What’s on your mind?

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Speaking of public libraries --

Growing up in relatively remote towns around Papua New Guinea, our access to a library was via post. Every 6 weeks a box of books would arrive, we would pack the previous lot up to send back, and spend a month and a half with a set of new books.

Then we moved to Port Moresby, and I discovered the Ela Beach Public Library. I spent many hours there, looking for books to borrow, and sometimes just sitting there going through books from the shelves. I believe that I read their entire Science Fiction collection. Given that it grew out of an annex of the wartime Officers' club, it had a relatively large section, but dated, section on firearms. I learnt how to make a Kentucky Rifle* from there, as well as how Annie Oakley fed her siblings by 'barking'** squirrels.

Sadly it burned down in late 1986, after I returned to Australia, and I don't know what replaced it.



* Not that I ever did, but I could have, if I had the equipment.
** She shot the tree limb under the animal's tummy, making the bark bounce up onto the animal so hard it killed it instantly, without making a mess.

 

[The Clark]

I don't know if they're overrated all the time. Definitely some are though. I'm really trying to grow my friend group OUTSIDE the conservatory. Actually, I should put it this way--I don't have any friends who are NOT musicians. So I'm trying to do that. But then what would we talk about? They aren't musicians. Sports? Don't care about that. Popular TV shows? Also don't care about that.

I am curious to know about people's lives - their education, work, hobbies, etc. That's what I ask people about. If they're musicians, then of course that's a different kind of relationship. But I honestly have NEVER heard ANY group of people in the dining hall, for instance, talk about history - or literature, or chemistry, or any other area of study. Unless they're complaining about their classes. Not to say that that doesn't exist, I've just never witnessed or partaken in it. Music on the other hand is freely and frequently discussed. That's really interesting, I've actually never thought about that.

I really hate the classic "going out with friends thing." THAT is definitely overrated. I'd much rather just one friend come over and we can watch a movie or something. I'm certainly not one for going to the mall (yes, I know people who do that), or the arcade, or the movie theater, etc. Nor am I one for enormous parties, unless it's with family (we've had some of those).

Also, my parents have established dozens of friendships through work, which seems like a rarity. It seems to me their coworkers get along so well that they can be actual friends and go out together, etc. My dad's been at the same place for 30 years, and so have some of his colleagues, so I guess that makes sense. Don't know how my mom did it though. Probably mostly luck, to be honest. And the fact that both are extroverted people.

Trying to meet people outside of your usual group can feel tricky, especially when your interests don't always line up with what other people seem into.

When it comes to talking to non-musicians, it’s okay if you don’t share the same hobbies. People usually like it when someone shows interest in their life. You mentioned being curious about people’s education, work, and hobbie--that’s a great place to start. Even if it’s not something you care about, like sports or TV shows, asking about it might lead to topics that are more interesting to you. Conversations have a way of evolving.

You’ve noticed people don’t talk much about their areas of study unless they’re complaining about them. Maybe they just see places like the dining hall as a break from thinking about school. If you want to talk about history, literature, or other subjects, you might need to start that kind of conversation. You’d probably find other people who are into those topics but haven’t had a chance to bring them up.

You know what you like socially, and that’s a good thing. If big gatherings or outings aren’t your thing, there’s no reason to force it. A quiet night with one or two friends is just as meaningful. Some people love going out, but if that doesn’t work for you, it’s fine to stick with what does.

Keep focusing on what you value in friendships, and the right people will show up.

 

[The Clark]

Public libraries are on my mind; what a wonderful (and interesting and knowledgeable) addition to civilisation, and the creation and cultivation of cultured urban spaces.

Not to be disrespectful, but do you feel as though the internet has killed any and all use of libraries? I have the entire world at my fingertips. What does the Library offer?

 

[The Clark]

Are you calling us abnormal? 😆

Well... Is he wrong? 👀

 

[The Clark]

We are now just under ten days away from the winter solstice.

And, after that - although it will not become obvious for a few weeks - thankfully, the days will begin to lengthen.

Ugh, I hate that. Weather gets warmer, I am tasked with waking up earlier from the natural sun light, I can't dress for the fall anymore (most fashionable time) and I no longer have an excuse to stay inside.

 

[The Clark]

Scoring can also have a connotation of illicit or forbidden behavior. For example, "I went to the part of town where the drug dealers hang out to score some coke."

