this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2025
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Books.
Most librarians are knowledgeable and love helping you find something, or getting it in from another library.
As a library assistant, I second that message
Not everyone has access to libraries. However anyone with internet access and a device capable of reading ebooks can read for free with libgen, zlib, and sci hub.
If you have access to the internet youβll be able to get access to library ebooks. There are some libraries thatβll give non residents access.
Any examples?
Which country are you in? In the US, Harris County Public Library in Texas gives free access to basically anyone with an email address.
I researched last year and there were several libraries. Unfortunately I didnβt save my results. Check out Reddit heh.
Usually only available to citizens of the same country. I don't actually know of any libraries that allow access to people who are neither residents nor citizens of the country, but there may be some.
Every book I try to check out has a 3 month to 3 year wait-list. Not exactly a convenient way to read.
Where are you? My wait here (mid size city in Florida) is usually 0-3weeks, unless they don't have it at all, then I request and it can be 6 weeks to infinity. But they will send hard copy books around between libraries not even in our county, and the electronic collection is huge too.
I've been trying e-books, usually when I find something I want to read it will say something like you are 38th in line. Minnesota.
Here when there is a big line like that, usually they will temporarily rent more licenses. So it will say 38th in line for one of 8 copies, not just 38th. If it's a popular new book they do that. I read mostly sci fi and fantasy, occasionally smut, it's been solid for those categories. Have found many enjoyable reads and those sorts of books are great to read on the device. Stories. Informational/resource books less so, for me it is easier to go back & forth with a paper book.
ETA I don't know why someone would down vote you for sharing your experience, that's silly.
I see this often as well. I usually put in holds on several things at a time. I often find that the had is passed to me much quicker than the estimated time when queues are long like this. I suspect people are in line for several things and just pass along when it becomes available and they're reading something else. I similarly will pass on holds when the become available and I am reading something else.
Tldr, I recommend putting in the hold anyway, and seeing what happens. But put in holds on lots of options for best results.
I like owning my own stuff.
By that proxy you could also just rent your home instead of owning a living space.
That's a crazy comparison. If I could rent a home for free from the library I would feel like I'd won the lottery. I absolutely would do that. Is renting from the library not free where you are?
Depends. My local library is but the major library in the neighbouring city has a fee associated with being a member lending something. Entry is free though.
Books, though? If I had to buy every book I've read, I would be destitute and need a hundred storage units. Even with a concerted effort not to buy books I have a whole shelf of them.
Also quite a few great books in the public domain. Here is a website that curates, fixes up, and publishes free copies of classic public domain literature: https://standardebooks.org/