Thanks for this article. I love libraries but buy books. Since retirement, I use the library more and more and love it as I did when I was a kid and only allowed five books a week. I got them every Friday and read them by the next. The Library is one of our greatest institutions.

I used to use our library all the time. Since I've started blogging, I rarely use it. For one, the time constraints don't work for me now. For another, now that I've had contact with authors and publishers, I want to support them.

I use the library all of the time. I live in the city but use the County library. I can park there, for one thing. And, unlike the Pratt branch nearest me, BaltCo is open past 5 p.m. (You retired folks must be the target market with those hours!)

Be all of that as it may, I use BaltCo's online feature to have books sent to "my" branch when I read reviews here or at another group.

I do, sometimes, buy books by my favorite authors.

I'm a regular at the Towson and Cockeysville libraries, for both books and CDs. I also attend some of the excellents author readings at the Pratt -- I wish Baltimore County had more of those.
p.s. I think I single-handedly keep the county library's budget afloat with my fines.

I make a weekly trip to the Towson library, though I am a city-dweller. Towson has a better selection, better hours, and better parking than the Pratt branches near me. Any time I see a book I want to read, I put the book on hold and so I always have a handful of books waiting for me at Towson. :-)

I love using the library to borrow books, periodicals, newspapers, CD's, and to use the internet. I wish they would offer more events like teaching computer software applications and holding practical discussions on relevant topics such as gardening, enviroment, nutrition, etc.

Yes I am in AA county libraries nearly every day. There is always something interesting and you can either read it there or take it home. We have found a fantastic selection of foreign and/or classic films I've never seen or heard of anywhere else--we can watch them for free! Wonderful.

I have always used the local libraries alot, ever since being a small kid. Growing up, my parents couldn't afford my reading habit (I regularly left the library with a brown paper bag overflowing with books), and as an adult, I still read more than my income can support. I visit a local branch at least once a week, usually more, even if I don't need anything in particular, and I usually walk out with something, be it another book, an audio book, musical CD, or a DVD movie. Plus, I feel freer to try books that I wouldn't normally try, since I know that if I don't like the book, I can return it without buyer's remorse. More often than not, this leads me to discover new authors and titles I never would've bothered to pick up in a bookstore. Once I've read something and love it, or if there's an author I particularly love and want to own their books, I'll then buy them. As much as I love buying books, I live in an apartment and don't have the space for more bookshelves.
Libraries are a wonderful, equalizing public resource. It allows everyone who is interested in learning, reading, etc, access to the requisite materials.
By the way, I've utilized many public library systems over the years (from DC, to AA county, PG County, Montgomery county, Baltimore city and county, and out-of-state ones as well), and Baltimore County is by far the best system I've come across.

When I was growing up I was at the library as often as I could get my parents to take me into town. And seeing as my Dad is an even more avid reader than I am. it wasn't very hard to convince him to go. Now, I have to admit that I am more likely to visit a bookstore than the library. I consider books my treat and honestly, sometimes I am just way too impatient to wait for the book from the library.

Thanks for the post, Patrick. The Westchester Library System in NY, where I live, subscribes to a lot of online databases that we can use from home. Very convenient!

I've just started using the library again. I used to love going to the library as a kid. I'd take out stacks and stacks of books. As an adult, however, I bought books or borrowed them from friends. I was laid off earlier this year and turned to the library to avoid the cost of books. I seriously forgot how great the library is. Once again, I'm taking out stacks of books and loving it. In fact, I just went there today.

My wife and I use the Canton Branch of EPFL regularly. I'm a freelance writer and often request books I need for research through interlibrary loan or from other Pratt branches. My wife is a voracious audio-book-o-vore. Our library saves us lots of space and money.

I'm big into the library for my kids. We go weekly to check out tons of kids books, and catch a storytime or two.

I prefer to buy my own books. I like write on the margins, dogear the pages, and reread them over the years.

Since becoming unemployed, I have at least gone to library at least twice a week. It's the best economical choice for certain services like printing out job applications when I don't have a working printer. I am lucky to live very close to the Central Library. Since I have to be much more economical than ever before, I have found free entertainment there. I have rented a lot of movies for free. So far I have been able to see the first three seasons of The Wire for free. Lately I've been catching up on all the good graphic novels I haven't had time to read in the past few years. I scope the new books section fairly often and roam the shelves and find things that I forgot I even wanted to read once upon a time.

In short, libraries actually, literally, rock.

I love the new EFPL Southeastern Branch in Highlandtown. And, it is close enough that I can walk there. My father was an avid book reader and introduced me to the Catonsville library when I was a young boy in the 1940's. I have been going ever since. I go about every two weeks and pick up three to five books. I also use the EFPL excellant web site. I take out mostly fiction and purchase non-fiction. I seldom read a fiction book twice and like to have non-fiction on hand for reference. Libraries are truly an asset and it is sad to hear that library services are being cut back.

We used to hang out at the Towson library when my kids were little, but our cards have expired now that they have grown. I work in a library, but I also buy books. My family knows to expect books from me at Christmas (which I collect year-round, so that I can read them before I wrap them!)

Sad news about layoffs at the Harford County library in this morning's paper.

I was a book buyer but due to buying a house, getting married and then my hubby losing his job I have gone back to the library. When I was young I would get out 15 books, read them all in 2 days, return them and go for more. I love the feel of libraries. I somtimes feel I am in the wrong profession.

I am a regular at my local library. They have a fabulous selection of books on cd and a great video section, full of classic movies. Audiobooks are expensive, and with a long commute, they keep me road rage. I talked to one of the librarians a while ago who told me that the classic movies are the big favorites, which is apparently the opposite of a lot of libraries. In my town, we apparently like our Bogie and Bacall.

For avid readers who live in rural areas, town libraries are a great source of information and entertainment. The relatively new Smithsburg Library in Washington County is a fine example. The computer terminals, the selection of reading material, the comfortable seating, and the well-informed staff make going to the library a special treat.

Larry Esser you sir are my new hero
i also live in a small apartment ,and like checking out a multide of books even if i dont read em all..and what you said about the green roads was on the money...buggers buggering up what needs to be given away for free!
everyone google my name check out my blog ...be sure and watch the videobar about the wire. thank you