Can I get the names of the dealers please? (kidding, mostly)

 

[KaliYoni]

What does the Library offer?

I don’t intend to answer for others, but huge advantages of libraries include:

• Highly experienced and trained reference librarians. No need to waste time wading through and vetting questionable information.
• Staff and librarians who love to read, are widely read, and can consequently make better recommendations (or, in modern parlance, curate) than any algorithm.
• Collections spanning decades and centuries, often including information not available online.
• Access to anybody with curiosity and the ability to read. No devices, Internet access, or money required!

 

[rm5]

I have the entire world at my fingertips

I think this is largely a subjective matter--and "having the world at your fingertips" will feel differently for different people. Some may love it, or some may not. At that point, it's all down to personal preference, whether that's something you actually want.

I don't read often, so I can't give book examples, but I can give others. For music, there are a variety of advantages to streaming services like Spotify--I can just search something, and up it comes. No need to buy it separately, or any of that. However, it's important to note that Spotify has NEVER influenced my music choices, nor have I ever been enticed by its recommendations. I get music recommendations from actual people, who send me links to albums or tracks (or ones that are shared on this site and other forums I'm a part of). Or, I look myself at the artist's discography and see what I'm interested in. (That is another advantage to Spotify--finding discographies is super duper easy.)

However, I also like owning physical copies of albums, preferably on vinyl, but CD also suffices in a pinch. That way, I am in total control of what I consume. It is not dictated by artificial intelligence, or some other technological platform. It is dictated by my own choices, and mostly by other people's recommendations. If I like the album enough (or hell, even if I only like one or two tracks), I'll buy a physical copy of it. I also grew up on CDs and vinyl records (and VHS and DVDs), not streaming services. First 15 years of my life were like that. I'm also lucky that a professor gave me an entire mp3 collection of jazz albums, which, almost 2 years later, I'm still digging through!

And videogames--I am not super into gaming, but I own a few Xbox games. I would never get Xbox Game Pass, because, although that just gives me a huge selection at a subscription price, I want to really soak in on the ones I do own currently. I don't want to buy some other game to distract me further before finishing the one I'm currently playing--or otherwise becoming sick of it.

 

[rm5]

I can't dress for the fall anymore (most fashionable time) and I no longer have an excuse to stay inside.

I dress the same year-round—khaki pants and a T-shirt. In the winter I just layer over it. I do need to find a wool sweater that’s not $200 though—I’ll need it when I go back to Wisconsin. Especially since I’ll be leading admissions tours as soon as I get back and will need to look relatively nice despite the bitter, awful cold.

Also, me personally, I’d much rather be outside, it’s so much healthier. If there’s one thing I miss about high school, it’d be the annual backpacking and kayaking trips. 4-5 days in the wilderness with no technology was lovely (except for the one trip where I forgot all my medications). I really miss that.

 

[rm5]

You’d probably find other people who are into those topics but haven’t had a chance to bring them up.

Oh, absolutely! I just haven’t been patient enough with myself to realize that.

You know what you like socially, and that’s a good thing. If big gatherings or outings aren’t your thing, there’s no reason to force it. A quiet night with one or two friends is just as meaningful. Some people love going out, but if that doesn’t work for you, it’s fine to stick with what does.

I think I’m still at an experimental phase of my social life, just trying things out and finding out what I like and don’t like.

Also I think part of the challenge is that I haven’t developed my non-musical life enough to even know what I like. I think the entire point of college (and the program I’m in) is to develop that, but it’ll just take time. Only thing is, I really don’t have that much time left!

Also, I just need to learn how to have a conversation with someone. I suck at that, and am still really, really uncomfortable.

I truly envy those people who are naturally extroverted and have zero problem with this stuff.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Not to be disrespectful, but do you feel as though the internet has killed any and all use of libraries? I have the entire world at my fingertips. What does the Library offer?

Our Libraries has lot's of activities: https://bergenbibliotek.no/arrangement <- Norwegian link, use translate.

They arrange things like Reading clubs/circles, Game Nights, Lectures on a variety of subjects, Arts & Craft evenings, Study groups for things like (local) history and genealogy, Language courses (mostly Norwegian for foreigners), Movie nights (mostly for kids), House concerts, and much much more. All for free.

The main library in Bergen also has updated newspapers and magazines, and computers with internet access you can lend.

