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Do you have a library card?

Response Percent Votes
Yes
 
73% 635
No
 
26% 232
Total 867

Comments

mr_right_wing 7 years, 3 months ago

Tore my card up about 5 years ago... Lawrence Public Library is a joke.... Try the Topeka Library, much better.

AnnaUndercover 7 years, 3 months ago

@mr_right_wing The Lawrence library just needs bigger and more regular donations from people like you and me.

I do share your love of the Topeka library though. I absolutely adore it and visit as much as I can, especially when I want to take advantage of the Foundation Center resources that the Lawrence Public Library lacks.

kjo_shorty 7 years, 3 months ago

I do have a library card... just not for lawrence. Topeka Public Library is where it's at.

1029 7 years, 3 months ago

Not anymore. About 2 years ago I told the librarian to keep mine after they tried to charge me 30-something bucks for overdue books one day when I went up to check out a couple more. I had been checking out books weekly for about a year when I forgot to return two of them one time. I didn't think much of it because I figured it was a 10-cent per day fine (Plus, both books had been published decades ago and the library had several other copies of both on their shelves, so it's not like somebody was waiting on the book). Apparently, there was some $25 collection fee tacked on to the fine.

I used to love the Lawrence Public Library. Now I say f--- them. I'll go somewhere else to get books.

avoice 7 years, 3 months ago

Maybe if the Lawrence Public Library was more helpful to its patrons, they would have more of them. A couple of years ago, my 8-year-old lost a paperback book he checked out from the LPL. I told him he was going to have to replace it, so we found the exact same book online and he had to cough up the $6+ to buy it. We took the replacement book in, but that was not good enough for them. They said they prefer to buy their books from their own sources. That is code for this-other-company-gives-us-free-books-when-we-buy-from-them. They wanted to charge us an additional replacement fee for the book. The total came to the amount that we could have bought two of these books for online. By this time, my son was down to the pennies in paying all these fees. We paid $2-$3 of the replacement fee in pennies, and received a letter from the library nazi telling us that paying in pennies was "abusive." Well, my son did learn a very big lesson from this entire experience. Not the lesson I was hoping for. I'd hoped he would learn to be responsible and make restitution for his carelessness. Instead, he learned that libraries are petty and punitive and that he should buy his books instead, because in the end the book you buy is yours to do with as you please.

Amy Heeter 7 years, 3 months ago

I was told by someone that years ago a guy here in Lawrence was taken to court by the library and was sued for thousands in fines. Does anyone know about that? Just wondering. I do agree buying books is easier. I havent had a library card for awhile now.

born_to_run 7 years, 3 months ago

I use the Lawrence library often and I enjoy it. I've never had any problems. If I had a book overdue (to where they sent me a replacement letter, once I took the book in and paid the late due fine, they would remove the charge for replacing the item. I especially like the "request" capabalities online (for DVD's, books, music). I hardly ever pay for a DVD movie anymore. I just get it from the library. I might have to wait awhile, but you can have up to 25 requests and it works out that I usually get about 2-3 movies a week to watch for free. I've never been to the Topeka library, but it seems like they have a lot of cool stuff also, so I might have to check it out. The classes, trivia night, and different movie/film series all sound great. I wish the LPL would offer more of that stuff and other classes here in Lawrence. http://www.tscpl.org/programs/section/adult_programs/

brujablanco 7 years, 3 months ago

Arti - look that case up on the court house computers next time you are visiting. They are downstairs in the clerk's office. There is a plethora of eye-opening info in those databases, I tell 'ya.

Mariposa 7 years, 3 months ago

A huge thank you to the library. I like being able to reserve books online and then being notified by e-mail when I can pick them up. They also notify me a couple of days before a book or movie is due. The information desk has been most helpful when I have had difficulty finding a book or I am researching a particular subject. The art displays are terrific. I see so many that I would like to own.

Sue McDaniel 7 years, 3 months ago

The people I know in Topeka don't like their's!

I LOVE ours! Saves me tons of money!

beawolf 7 years, 3 months ago

I think the library is alright. It could be better, perhaps, but I have had tremendous success finding the materials I need, reserving them on-line and I receive timely notices when materials are available or past due. I also look forward to their book sales.

1029, I had a similar experience as yours. However, I kindly asked them to split the amount and they did even though I (like you) was totally to blame. Considering the tone of your post, I have a feeling the Library is perfectly fine with not having you as a patron.

Prairielander 7 years, 3 months ago

I love the ability to reserve materials on line. I use it often. The library just changed their fines up to $0.15 from $0.10 per day with a $4.50 max (up from $3.00). Still seems reasonable to me.

and avoice.......paying your fine in pennies IS abusive.

bkreed1960 7 years, 3 months ago

I grew up in a very small town and as much as I liked our library growing up, I can't say enough good things about the Lawrence library. I find the staff very helpful and am never at a loss for material to check out (almost too much for the little time I have). I'm glad Topeka has a great library considering they are a much bigger city than Lawrence. It probably should work out that way because of their size.

denak 7 years, 3 months ago

Yes, I love our library. Any book that they don't have, I can readily get through interlibrary loan. I check out movies and music from there all the time. When my computer had a melt down last year, I was able to finish some classes using their computers. So, I find very little to criticize about our library.

I do agree with those who post about the tactics used by the library when a book is lost but I think that is changing. A few years ago, I lost a book and like "avoice," I tried to replace it the same book with one that I found on Amazon. They absolutely were not having it. It was a very unpleasant experience and in the end, I just paid for it. However,a few months ago, there was a dispute as to whether or not I returned a book ( I did, I remember the day I returned it). The library just tagged the book and since that time, I have never recieved a bill or anything regarding it. So, I don't know if they have just changed their tactics and just write the book off now or if they just forgot about me but I am hoping they changed their tactics.

Dena

costello 7 years, 3 months ago

I use both the Lawrence and Topeka libraries. Topeka's is better, but then it's better funded.

I don't see the need to tear up your LPL card just because you like TSCPL better. You don't have to pick one or the other.

If you lose a library book, you have to pay to replace it. If you return it late, you have to pay a fine (at most libraries). It's not personal.

lwctown 7 years, 3 months ago

Heres a way to improve the library experience...put in a small lounge area with chairs, tables and sofas...serve wine and beer and I would hang out all day reading books and magazines.

coolmom 7 years, 3 months ago

i am assuming the fine was paid partly in pennies because it came from a childs bank? that being the case i think pennies is fine. i actually think pennies are fine anyway for the most part they are legal american currency.

Mike George 7 years, 3 months ago

I'll concentrate on a simpler interpretation - the Lawrence Public Library employees need to figure out what customer service is, and the fact that most of us expect and deserve the best of that. We are not a bunch of inmates trying to borrow books from a prison library. Frankly, this library is slow, inconvenient and adversarial.

bendover61 7 years, 3 months ago

The homeless add a nice touch to the library in Lawrence that you don't get in Topeka.

Reuben Turner 7 years, 3 months ago

yep. haven't been in awhile,but i use it every year.

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