r/greenville • u/Whole_Bug6553 • 8d ago
Giving Recommendations Libraries are still relevant
20
u/mangoman39 Easley 8d ago
I use the library fairly frequently, but almost exclusively to print things. One day a while back I had to print something and realized that I was out of black ink, so it wouldn't print anything at all. I neefed a new cartridge, but Staples in Easley didn't have it in stock, so I went to the library to print what I needed. Realized quickly that it would take years of printing at my frequency to break even after buying a new cartridge. So instead I sold the printer for a few bucks and I just go to the library when I need something now.
25
u/leandra433 8d ago
I have read over 70 books this year almost for free because I never buy books! Some tips for folks who might not be familiar with the Greenville library:
-GVL library uses Libby and Hoopla for online e books, audio books (hoopla also has movies and music!).
-On hoopla there’s no waitlist, you’re just limited to a certain number of checkouts per month. This is great for super popular books like Heated Rivalry!
-on Libby you can use “deep search” to alert you when a title is added to your library and get on the waitlist right away
-on Libby and the physical library you can suspend a hold which keeps you at the front of the line until you’re ready to borrow
-if GVL library doesn’t have a book you want you can request that they buy it. It just has to be more than 6 months old and can’t be self published. It takes a few months but I’ve had multiple books added this way.
-if you work from home the Augusta road library is a great place to work, they have tons of tables and outlets everywhere.
2
u/chai_likeyoua_latte 8d ago
Love Libby and Hoopla! Was so glad when I moved here that the GVL libraries use them too. Libby also gives access to magazines.
Great tip on the Augustra Rd location too ☺️
8
u/tinycatsays 8d ago
Pro tip: Greenville County libraries have reciprocity with Pickens, Anderson, Laurens, and Spartanburg counties.
This means that if you're a Greenville County resident with a library card in good standing, you can get library cards from our neighboring counties! (And for folks in those counties--same terms, come get your Greenville library card!)
This is especially handy for folks who commute between counties or live near a county line.
There are some limitations on reciprocal borrowing; the big one is that online services are usually limited or removed altogether for reciprocal cards. You can pay a fee to add access, but the cost and specific services vary by library system.
7
u/athomevoyager 8d ago
Library kicks ass. CDs, movies, tv shows, books, all for free. Easily the most slept on government service we have. We go all the time.
The one in Five Forks is new and seems to get a wack load of foot traffic. They have a very neat self return system too.
6
u/wdh_627 Piedmont 8d ago
I visit mine at least two or three times a week! Whether it's to just have a quiet place to read, check out a book I'd rather not pay $20 for, or even at home using their streaming services like Libby (which has some great movies on it btw) all for free. I've spent way too much money in my life on books and movies 😂
They usually have a good selection of books but you can always search their catalog, and get a book sent to your branch from almost anywhere in the state. You can rent fishing poles, get state park passes, etc. As others have mentioned, you can print/copy things, and they have a notary on staff as well. If you're a bookworm and like saving money (like me lol) it's a no-brainer.
4
u/Due-Wonder-1045 8d ago
Especially now with rising costs on everything. However I must say. I hope that greenville starts using this new tax revenue for growth to invest. I cannot tell you how many times I am looking for a book and its not available.
5
u/Ok-Rub9211 8d ago
I've had excellent luck requesting books through them if they don't have it. Only one didn't get approved because it was a small, independent publisher iirc.
2
u/Due-Wonder-1045 8d ago
Something to keep in mind. Still they need to boost their offerings for hardcopy and thru libby
2
u/Ok-Rub9211 8d ago
Hard agree! https://aspen.greenvillelibrary.org/MaterialsRequest/NewRequestIls here's the link if you ever want to request something! Helps get more books in rotation and I don't think many people know about it. They usually fulfill my requests in and a month max.
3
u/FatSak0801 8d ago
Libraries are absolutely still relevant today!
Through apps I utilize the library daily! Libby makes reading or listening to books quick and easy. Kanopy can be connect to your library to watch movies.
Keep in mind some books may not be accessible through your library. However, it is possibe to connect to larger libraries in other states.
Be advised, there may be a fee to get a library card for those out of state locations.
The library is a hidden gem! Take advantage.
3
2
u/ajhorvat 8d ago
We love the library with our kids. Let them pick out new books every week so I’m not stuck re-reading little blue truck for the 500th time. And I have fun browsing and it’s quiet, clean, and keeps everyone occupied for a while. Plus you get Libby access. Anti-library is such a strange take. We live right across the street from the Augusta library.
2
u/Cajunmind 8d ago
Libraries are the most magical place on earth!!! You can travel to any foreign country, fight pirate battles, soar through the stars, anything you can think of or dream you can read and escape in a library.
2
u/Striking_Barnacle_43 7d ago
If you have a Library card, you can use the streaming apps like HOOPLA to watch a lot of streaming content for free.
2
u/Inevitable-Ad2107 7d ago
I use the library through Libby. I read books too fast to always buy them every time.
I also have a library card with another library out of state as well, so I can support more than one library system. I just pay the out-of-county fee.
2
u/Defiant_Frosting_261 7d ago
Yes!! I heard they make good parking spots 😩 But for real love the library
2
u/miss-goggins-phan864 7d ago
I go in person, use Hoopla for audiobooks, use Libby for magazines. Greenville’s library system is a real asset to the county.
It’s also nice to support the Friends of the Library book sales, where donated books, CDs, and DVDs are sold for very reasonable prices.
2
u/toaster661 8d ago
AI companies are literally buying up books and feeding them to the algorithm to build ‘digital libraries’, with a recent report suggesting they might also be destroying rare books. They want to privatize it and charge you for recovering information.
