it seems like the term library is disappearing from the english language because we have all the big box book stores like barnes and noble are poping up everywhere. plus nook, kindle, and cell phones books. why pay $29.00 for a book when you can go to a public library and get it for free. go to your public library and check out a model railroading book.
A few months ago, my local library hosted a small, but free, model railroad event to introduce the public to the hobby. There was a 2-rail O scale layout and a couple N scale layouts from clubs in the area, as well as books and magazines. Quite a few people came through.
The term library? That won’t be going any time soon. The place I can give you though. Nook-Kindle-etc are all basically the old Star Trek Datapads. Infinite info in your fingertips. For me though, I tried reading a book on my laptop. Doable, but not enjoyable. As was said in another iteration of this thread though, for someone who travells alot, a carry-on of books vs a Kin-Nook has a certain logic to it.
Don’t forget about those of us who live in “small” towns (under 25,000 people or so) that don’t have these big stores like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. My hometown is about 9,000 and many school kids tend to hang out at the library after school. The library has had a summer reading program for as long as I can remember. They have gone to the point of having a free hotspot so people can come and use their laptops. They also have free internet (within reason) for people to use on desktops. (We are rural enough that many non-city people still use dial-up Internet.) The library gives them the opportunity to access large files that can’t be accessed on dial-up. At least in my hometown, I don’t think our library is going anywhere soon.
(emphasis added)
Is there some difference between Library and Public library that I have failed to comprehend? Or perhaps the thesis statement wasn’t reasoned all the way through.
When I go to a book store I might (if I find something interesting) buy a book to add to my personal library. As far as E-books, I’m not thrilled about reading very much from the screen - especially from a really small screen. I am a sometimes writer (typer?) and, while I compose and edit on-screen, I’ve found that I can’t do a meaningful final edit unless I have hard copy in my hot little hands.
As long as Mr. Webster defines LIBRARY as, “A collection of books,” the term will not disappear from the English language unless our educational system succeeds in destroying literacy. Since one of its stated objectives is to increase literacy…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with a library of English and Japanese language publications)
I buy most of my model railroad books because
- I use them often as reference books. I look up a section or chapter that applies to what I am doing at the time. Or I re-read older issues of model railroading magazines for the fun of it. Having to go to the library every time I want to look something up is a waste. I prefer to have the reference at hand.
- Holdings of books on railroading and model railroading are pretty slim in most of the public libraries I have seen in my adventures with Uncle Sam’s frequent relocation service. Getting a desired book through the inter-library loan service takes a week or two.
That said, the inter-library loan program is often a great way to get books on prototype railroads or practices that would otherwise be too costly for my personal library.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Libraries are a great resource, particularly for books that are now out of print. But that is no guarantee that they will have anything you want.
If you see a book you want, buy it, as it may be out of print, never to be seen again, before you realize it.
I am lucky to have a branch of the library only a 5 minute walk away. (It would take longer to drive there.) I can go online and browse the catalog, then request a book, and when it comes in, it will be waiting on a shelf for me and they send a message it is there.
I searched for “Model Railroading with John Allen”, and they do have a very worn copy, which I borrowed. In this case they had a book that was out of print at the time. (I bought the recent reprint, so I have my own copy now.) Libraries are an excellent resource, especially for titles that are not available today.
[bow] [bow] [bow] [bow] [bow]
Stein
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[:)]
I firmly doubt “library” will disappear from our language.
There will still be a need to keep electronic records of books and periodicals even if all goes electronic. Microfilm and microfische {sp?} did wonders at saving space while containing massive amounts of info and complete periodicals.
What may have changed is that people don’t go to the library often anymore. WIth bookstores making books readily available and publishers who are set up to print one-off copies on order without running a whole series of books, people have more access to books. No need to return in 2 weeks or pay a fine if late.
I still like to fold my TRAINS magazine or MR magaizine and stick it in my posket when I go to the Dr.s, so I will be a long time old convert to these new fangled electronic tablets-and I want a color one not black and white!