They also have special collections for local "celebrities", like Ole Bull and Edvard Grieg.

And, in addition to books (both physical books and e-books), you can lend music (CDs, vinyl, I think vinyl is not for home lendigng, but they have listening stations on the library with good chairs), films (DVDs or streaming), games, and more. Like musical instruments or how about a sowing machine?

You can also book meeting rooms, if you need to coordinate something and work from home or similar.

But, many think like you, so the Libraries in Norway has actually had a campaign about this all this fall (examples in Norwegian):

 

[GerritV]

Not to be disrespectful, but do you feel as though the internet has killed any and all use of libraries? I have the entire world at my fingertips. What does the Library offer?

Time away from the omnipresent screens ;-)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Not to be disrespectful, but do you feel as though the internet has killed any and all use of libraries?

No.

I have the entire world at my fingertips.

The entire world?

No.

Just some of it.

Besides, everyone's world is different.

I could not imagine a world without books, that is, real books, tangible, tactile, things, physical books, that one can immerse oneself in, lose oneself in.

Nothing I have ever read online offers the same experience; indeed, in my experience, the very act of reading online is different - I find that I skim and skip a lot more, - actually, I tear through and ravage material online, with a lot less respect for form and content - but find that I concentrate and focus a lot less - when reading online, and, to be quite candid, I enjoy the experience of reading (and I am a passionate reader) far less when reading online.

What does the Library offer?

Books.

I love books.

Real books.

And, moreover, not everything that I want to read is readily available online; I order some extraordinarily interesting material (that I will have read reviews of, or about matters or subjects that I may wish to research further) from my library (and public libraries in the UK and Ireland tend to be pretty impressive ad welcoming places, staffed by knowledgeable enthusiasts).

However, @KaliYoni and @Mitthrawnuruodo - both of whom I have quoted below - have written detailed answers (with which I am in complete agreement) to your comment.

Moreover, I will also point out that for the less affluent, the less advantaged, libraries (and I have read many bios which have mentioned this) frequently allow for the pursuit of knowledge and acquisition of learning in a positive and supportive (and safe) environment that might not be available in either homes (which may be abusive) or the sometimes stressed environment of schools.

Not everyone has access to the online world.

I don’t intend to answer for others, but huge advantages of libraries include:

• Highly experienced and trained reference librarians. No need to waste time wading through and vetting questionable information.
• Staff and librarians who love to read, are widely read, and can consequently make better recommendations (or, in modern parlance, curate) than any algorithm.
• Collections spanning decades and centuries, often including information not available online.
• Access to anybody with curiosity and the ability to read. No devices, Internet access, or money required!

Our Libraries has lot's of activities: https://bergenbibliotek.no/arrangement <- Norwegian link, use translate.

They arrange things like Reading clubs/circles, Game Nights, Lectures on a variety of subjects, Arts & Craft evenings, Study groups for things like (local) history and genealogy, Language courses (mostly Norwegian for foreigners), Movie nights (mostly for kids), House concerts, and much much more. All for free.

The main library in Bergen also has updated newspapers and magazines, and computers with internet access you can lend.

They also have special collections for local "celebrities", like Ole Bull and Edvard Grieg.

And, in addition to books (both physical books and e-books), you can lend music (CDs, vinyl, I think vinyl is not for home lendigng, but they have listening stations on the library with good chairs), films (DVDs or streaming), games, and more. Like musical instruments or how about a sowing machine?

You can also book meeting rooms, if you need to coordinate something and work from home or similar.

But, many think like you, so the Libraries in Norway has actually had a campaign about this all this fall (examples in Norwegian):

View attachment 2461834View attachment 2461835View attachment 2461833View attachment 2461836

Very well said, to both.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Clix Pix]

As a retired librarian, it warms my heart to read these lovely posts pointing out the many, many resources libraries offer their communities.....

And, yes, libraries provide access to print and digital/electronic materials which otherwise might not be available at all to some residents of the community. An important feature is that most public libraries and branches within large systems have computers available to the public to use in order to access the Internet, which is helpful for those who do not have a computer or any other electronic device.

 

[Apple fanboy]

As a retired librarian, it warms my heart to read these lovely posts pointing out the many, many resources libraries offer their communities.....

And, yes, libraries provide access to print and digital/electronic materials which otherwise might not be available at all to some residents of the community. An important feature is that most public libraries and branches within large systems have computers available to the public to use in order to access the Internet, which is helpful for those who do not have a computer or any other electronic device.