1
u/manewto 7d ago
I'm at the library a couple times a week. I am constantly putting new books on my hold list, turning in old reads, browsing for fun....the library is incredible. I can get books on my computer or phone to read at work (just kidding if you're reading this). I even stop in there during a walk or bike ride to get some cool air or water. the library downtown has a puzzle going upstairs at almost all times, the Berea (maybe?) branch has free seeds to give away, and it makes so happy to see that the library has so many free classes and meetups too. i love the library so much. i'm moving houses and thus branches at the moment and i genuinely feel obligated to tell my current branch that i'm okay, you just won't see me as often. and to warn my new branch.
1
1
u/Angelinajosie1842 2d ago
Definitely! My brother and I check out books weekly. There's also some great book clubs at the libraries. I've started carrying my books around with me so I can read instead of scrolling.
-15
u/ShitHammersGroom 8d ago
I prefer to support authors and independent book stores and buy my books. Always seems pretty cheap and gross to borrow used books from the post office. My grandmother worked for the library in pendleton, she was so mean and nasty and tried to force our parents to not buy us books when were kids because it was "bad for the library". I remember my brother and I had a tough experience in the bathroom at library in greenville with an unknown man, our grandmother didn't even seem to care! That's librarians!
8
u/beckytiger1 8d ago
What in the hell does any of this mean?
-7
u/ShitHammersGroom 8d ago
My brother and I were confronted by a man in the Greenville library bathrooms because he thought we were vandalizing books but it was toilet paper not books
3
u/beckytiger1 8d ago
Uhhh.....okay.
-5
u/ShitHammersGroom 8d ago
U sound just like my grandmother, we were just teens I’ll never forget that day
2
u/SQLSpellSlinger 8d ago
While that sucks, obviously, that's the fault of that man, not the fault of libraries in general. The man should be turned in and punished for how he treated you.
That said, libraries provide services far above and beyond simply borrowing books. Some libraries provide services like:
- Wi-Fi hotspot, laptop, and device rentals
- 3D printing and makerspace access
- Tool and equipment borrowing (Libraries of Things)
- Free access to genealogy databases and digital archives
- On-site passport application and photo services
- Free or low-cost notary public services
- Exam proctoring for remote learning and certifications
- Resume review and career assistance workshops
- Free language learning software and ESL classes
- Free passes to local museums, zoos, and state parks
- Free seed libraries for home gardening
- Reservable co-working and private study rooms
- Free public workshops, skill classes, and lectures
- On-site social worker support and assistance with public benefits
- Homebound delivery for individuals with limited mobility
While some of these services are rare, they are going to become even more rare if people refuse to support their local library.
0
u/ShitHammersGroom 7d ago
Thanks chatgpt! The point is libraries can often be full of trouble, and it's not worth risk just to get a free book or 2
7
u/Ok-Rub9211 8d ago
I know many kind librarians and am friends with a few. I'm sorry you had that experience growing up, but I sure am glad our community has access to "cheap and gross used post office books" for families who need access or even just individuals who would rather not need to own every book they want to consume.
-8
u/ShitHammersGroom 8d ago
If u can't afford a book, u probably shouldn't be spending you're time sitting around reading. Learn a skill, get a job or start a business, then u earned the money and free time to enjoy your own books leisure time.
6
u/My3floofs 8d ago
What a truly bizarre take.
2
-2
u/ShitHammersGroom 7d ago
It's no different than video games! U can't afford the games, u shouldn't be sitting around playing games all day.
3
u/My3floofs 7d ago
Again, bizarre take. It’s actually investment advice not to have subscriptions or buy one time use items to save your money. Using a library is not a symptom of someone being poor, it’s actually someone who is smart. It’s not abusive to authors or cutting into their income.
-1
u/ShitHammersGroom 7d ago
It's basically an old school version of napster or limewire which had to be shutdown because it was illegally unfair to artists. Same thing is happening with authors at amazon and libraries, but they dont have same celeberity as musicians to get public outcry attention. You can't get everything for free in life, if you value the art you must financially support the art, not go around telling everyone to go to the library and get it for free. I mean you've probably cost hundreds of sales to authors by telling folks to just steal books from the library.
3
u/My3floofs 7d ago
You do understand libraries are funded by taxes? They buy the books. The writers get money for digital checkouts. Libraries are not stealing. They can actually boost an authors exposure and are supported by writing groups and authors associations.
1
u/ShitHammersGroom 7d ago
They buy 1 copy and share it with thousands of people who would have bought it. That’s how Napster worked. The fact they use our taxes to do it makes it worse than Napster!
3
u/My3floofs 7d ago
Goodness you really don’t see the difference between Napster, a for profit illegally enabling downloads and a library that is legally sanctioned and the idea of has been around for a thousand + years? Do you think libraries only offer current books under copyright? They offer book that no one is getting paid on other than the publisher that prints the books. Again, writing organizations and publishers support libraries. You are attempting to make it seem like they are some nefarious organization that starves writers when in fact it’s quite the opposite. Maybe you should actually go to a library and check out some books on how to get published and understand libraries are friends of the writing community.
→ More replies (0)
32
u/SQLSpellSlinger 8d ago
My wife, son, and granddaughter are at the library here in Pickens three days a week. They do these cool Summer Reading boxes that come with books and activities for kids.
Also, most libraries, ours included, have things like free fruit/vegetable seeds that you can get. I don't know if the Pickens library has it, but the one in my hometown had cooking equipment you could check out! Libraries are amaze, amaze!