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Original poster

Feeling annoyed with the library

26 replies

BondJayneBond · 26/11/2015 01:21

I know I am probably being very unreasonable here. But still.

I borrowed Book 1 of a trilogy from the library. Loved it. As soon as I'd finished Book 1, I reserved Book 2. I've now finished Book 2. Also an excellent read, and from the ending of Book 2, Book 3 also looks set to be an exciting read.

Except.... I've just logged into the library website to try and reserve Book 3, and it's not in the county library stock. Which is very frustrating. And having looked at all the online Q and A's, the library will get Book 3 from another county if requested, but they'll charge me almost £14 to do so. I could buy a shiny new paperback copy of the book with change left over for that. Half the point of my library use is to stop me spending vast amounts of money on books.

I'm now (probably unreasonably) cross with the library for not buying all of the trilogy.

OP posts:
RhinestoneCowgirl · 26/11/2015 01:24

YABabitU but I feel your pain Grin

MothershipG · 26/11/2015 06:41

Find out who does stock orders and request that they buy it. I'm a Library assistant and in my borough they will usually complete series.

ArmchairTraveller · 26/11/2015 06:43

They might have done, but books get lost or damaged by the general public.

magimedi · 26/11/2015 07:49

My library will put in a request for buying a book & I wouold think that Part III would be a great reason if they already have I & II.

I love the library - 60p to order a book that is in county stock & I reckon it's the best bargain to be had.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 26/11/2015 08:16

It's £1 round here, but still worth it I think. I don't need to own every book I read (don't have the space to store them either)

nagynolonger · 26/11/2015 08:29

I can understand why you would be a bit annoyed.

But be grateful you still have a library. The one I take my DGD to is going to close for good and may others will only survive if unpaid volunteers can be found to staff them.

MicronesiaIsMyHome · 26/11/2015 08:34

I wouldn't be annoyed with the library - it is more likely another library user has borrowed it and lost/kept the book. My library say the same online but if you go and talk to a member of staff they are usually very helpful.

Original poster
BondJayneBond · 26/11/2015 16:48

It never occurred to me that the library might buy a copy if requested. That's definitely worth a try when I go in to drop my library books off.

Only 40p here to reserve a book that's part of the county library stocks. Excellent value, provided that they've got the book you want!

OP posts:
MothershipG · 27/11/2015 08:32

We do free reservations in my borough! Smile

But the council needs to make big cuts so I expect I'll be under threat of redundancy again next summer, for the 3rd time in 18 months. Sad

RhinestoneCowgirl · 27/11/2015 11:32

They are advertising 'new' opening hours from April next year, think it's the thin end of the wedge. The new hours are things like 10-2 on a Tuesday, 3-6 on a Weds etc, pretty much designed to be confusing (although I'm sure they will say it was based on usage patterns/consultation).

But it will mean that it's harder to remember when it's actually open, and usage will drop Sad

Hygge · 02/12/2015 23:06

What is the book? Is it likely to become very popular? And if it already is popular, have you checked the charity shops?

I can remember my library insisting that they would not and could not get a copy of a book I requested because "nobody wants to read it".

Then it shortlisted for the booker prize and you couldn't move for copies of it all over the library. I borrowed it (and hated it) immediately Grin

AlmaMartyr · 02/12/2015 23:09

Maybe they had a copy and it was lost. When was it published? New books don't show up on our public catalogue when ordered, only when arrived so they can still be reserved at the desk but not online yourself.

You can probably ask that they consider purchasing it. We do that for people all the time.

Librarian here too Smile

MsAmerica · 05/12/2015 00:00

Can't believe they'd charge that much. I expect inter-library loans to be free. Can you find a cheap used copy?

MoriartyIsMyAngel · 05/12/2015 01:00

I feel similarly frustrated with Netflix when they suggest I watch a film sequel, but they don't have the first film. (Iron Man, Anchorman.)

nattyknitter · 05/12/2015 01:21

Mine went self service a while ago and now just have the one member of staff. Glad it is still there though.

Mine is pretty open to book requests and have a suggestions book at the counter.

Original poster
BondJayneBond · 05/12/2015 08:51

The book in question is Our Lady of the Streets by Tom Pollock. Book 3 of The Skyscraper Throne trilogy. It's a fantasy novel so unlikely to be shortlisted for a Booker Prize I'm afraid.

According to Amazon, the hardback version was published over a year ago, and the paperback version was published about 5 months ago.

I haven't got round to going into the library to return book 2 of the trilogy yet, but I intend asking if they'll purchase a copy of Book 3 when I do go in.

OP posts:
CatKirk · 05/12/2015 08:56

If you have a kindle or the phone app I could send you the ebook. Feel sorry for libraries though.

Hillfog · 05/12/2015 08:56

Have a a look at the library's website. Our county library has a section on there where you can make suggestions for book purchases. Happens all the time.

lljkk · 05/12/2015 10:08

You're lucky to have open Libraries, at all. Look how much you saved by not having to buy parts 1-2. Goodreads implies the book that OP wants came out in August 2014, long after library budgets were slashed, they don't have funds to buy many new books. Tsk Tsk. £4.50 to buy it electronically, OP.

Original poster
BondJayneBond · 05/12/2015 13:26

Yes, I know I'm lucky to have open libraries near me, even if their opening hours have reduced a lot in the last 4-5 yrs. My closest library had it's hours halved.

If my memory is right, library budgets started to be slashed and reduced opening hours were kicking in in my area before the first book in the trilogy was published in hardback in August 2012.

I don't see why any of that means I can't find it annoying that the library has only bought the first two parts of the trilogy though.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 07/12/2015 07:36

Depending where you live, can you join another county/city library. Before Kindle, I was a member of our neighbouring council library, and they had more stock and their online catalogue was a much better representation of what was actually on the shelves.

But our library also charged a pound for a reservation and it could take weeks or months to come through. I can buy kindle books for less than that (use ereaderiq to track prices and buy at 99p).

BarbaraofSeville · 07/12/2015 07:38

But if I were you I would use the library as much as possible and buy some books where the library doesnt have them - try second hand from Amazon etc. Unless you are totally on the breadline, you should be able to 'allow' yourself to spend a few pounds on books for yourself out of a treats budget.

JemimaMuddledUp · 07/12/2015 07:43

Does you library service do e-books? Sometimes our county has titles as part of their e-book service that they don't have as paper copies. Might be worth a try.

I supplement my library book habit with second hand books from the Oxfam bookshop when what I want isn't available. Average cost of around £1.99 and I donate them back when I've read them.

AlmaMartyr · 07/12/2015 07:46

Yes, worth checking out an ebook service. Ours is great! Also, it is still possible that they did buy a copy but it went missing was nicked. It happens surprisingly often!

Original poster
BondJayneBond · 02/02/2016 22:31

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OP posts:
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