A video store for books.

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Adam B.

So, the other day I am talking to a friend about how frustrating it is that I can't get my hands on the books I want to read.  I'm like, "they should make it as easy to get a book as it is to rent videos. You know, I just go down to the local video store and give them a buck or two and I have a movie for a whole week." Then I started to expound on this awesome idea I had about setting up an online community book swapping thing.

He was unimpressed. "Why don't you just go to the public library?"

Now, you will have to excuse me for the moment, but I was not at all familiar with this word "library".  Unfortunately, the only thing "public" that came to mind was restrooms, so I thought my friend was making a crude reference to the "literature" that graces the walls of such locals. After we sorted through the misunderstanding he informed me that a library is a place where you can read books without buying them. I was intrigued.

I did a search for "librarys in Portland Oregon" and it turns out there is a public library as close to my house as the local video store. Fancy that. I decided to visit it this afternoon. Like the video store they asked me for my personal information and ID and issued me a rental card. I quickly found the books I wanted and went to the register. (The Phantom Tollbooth was all checked out. Typical.) As the woman scanned the books I handed her my library card and thumbed through my wallet for some cash. When I handed her a five she said, "No sir, we don't need that. This is a library."

"Oh, sorry. This is my first time. Do I pay when I bring them back?" I asked.

She gave a wry smile, "That's not how it works. You don't have to pay anything."

I returned her wry grin, "Okay, what's the catch?"

"There's no catch, sir, as long as you bring them back before their due date-"

"Ah ha! What? Outrageous fees? Is that how you get us?" I said pointing my finger at her and standing very tall.

"If you bring the book back late it is 10 cents a day. Are you finished?" She seemed suddenly impatient.

"Yeah... uh, thanks." I was dumbfounded. What a crappy business model. How do they make any money at all? Well, I guess I shouldn't look a gift book in the binding. Either way, you will all be happy to know I have found the local "library" today and I start reading your recommended books.

This entry was posted in Literature. Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.strangeconnections.blogspot.com Steven K

    That’s nice that you found the library after 28 odd years. I think it may be a good thing you never stumbled into the Milford library in during your years there. It was a beautiful building, yes, but it just didn’t seem to have anything. Scary to think had you attempted to sample the fruits of the Milford branch you may have been turned off forever from the idea of the public library. You may have thought a library really is just an over expensive way of storing discarded romance novels.

    Every time I think about leaving Chicago, I am reminded of the amazing library it has. One can find anything in that place. The cherry on top, however, is their endless store of backlogged journals in microfilm format. One could read for years about any type of criticism you could think of on their endless miles of microfilm. I remember, more still, the day that a hint of hope in the city was rekindled within my heart when I asked the help desk how one pays for print outs of microfilm documents and to my delighted shock, I was told that any microfilm document can be printed out for free, “yes, just push the ‘print’ button.” That’s it.

    In a city that is constantly finding new back-end ways of taxing the local population, from revenue trucks with mounted cameras seeking out license plates that have expired stickers or outstanding tickets to the local recorder charging upwards of $2.00 a page for “uncertified” copies, one is yet able to search and print any number of thoughtful essays at no charge whatsoever.

  • Amira

    Glad you brought up Milford’s rather pathetic attempt of a library. What you didn’t say/ know is that we lucky residents pay around $230 per person for said object. Taxes Adam. Now if there were only something worth checking out of it…….

  • http://aaronstewart.blogspot.com aaron

    I thoroughly enjoyed this.

  • fitz

    I vote now because Portland mails me ballots. When they wanted more money for the libraries I voted no. Who uses them anymore?

    THEY ARE SO OUTDATED. We pay millions to run buildings no one visits.

    What we need is a new NATIONAL library system, like blockbuster online. You search online for whatever you want, in every category. You sign in and order it mailed to you. EVERYTHING is at your fingertips. They have hundreds of copies of everything in some massive warehouse.

    I bet you 1000 dollars it would be cheaper than running all the public libraries we have in every city and suburb. I bet you public use would go up 1000%.