Doesn't this seem excessive?

[Myrrhine]

That is the norm here. It expires on your birthday. Do they ask for some complicated proof of residence?

[y4m]

I had to do it 2 months after I got it!

[bluelikejazz]

Odd.

The only time I've ever had to 'renew' mine was after i got married and moved (and hadn't use the library in like 5 years) and begged for a new one without paying the "i lost my library card' fee...

[bunch]

I do too. I was pissed because I requested a book over the phone and a week later, when I thought it should have been there, I came in and found out it was never requested because my card was expired. Blah.

[cjeanette]

Around here you have it for life.

[moolarkey]

I think our cards are for 5 years

[Myrrhine]

Nov 14, 2012 19:16:14 GMT -5 swizzlestx said:

Nov 14, 2012 19:09:56 GMT -5 Myrrhine said:

That is the norm here. It expires on your birthday. Do they ask for some complicated proof of residence?

No clue. I got it online and have only used it online so far. I hope they don't. We moved, but within the same county so hopefully my driver's license will work.

Oh, I see. If you are using it mainly for ebooks or something like that, it is a pain to go to the library in person. I guess they are concerned that you might move to another municipality and continue to shamelessly exploit your library access.

[Deleted]

You have to renew library cards? For what purpose?

[Roc A Bee]

I haven't had a library card since I was like 10.

[Deleted]

Yes.

I haven't had to renew my card and I've had it for like 5 years. I did originally have to go in person with proof of New York (state, not city) residency, but that makes sense. I'm not sure if it would expire if I kept it dormant -- I use it often.

I plan to join the Brooklyn Library next time I'm in Brooklyn during the day (they also require going in person with proof of NYS residency). Apparently they have better online offerings than the NYPL. But I think once I'm in I'm in.

ETA: I take all this back. Apparently I have to renew in person with proof of residency in hand every three years. But I'm at the library all the time so it isn't an inconvenience for me. I'm old school.

[katiecj]

I have to do the same. But it's not a big deal. She didn't even asked for ID, just asked if I still lived at the same address. I always go in person though

[y4m]

Honestly I see why they do it because I have valid cards for like 4 different counties now. It didn't matter before e-books--but now I can download stuff from any of them.

[Deleted]

That is annoying.

[StJess80]

It usually has to do with city funding. The library submits statistics to the city, who then probably analyzes what parts of the city that library is serving (if you have multiple branches).

And yes, it is to make sure that you live in the area where the taxes are being charged, because those taxes fund the libraries.

(though, I think every year is a bit much, and every 2 would probably work just as well. But it probably depends on the city's policies on taxes.)

[cjeanette]

Nov 14, 2012 21:01:37 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

It usually has to do with city funding. The library submits statistics to the city, who then probably analyzes what parts of the city that library is serving (if you have multiple branches).

And yes, it is to make sure that you live in the area where the taxes are being charged, because those taxes fund the libraries.

(though, I think every year is a bit much, and every 2 would probably work just as well. But it probably depends on the city's policies on taxes.)

Our librarian just asks everytime I our address has changed and you have left our county. If you only do online you have to call every two years.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using proboards

[Nonny]

To my knowledge we don't have to renew our card. I imagine if I was supposed to they would send me an email.

[Deleted]

I've never considered that people don't have to do this. I just wish we could renew online.

Our library costs $12/year though so it makes sense that you need to renew.

[gt7301b]

If you move out to the burbs you won't have to step foot in a library after you get your card

[Deleted]

They give us 2 years here.

[agnes]

I don't even know where my library is for my current city. I had to google and the street doesn't even a ring a bell for me. I'm going to have to look it up on a map.

The last time I renewed my library card was when I was in college and they did 5 year increments. I should have renewed right before I moved out of that city because it was a really nice library.

[pippa]

Yes, it's weird. My local library made me change my name in the system when I got married but didn't give me a new card. You only get a new card if you lose it.

[Deleted]

Am I the only person who primarily gets physical books from the library? I don't have a Kindle, I guess I need to get with the times. I go to the library two or three times a month.

[jena]

I think ours is every 5 years. I know they do expire, but it's not very often. But anyone in our very large county. It any of the 5 surrounding counties can get a card, so basically anyone within 100 miles can use the library.... So no point being very anal about it.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[Myrrhine]

Nov 14, 2012 22:17:41 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Am I the only person who primarily gets physical books from the library? I don't have a Kindle, I guess I need to get with the times. I go to the library two or three times a month.

I also get mainly physical books. Our library has a pretty limited ebook selection, and there is often a wait for popular new releases. I can order the books online and then pick them up at my local branch; I'm there pretty often. A couple of the librarians know me by sight.

[kscarlett]

Nov 15, 2012 0:16:35 GMT -5 Myrrhine said:

Nov 14, 2012 22:17:41 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Am I the only person who primarily gets physical books from the library? I don't have a Kindle, I guess I need to get with the times. I go to the library two or three times a month.

I also get mainly physical books. Our library has a pretty limited ebook selection, and there is often a wait for popular new releases. I can order the books online and then pick them up at my local branch; I'm there pretty often. A couple of the librarians know me by sight.

I only get physical books. I think our library has a pretty expansive ebook collection that they've been promoting a lot, but I haven't quite figured out the concept of checking out ebooks.

[gt7301b]

Nov 14, 2012 22:17:41 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Am I the only person who primarily gets physical books from the library? I don't have a Kindle, I guess I need to get with the times. I go to the library two or three times a month.

My library doesn't have many e-books and the ones that it does have are on hold for months and months. It is easier to get physical books.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2012 22:17:41 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Am I the only person who primarily gets physical books from the library? I don't have a Kindle, I guess I need to get with the times. I go to the library two or three times a month.

I do too, even though I have a Kindle. Unless you're a big fan of romance novels, my library doesn't have a good selection of e-books and the waits for the decent ones are ridiculous.

It helps that there are 3 libraries within a 5 minute walk of my office, and 2 within a 5 minute walk of my apartment, so it is very easy to get to the library.

[mrshandy]

It's a little excessive, I live in the same county. But I use the library for both ebooks and paper books so its not too much of a pain to renew.

I think our library system is pretty awesome. So I can't really complain about this.

[aspentosh]

Yeah, that seems crazy. No idea if ours expires(d?).

[Deleted]

Nov 15, 2012 8:37:17 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Nov 14, 2012 22:17:41 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Am I the only person who primarily gets physical books from the library? I don't have a Kindle, I guess I need to get with the times. I go to the library two or three times a month.

I do, because Canada doesn't have Kindle library lending yet. But my little branch has a really weird selection (mostly WWII nurse stories and African-American romance novels) so I primarily put books on hold and pick them up when they are ready via the self-serve checkout.

But don't our ebooks work on every other reading device? Kobo, Sony, nook, iPad.

When I put a hold on a book, I usually do both versions and see which one I get first.

Does no one else have to pay for their library membership?