Comment by Mary Schmidt on January 8, 2008 at 4:09pm

As one of my friends said, "Libraries are the best. There you are surrounded by something you love...and it's all free!" Whenever I go (and that's often) and see all the people, including kids, that - gasp - are actually reading - it gives me hope for the human race.

And, don't forget the way cool online system where you can browse the entire catalogue and have it delivered to your local branch from any other branch. Sheer heaven.

P.S. I'm not telling you about the monthly library sale downtown 'cuz enough people go already. Oops, already did! ;-)

Wyoming is "my" branch but I also like the Cherry Hills branch and Downtown has just about every magazine published anywhere. The DVD (and audio book) collection is far better at Cherry Hills than Wyoming.

(Oh and I can walk to the Wyoming branch - that's even better!)

Comment by Brian Morris on January 8, 2008 at 4:35pm

Libraries are THE BEST! I would also encourage you all to take part in the Friends For the Public Library Monthly Book Sales - the 2nd Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Main Library Downtown. Our organization raises over $10,000 a month to give back to the Library System...and you can find practically NEW BOOKS for 50 cents to a couple of bucks! Visit www.friendsforthelibrary.org. We also have a Used Book Shop Downtown at the Main Library!

Comment by W2M on January 8, 2008 at 4:43pm

oh, sweet libraries.... I have lived in ABQ for 12 years and have read my way thru the downtown one (twice), San Pedro and San Mateo; I have also spent a bit of time in the Wyoming and Eubank ones...

the biggest issue I have with the libraries here is that one library will have book 1 and book 3 of a series, another will have book 2, 3 and 4, and a different one will have 4 and 5... rarely is a whole series at a given library;

Comment by Adelita on January 8, 2008 at 4:54pm

I've been in the Special Collections library on (Central and Edith) a lot lately to do research for stories. It's the best - especially if you need info about 'Burque. And it's the coolest building. Jee whiz, I remember when it was the main library in town!

But I will always love my little Los Griegos branch, just walking distance from my casita. .

Comment by Jen on January 8, 2008 at 5:05pm

I was just getting ready to write an ode to the Abq. library system myself! I am such a huge fan of it, especially as Mary noted, how you can put holds on books & have them delivered to your closest branch. (W2M--perhaps a solution to your series dilemma?)

I love what a truly useful public resource it is--no matter when I go, or to which branch, it's always well-used, by patrons of all ages. For free! And in my experience, the employees have all been friendly and helpful.

My son has also really enjoyed the storytime at Erna Fergusson.

My other favorite things about it: no late fees!

Comment by Mary Schmidt on January 8, 2008 at 5:06pm

No, noooo Brian - we don't want more people to come to the sales - I want all the vintage Gourmet mags for myself! Oops, there I go again. ;-)

W2M: For the series problem - go online and put holds on the ones you want (www.cabq.gov/library) and they'll be delivered to the branch you specify. You have to spend a couple of minutes setting up your account (name and card #) but then next time you come back, it's a matter of seconds if you know what you want.

Comment by usemoreglue on January 8, 2008 at 7:04pm

How very, very strange! I just went to the main library today for the first time in almost a year! It was like a long-term romance re-ignited. My new books and I even had trouble pulling ourselves out of bed.

I grew up going to the Wyoming branch, so it's still the only library that really feels like "home".

Comment by cynthia on January 8, 2008 at 7:21pm

I LOVE the library. But let me also mention that you can download some books online; the online catalog is very user-friendly and accessible. The online "rentals" expire after a couple of weeks but are great to download books onto your laptop or hand-held. If there are books you want and they don't have, you can put in an order for them. I successfully ordered some copies of "Heather Has Two Mommies" (kids picture book) several years ago, and was not sure if they would purchase the books, but they did! They used to have a reading program on Saturdays at the main library with volunteer dogs to promote reading confidence in kids, and my kids really loved that too.

Comment by vashti on January 8, 2008 at 8:51pm

I too love love love the library and go often. I check out books relevant to the subjects I'm teaching (as a traveling teaching artist) to share with students and then encourage them to go to their branch and check out those very same books. I check out music cds regularly, as well as feed my hunger for fiction, art stuff, project instructions and ideas, and occasionally even check out a DVD or two. I too love the technology, being able to search and reserve books online -- but what I mostly love about the library is walking around and exploring, touching the books, reading jackets to find my next adventure. I will be checking out those sales, thanks for the info Brian and Mary (Mary, I'll steer clear of the vintage Gourmets!)

Comment by Benny the Icepick on January 8, 2008 at 11:01pm

People ask why my bookshelves are so empty. I respond that I rely heavily on ABQ's great library system.

Now if I could only explain why there's always more beer in my fridge than food...


I was just in the library today to pick up a book for a long plane ride. Grabbed Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot." Absolutely poetic:

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