.
My big weakness, though, is our Friends of the Library used book sale, three or four times a year. I always go on the first day to look for hidden gems in the romance selection and try not to buy too many books. There’s one next weekend — look out!
#6 by Phyl on November 1, 2009 - 4:32 pm
Love the photo essay! How clever.
My neighborhood library has a drive-through, too. It’s for picking up your reserves. You can have books sent from any of the system’s 30+ branches to your neighborhood library for free. It is the ultimate in decadence.
#7 by Wendy on November 1, 2009 - 4:59 pm
Ahhhh, so that’s where you are. I remember when said Famous Novelist and his wife bestowed that gift on the library. Wasn’t terribly surprising since he’s been a rather vocal supporter for libraries over the years – and wowzers! What a beautiful addition!
#8 by Laura Vivanco on November 1, 2009 - 6:19 pm
I’d never realised so much wood was used in construction in the US. I’ve read a few American romances in which there’s an old “Victorian” which needs a lot of work done on it, and I recently read a romance in which one is very quickly consumed by a fire, but it didn’t dawn on me that the reason they would need so much work, or be so flammable, was because so much of the structure was wood. In the UK we don’t have very many wooden houses. I suspect that’s because most of the big forests were cut down. According to the Forestry Commission:
So brick, stone, and now concrete, have tended to be used instead for external walls.
#9 by Angela/Lazaraspaste on November 1, 2009 - 8:29 pm
Oh I love this. I was thinking of doing a photo essay about my shoes.
I get my books all these same places except instead of Borders, I have a Barnes and Noble. Our library has an ongoing booksale, which is always a good source for older romances.
#10 by Karen W. on November 1, 2009 - 9:47 pm
That’s the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen! WOW! I enjoyed all the photos; thanks for sharing.
#11 by Kaetrin on November 1, 2009 - 10:02 pm
The house up the road – is that like the new Wayne Manor? Is the Bat Cave underneath? (that’s what I’d be tellin’ my kids anyway!)
#12 by Carolyn Crane on November 2, 2009 - 8:45 am
I love this photo essay. And your little town and your library. How wonderful! Is it possible that is Stephen King’s house? Am I clueless and that is obvious? Now I want to do a photo tour, too!
#13 by Anne Fescharek on November 2, 2009 - 1:20 pm
Where is that library? I’d move there just because!
#14 by Jessica Kennedy on November 2, 2009 - 2:25 pm
Great post! Awesome library. I haven’t been in a library in years.
I should though. Save some money.
#15 by heidenkind on November 4, 2009 - 12:43 am
Your library is awesome! I do like my library, though; it was just built last year and is pretty shiny. Plus it also has a drive-through, like Jane’s.
#16 by KMont on November 4, 2009 - 9:00 am
This was a fun post. I agree with everyone else – lovely library!
Our local library, I feel, is pretty nice looking. Not as historical-feeling as yours with its architecture, but still very nice and built within the last few years so it still has some shine as well. Hmm, might be fun to do a post like this.
But what is a library drive-thru? Do you request a book and just drive up to a window to get it? Because that sounds heavenly. Less calories, too.
#17 by Thea on November 11, 2009 - 11:57 am
I’m officially puke green with envy. Your library, your borders, even your supermarket freaking rules! And…is that Teh King’s house!?! Oh lordy. It’s gorgeous! I love the gate, and the color, and the style. It’s perfect
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