Mmmm, library...

[blue_lotus13]

After sending out two job applications, I went to the Vancouver Public library to sign up for a card. I think the VPL must have won a design award at some point, since it's a beautifully designed building. The library itself is HUGE. There are six floors. It includes a kid's floor, a Social Sciences floor, a "popular fiction" floor, a newspaper and magazines floor and the business and econ floor. There is a lot of Canadian fiction, and Asian fiction from the diaspora. I was slightly overwhelmed by the collection, but that usually happens the first time I visit a library. I can only take out 10 books for the first four months of my membership. I understand why the library would invent such a policy, but it's going to limit me from placing about 5 billion holds at a time. Oh well, I guess I can wait four months.

Comments

[aphrodite.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds like a dream! What a cool sounding library!

[hypnogogic.livejournal.com]

I love the design of the Vancouver library -- I spent way too much time in its aisles.

Although it does have one flaw -- not enough stalls in the bathrooms. There's nothing worse then rushing floor to floor looking for a place to do your biznezz while your bowels are screaming blue murder ...

[blue-lotus.livejournal.com]

That's good to know. My other problem with it so far is that you are only allowed 24 free requests a year. After that you have to pay. I think that's cruddy.

Oh man

[angharad.livejournal.com]

That is such a nuisance. That basically means that without a car, you're very limited in your selections (if you are me and read near-exclusively from one genre). The other thing I noticed (from the webpage, thankfully before I ran straight into the limit) was that if you don't pick up your requested book(s) on time, they will keep them for you (yay) but charge you for the privilege (boo). I have no idea what's common, but my previous library system would just take them away and you'd have to re-request them.

Re: Oh man

[(Anonymous)]

"Without a car?"

My "yay" about the VPL system is that you can request books from any other branch and have them bring it to your closest branch. Oh, and that you can request online from home.

The weird thing is that I'm sure I've requested about eight books this year, but the web site says I'm down to 19. Which is only 5 requests used up. I still haven't figured out how the system works.

Re: Oh man

[angharad.livejournal.com]

Right, but if I run out of requests, due to this measly limit? Then, I'll have to run all over town to get the needed volumes, see. Assuming I don't just go ahead and pay. We shall see.