Libraries are also designated warm places for those that can’t afford to warm their home.
Yes that is a thing in the UK in 2024!

 

[Clix Pix]

Yes, libraries in the US, especially those in large cities, often also serve as a place where people hang out during the day in order to be warm in the winter or cool in the summer......

And, yes, also many library staff have been trained on the administration of Narcan, too, which unfortunately has become a necessity in too many areas.

 

[The Clark]

My local library is more like a daycare with children running around and screaming. It always left a bad taste in my mouth, but I definitely appreciate the insight here into why you all value them so much. It makes sense to me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Speaking of libraries, I paid a visit to mine today, to collect four (fat) books that awaited me.

The kind staff insisted on supplying me with bookmarks, and copies of their Christmas timetable. They also attempted to track down a book (a fascinating history of the East India Company) that I had placed a reserve on last July, and which their online site informed me that I am now at Number One in the queue, cheerfully making phone calls to see where this tome might be lurking.

A fresh hold was placed on it (it had found its way to a shelf), and it has now been placed in some sort of crate, to be despatched to me; hopefully, I should be able to lay hands on it late next week (just in time for the Christmas break).

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Ok, that went disturbingly well...

I saw that a rival Internet provider had an offering that was 2.5 times faster than my current provider, at a slightly cheaper price.
So I switched providers.

• Thursday morning, rang the other team, gave all the authorisations, they said a new router would be delivered in a few days. All I would have to do was unplug the old one, plug in the new one, and access Macrumors 2.5 times faster.
• Friday morning, new router arrives. Unplug the old one, plug in the new one, bang, access the Internet at the original speed.
• Fifteen minutes later, having done a few tests, ring tech support. While waiting the interminable 5 minutes to get to the end of the queue, read the instructions.* Realise I may have plugged the cable into the wrong hole.
• Speak to support, tell them what I have done wrong, they do some tests. All is working, just the wrong speed. Support waits patiently while I plug into the correct hole, does some more tests, all is working, now at the right speed.

So, 24 hours after speaking to the new provider, all is now good. The only stuff-up was on the part of the customer, who shall remain nameless.

Also the main reason I was trepidatious about moving the cable is that the box it was connected to was behind a small shelf full of my beloved's knitting and yarns. Moving it without authority was an act not to be contemplated.


* There are some who might suggest I should have done this earlier...

 

[mollyc]

my daughter's university just completed a four year $141 million renovation on their library. it's beautiful. she spends a lot of time there, although i don't think she checks out many books. but it's a fantastic study and collaboration space. they even preserved a card catalog!

 

[Macky-Mac]

Not to be disrespectful, but do you feel as though the internet has killed any and all use of libraries? I have the entire world at my fingertips. What does the Library offer?

you've had a recent run-in with copyright enforcement.....so I'll point out that while it may seem like "everything" is online, there's actually a vast amount of material that's only available in printed form and much of it is tucked away in libraries; and in part that's due to copyright law.

In the USA, you can only count on something being in the public domain if it was printed before 100 years ago, and even then, there's still a vast amount of stuff from before 1924 that hasn't been digitized.

 

[The Clark]

you've had a recent run-in with copyright enforcement.....so I'll point out that while it may seem like "everything" is online, there's actually a vast amount of material that's only available in printed form and much of it is tucked away in libraries; and in part that's due to copyright law.

In the USA, you can only count on something being in the public domain if it was printed before 100 years ago, and even then, there's still a vast amount of stuff from before 1924 that hasn't been digitized.

I would have never guessed this. Good point.

 

[rm5]

That might have been the worst piano I have ever played tonight. Had a gig with a bass player (really good, just moved here from New York). Guess I'm the first musician he's ever met/played with here. Generally I can make bad, out-of-tune pianos sound good, and I certainly tried tonight--dunno how well it worked tonight though. Anyway, the performance itself was great, and the bass player and I had a nice groove between the two of us. But WOW, that was an awful piano!

 

[rm5]

People who are giving bad - and dangerous - advice on social media. Guys, please, please, be careful. Verify anything you see with legitimate sources.

 

[decafjava]

People who are giving bad - and dangerous - advice on social media. Guys, please, please, be careful. Verify anything you see with legitimate sources.

Absolutely - one of the biggest plagues of the internet.