It has been many years since I had been in the public library but I started doing some research on my parent's 1985 Cadillac and found that our library had service/repair manuals available. Just what I needed to work on the old boat. With the age of the internet, I had not even considered what the library had. This may help someone else in the future. I got a library card and checked out a Chilton manual. Saved me some money not buying the book.
Found A Great Resource Again: The Library
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The library here has Mitchell's On Demand.
Originally Posted By: brianl703
The library here has Mitchell's On Demand.
I am a librarian and I hear from people "it's all on the Internet, what do we need a library for?" Obviously it isn't, and sometimes it's on the Net because a library put it there.
John
The library here has Mitchell's On Demand.
I am a librarian and I hear from people "it's all on the Internet, what do we need a library for?" Obviously it isn't, and sometimes it's on the Net because a library put it there.
John
The library and the Internet... both great resources.
The one thing about the library... there isn't a whole lot of [censored] to wade through to get to the gems of information.
The one thing about the library... there isn't a whole lot of [censored] to wade through to get to the gems of information.
Originally Posted By: John_K
Originally Posted By: brianl703
The library here has Mitchell's On Demand.
I am a librarian and I hear from people "it's all on the Internet, what do we need a library for?" Obviously it isn't, and sometimes it's on the Net because a library put it there.
John
I hear ya. It appears kids are being taught research and education is looking around the web. Sign me up for a doctor who is trained that way....
Originally Posted By: brianl703
The library here has Mitchell's On Demand.
I am a librarian and I hear from people "it's all on the Internet, what do we need a library for?" Obviously it isn't, and sometimes it's on the Net because a library put it there.
John
I hear ya. It appears kids are being taught research and education is looking around the web. Sign me up for a doctor who is trained that way....
Reading books for enjoyment is becoming a lost thing. People are more interested in distracting themselves with bad TV or trashy internet sites. I know a number of people who haven't picked up a book in years. I'm wondering if there will be libraries in the future for e-books?
But yeah, a lot of times libraries will have old manuals that are out of print and can't be found anywhere else. For as much information as the interet offers - 90% of it is pure opinion, biased, or just garbage.
Especially for technical manuals, you're just not going to be able to find that stuff online. Even with our online Acura database of old factory shop manuals, most of the stuff from the early cars isn't there anymore.
But yeah, a lot of times libraries will have old manuals that are out of print and can't be found anywhere else. For as much information as the interet offers - 90% of it is pure opinion, biased, or just garbage.
Especially for technical manuals, you're just not going to be able to find that stuff online. Even with our online Acura database of old factory shop manuals, most of the stuff from the early cars isn't there anymore.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Don't some libraries let you log on from home with your library card then you can get at Mitchell and all that other stuff?
I can get Chilton's from home with my library card. Mitchell's is only available in the library "due to licensing restrictions".
Don't some libraries let you log on from home with your library card then you can get at Mitchell and all that other stuff?
I can get Chilton's from home with my library card. Mitchell's is only available in the library "due to licensing restrictions".
Glad you have a good library.
Ours is making itself less and less useful.
Our library used to be awesome, with an area out the back called the stack, which had all of the "obsolete" stuff.
Polished wood floors, and row upon row of real books written in the 20s through 50s, with some 60s and 70s stuff in it. Back when books were real, and didn't need more than a couple of technical drawings every few pages to demonstrate a concept.
Would spend hours in there, wandering and picking, and learned about growing good pasture, chemistry of coal utilisation over 50 years of development, development of the .303, firearm, ammunition etc. from books that took my interest.
They moved it to a more modern location (like it needed it, not). Moved the stack into a locked area not accessible to the public.
They tell me that the utility of the stack has not been lost, as if I order a book, they'll have it out tomorrow...
But the beauty of the old system was that you could discover what they had, now you can't.
They've got around 40 computers hooked up to the 'net, and a really poor array of glossy picture books now.
Apparently the stack isn't being utilised very much, so they are going to reduce it.
Ours is making itself less and less useful.
Our library used to be awesome, with an area out the back called the stack, which had all of the "obsolete" stuff.
Polished wood floors, and row upon row of real books written in the 20s through 50s, with some 60s and 70s stuff in it. Back when books were real, and didn't need more than a couple of technical drawings every few pages to demonstrate a concept.
Would spend hours in there, wandering and picking, and learned about growing good pasture, chemistry of coal utilisation over 50 years of development, development of the .303, firearm, ammunition etc. from books that took my interest.
They moved it to a more modern location (like it needed it, not). Moved the stack into a locked area not accessible to the public.
They tell me that the utility of the stack has not been lost, as if I order a book, they'll have it out tomorrow...
But the beauty of the old system was that you could discover what they had, now you can't.
They've got around 40 computers hooked up to the 'net, and a really poor array of glossy picture books now.
Apparently the stack isn't being utilised very much, so they are going to reduce it.
I was astonished the first time I went into a suburban library and they wouldn't let roam the stacks. They said I had to fill out a request card, and they'd bring me the book. I said, "Is this a library or a restaurant?" and left.
The Swamp's big downtown public library did more for me growing up than school did. The trouble now is, I don't live downtown any more, and the geniuses who "lead" the city decided to require parking meters on Saturdays as well as M-F. Guess what'll happen to the already tottering businesses down there? And the library will see less and less use.
Thank the gods I can check books out of the library at the university where I work.
The Swamp's big downtown public library did more for me growing up than school did. The trouble now is, I don't live downtown any more, and the geniuses who "lead" the city decided to require parking meters on Saturdays as well as M-F. Guess what'll happen to the already tottering businesses down there? And the library will see less and less use.
Thank the gods I can check books out of the library at the university where I work.
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