Library...back in ancient times :)

Boy, I got spoiled when I was in the states with the library system that I got so used to. Here in England, things are different. I decided to get a library card while I am here, because I don't have the money to buy the books (I am officially unemployed, and books in UK cost a small fortune...ok, not a small fortune, but they are twice as expensive as the same books in US and I would have hard time convincing my hubby to spend twice the money for the same product :)) So, library seemed like a good idea.

When I got to the library first, I got myself a library card, which was not much of a hassle, the same procedure as in the US really. But when I first went to the library I did so to use a computer, because back then I did not have a laptop yet. I was shocked at how old their computers was, because I am used to Eagan and Burnsville libraries, you know the ones situated, let's just say not in the poor neighbourhoods, and those libraries had nice, skinny screen computers that were not as old as I am. In England, at least in Portsmouth, which is a rather small city, but it's a port and is rather expensive to live in, the computers in the library are competing in age with me, no kidding. Oh well, I got over that fact pretty easily then, because honestly, an old computer is still better than no computer.

Next I was surprised by the fact that you are allowed only 30 minutes on the computer. 30 minutes? Seriously? I can't even browse, it would take me that long to check my mail, write to a few people and maybe check if Matt has a new blog. I can't even write a blog in one sitting. Oi. Oh, and if you need more time, you have to go to the front desk after the computer disconnects after 30 minutes (yes, it just disconnects, Matt thought that at the end of 30 minutes the computer would self-destruct as in Mission Impossible, but I waited to see until the very last second of my session, and....oh well, nothing got self-destructed, boring old computers) and ask them for more time, then they approve it and you get to go back for another 30 minutes. So, yeah, I did not like using the computers at the library very much, but I did go there almost every day, but I never stayed for more than 30 minutes, did not want the front desk people think that I am addict or anything.

I did not get to check out the books till this week. I decided that I want something interesting to read. Usually I read some chick lit, something easy and fluffy. So, I went to the library, found 1 computer with catalogue (yes, just one). Tried to look for the authors I like to see what books were available. Most of the books were checked out, so I just decided to walk through the fiction section and see what jumps at me. I looked at a couple of books, but nothing really seemed like something I wanted to read. Their fiction was just organized in alphabetical way according to the author. Finally, I wandered to the front of the library where I saw shelves that had books by theme "Crime", "Horror", "Sci Fi" Now, how hard would it be to just put "Chick (not romantic) Novels" shelf there, apparently too hard. I was getting tired of browsing through books and authors that I have never heard of before, and looked on the "Crime" shelf in hopes that they would have Agatha Christie, because that is classic Crime if you ask me and I love her. And they did. They had a whopping 7 Agatha Christie's books. Now, maybe some were checked out, but people that lady wrote over 80 books, come on, everybody who loves "Crime" have got to love her, besides it's just Classic. Anyway, I picked up 2 books, and went to check out.

Here comes the last surprise, they don't have self checkout, you know those cool things, where you just bring the book to the machine that scans the bar code of the book and print a receipt for you that tells you when the book is due. Nope, you get to bring the book to the front desk, then they send you to go around the corner to another desk. Once you get there, the woman opens the cover of the book, and there are some sheets of small paper glued to the cover of the book. The lady takes the date stamper and stamps the date on the small piece of paper inside the book cover that tells me that my book is due back on November 5, 2008 (28 days for me to read the book). Wow, that is some old-school checking out procedure. Strange, strange if you ask me. They have a bar-code reading machine, obviously. They must register in the computer which books I checked out. How hard is it to have a program that just adds 28 days to the date of check out and then send the info to the printer with the name of the book and the date of when it's due. Well, apparently it's hard. I mean, I guess one plus of this system is that unless I lose the book I will never lose the date of when I am supposed to return it, I mean, it's right there on the cover (I have lost receipts from the library before stating when my book is due, and ended up paying late fee), but it just seems like a waste of time for the library worker, and let's face it the library could generate some late fees income from forgetful library users :)

Anyway, I am glad that there is a library within 10 minute walk from our apartment, and it's pretty decent size, I mean it's not called Central Library for nothing :) it's just that I was brought back in time when I went there and went through using the Internet there and checking out books. It was interesting, that is for sure.