I perfer to buy my western novels and few railroad books…
The local library has dated railroad and model railroad books and the western novels is dated and by authors I’m not interested in…
My wife is a voracious reader. She has a Nook Color and uses it constantly. It takes up about the same amount of space in her purse as a paperback book and is easy to read. She buys e-books on line, and borrows e-books from our local public library on line. She doesn’t need to worry about returning e-books to the library, they just disappear from her Nook after 14 days. If the Nook must be replaced for any reason, her entire library of Barnes and Noble books can be quickly downloaded to the new one from her account at B&N. E-books are cheaper than hard cover books and more easily stored and retrieved. When we travel, she has her entire library with her. She has interactive children’s books on it that she reads with my grandson. Any book, newspaper, or magazine that is printed in color is in color on the Nook.
FYI she hates computers, but loves her Nook.
Our town’s public library has a subscription to MR, or at least it did a few years ago, before I got my own subscription. But, its collection of MR books is pretty limited. I think Sam Posey’s book was the only one on the shelves, and I’ve read that.
Barnes & Noble is still going strong, for now, but the Borders stores are going the way of the steam engine, I’m afraid.
I don’t have an e-reader. I’m a techno-geek from way back, but I still prefer real pages. No batteries, no concern about getting it wet or sandy at the beach, and nobody’s going to steal it.
Hi!
I have been a huge “reader” all of my life (I’m 67) and that includes books and mags and online postings.
I am not interested in electronic books (although I see a need for them - especially for those on the move), and want to own the books/mags I read. Fortunately, I am able to do so these days, but years ago, the library was a favorite haunt of mine - and I recommend it highly.
For those out away from libraries or the major book stores, I suggest buying on line - particularly Amazon.com, or for your railroad needs, Kalmbach.com. And of course there is always Ebay, for those older out of print items.
Is the library going to “go away”? Well, I doubt that will be the case - at least not in the next couple generations.
Even though I have a Kindle I refuse to let go my personal library… our Public Library up here has a subscription to MR as well…and apparently gets enough usage out of them that they maintain a back catalogue dating to 1963…
My wife and I uses the Public Library every week now for two years. They have a fair selection of Model Railroad books, and DVD’s. I guess I am reading about 3 to 4 books a month again.
Cuda Ken
I don’t know where you live, but I don’t see “big box book stores like barnes and noble are poping up everywhere”. At least three Borders stores have closed within twenty miles of me. And the small “Mom and Pop” stores are few and far between, and getting fewer. Ditto for used book dealers.
I rarely enter a Barnes and Noble, because they typically charge full retail, rarely offer coupons with significant discounts, and don’t go there enough to make their “Member’s” card worthwhile. I only would go to Borders if I had a 25% or better coupon. (However, it seems like Borders cut back on coupons for a while, and that only in the last month or so began to issue them again.) The nearest hobby shop with a decent book selection is twenty miles away, and charges full retail.
Because of this, I generally buy books online, where I can usually get a better price than either a big-box store or a traditional bookstore, and what I want is generally in stock.
However, most new railroad books I have were purchased from hobby shops. A lot of our hobby-related literature doesn’t show up on Amazon, and no big-box bookseller carries more than a very few titles. (And the titles they do carry are usually coffee-table books, books that don’t have much information, or books everyone already owns.) Of course this also means that hobby books are also going to be relatively more expensive than similar non-hobby books.
Because of how public
When the model railroad hobby and libraries suffer the same fate, that will be a very sad time indeed.
Until then, I’m not holding my breath. Got a bathroom reno to complete, photos to take, newspapers to read (yeah, the burnable ones), and my three volume set of The Lord of the Rings is stil on my shelves along with a matching set of Burnham’s Celestial Handbook. Life, including still life, goes on…
Crandell
We have a Kindle and find it easy to read and use but prefer “real” books.
I have found that the Kindle is very useful for reading public domain classics (Most classics are public domain now.) These are free even from Amazon.
Current books are no bargain for the Kindle. I prefer the real thing for the small price difference.
I find the Kindle much easier to read than a back lighted screen (PC or xPad). Much like paper print. I’ve tried the free Amazon Kindle PC applications but there is no comparison. The Kindle is about the size of a paperback with an inexpensive leather case is easy to handle and carry.
But my preference is a physical book. I guess that’s why we have so many.
I disagree. In fact with the lagging economy, I use the local public library more than ever.
The term library is alive and well. End of story.