WTF is up with libraries?

[SavannahLion]

So, OK. I'm not exactly a stranger to the public libraries around here. Over the course of 29 years, I must've registered at at least a dozen different libraries in different cities. Even as a kid, it was extraordinarily easy to obtain a library card so I could check books out. Wasn't hard, name, address, etc. Nothing difficult about it. Even when libraries started asking for ID, it wasn't a problem. I've had the same P.O. box for almost 25 years and the same one on my license for 11 years. No library ever balked at me having a P.O. box address.

Until today.

So on my lunch break, I walk over to the city public library and ask for a library card. They ask for ID. OK, no problem. They ask if that's a current address. It is one of the addresses I own, yes. Then they want proof of a physical address. Like an insurance card (P.O. box) or a bill (different P.O. box).

What happens next blows my mind. The ---smurf--- tells me I have to come back tomorrow with proof of a physical address then blows me off.

WHAT?!

Is that what libraries reduced themselves to? ---smurfing--- police?

The ---smurfing--- libraries are hemorrhaging money and losing patrons every year. You would think they would make it a little easier to apply for and obtain a ---smurfing--- library card at least. Gotta give Big Brother some kind of ---smurfing--- leads.

What the ---fudgesicle--- happened? When did libraries start being prissy about ---smurfing--- physical addresses? It's no ---smurfing--- wonder places like Amazon are making insane amounts of dough, especially if libraries are turning patrons away like that.

[ChadTower]

When they stopped giving materials away for free to any guy who felt like coming in with a made up address and no intention of returning the materials?

[zaphod]

Was that way here when I got my first library card 20+ years ago and don't think it was a new procedure at that point.  They want to make sure you are in the district.  Just covering their butts.

[Apollo]

I'm not sure why you think this is such a big deal. If there weren't arseholes in the world that steal library books, park in handicapped parks (when they aren't handicapped), shoplift, drive drunk etc etc we wouldn't need so many rules and regulations. Look to your fellow man for the answer not to the poor library who are simply trying to survive in an era of low library use and selfish ---smurfs--- that steal books.

[Dartful Dodger]

I pay my property taxes.  Part of it goes to upkeep the quality of the local library.

I don't want some vagrant with a PO box stealing/abusing equipment I'm paying for.

[SavannahLion]

So after fuming a bit, I looked around on the library website and there is zero mention of any requirement of a physical address. So I called the libraries central office and spoke specifically with the librarian supervisor. My suspicions were confirmed, you do not need a physical address, just a valid mailing address. A P.O. box clearly qualifies as a valid mailing address.

So I gave the supervisor the bitches name and the supervisor claims she'll speak with the employee and clarify the process. Personally, I think that's a line of ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- designed simply to appease me, but whatever. I'll be back later with the same P.O. box address and press harder or speak with a supervisor face to face about it.

I think the ---smurfette--- is on some sort of power run or something. I bet if I walked in wearing a three piece suit from TMW, I wouldn't have encountered any problems whatsoever.

I pay my property taxes.  Part of it goes to upkeep the quality of the local library.

I don't want some vagrant with a PO box stealing/abusing equipment I'm paying for.

That's kind of a weak argument. I pay property taxes like any property owner and I'm not even under Prop. 13. What about people who don't technically pay property taxes? Like people who live in rentals? How about someone who lives with someone else? Do those people have any less privilages to obtaining a library card?

Interesting comment about vagrants P.O. boxes? To be fair, most vagrants can't afford a P.O. box. Community boxes or shelter addresses are more common. Irregardless of whether vagrants can actually have a P.O. box, the library specifies the following as valid forms of photo ID for a library card, right off of their website;

California drivers' license number
California DMV ID card number
passport number
resident alien (green card) number
Matricula Consular ID number

If I understand the process, if a vagrant desires one of these forms of ID, they would actually have to have some sort of valid address. Since I haven't encountered a lot of vagrants actually carrying around current ID, it would be safe to say that many vagrants would be hereby excluded from obtaining above mentioned library card. Of course, I could be wrong on that point, it's quite possible the photo ID carrying vagrants are avoiding me for some reason.

Was that way here when I got my first library card 20+ years ago and don't think it was a new procedure at that point.  They want to make sure you are in the district.  Just covering their butts.

To be honest, I don't think it matters if you're in their district or not. I've been to cities I don't even live in and librarians have happily given me library cards. Of course, the last out of state library card I obtained was about ten years ago. So that might have changed since then.

[SavannahLion]

In any case, I'm done fuming.   

Thanks for reading. 

[ChadTower]

Wow.  That seems a seriously unreasonable amount of rage over your library card.

Stressed out over the baby, bro?

[Thenasty]

[
Or just take the books to the men's room, cut out the tags, and walk out with them in your bag.

Return them later... if you're so inclined.

Hey don't Bundy that book 

[Ken Layton]

Your library still has books? Mine is 70% computers and 30% books. They keep raising taxes so the library can buy more computers around here.

[shardian]

Hehe, here in WV, ALOT of people simply do not have physical addresses. The gov't is trying to work on that for 911 purposes at a very slow rate. Here is an example:
My boss lives up a road called Mammoth creek. There aren't many houses on the road, so they don't get addresses. Everyone in the area just gets a P.O. box so the mail service don't have to spend 8 hours to deliver to 20 people, and possibly to noone in the winter.

Well thanks to homeland security, going to the DMV is now an even bigger hassle identification wise. He went to renew his drivers license, and the people refused to renew him due to the fact he could not supply a physical address. He spent two days trying to explain to them there simply was no physical address, because the 911 service had not gotten to his area to assign one yet. Finally, they accepted his physical address as "Rt 60, Mammoth WV"!! What a f'in waste of time huh?

So, be glad that a library card is your biggest problem.

[Jouster]

Shoot I couldn't even tell you where the nearest library is to me...haven't been in one in about 15 years.

Jouster

[Chris G]

No way, Jouster... thought you were huge into books...     

[boykster]

No way, Jouster... thought you were huge into books...     

ZING!

[danny_galaga]

City libraries are real hard asses about this.

You couldn't check out anything from the Dallas library no matter how many hoops you jumped through.  All kinds of proof needed. 

maybe you went to the book repository by mistake

what the hell is a book repository, anyway?

[ChadTower]

Depository.  Kennedy was shot from the Texas School Book Depository. 

 

[ErikRuud]

Every library that I ever got a card for required some sort of proof that you live in their district. Usually a utility bill would suffice.

At my current library, you can get a card even if you do not live in the district, but then there is an out-of-district fee.

I love our library.  I am often in there twice a week.  I spend almost three hours each day on the commuter train.  So I am always getting books to read or DVDs to watch on my laptop.  the best thing about our library is they have a system that links them to with 8 other libraries.  I just go to the website, search for the book or DVD that i want and put it on hold.  If my library does not have it, they get it from one of the others.  When it is available, I get an email, and I just stop by an pick it up.  It is almost as convenient to use as NetFlix and it is cheaper.

They also have WiFi or Internet workstations that can be used.

I don't even know how many other services they offer, but I think we get a lot from our library.  I am even going to start learning Japanese through the library!

[ChadTower]

Our library system has that type of network too and it is awesome.  You can snag materials from almost anywhere in Massachusetts, shipped right to your local branch and held for you, for free.  Amazing value.

[ErikRuud]

Amazing value.

Exactly!

[shardian]

When I was younger, I used the library alot. Now, it just isn't convenient. They are closed by the time I get off work, so the only time I could go is on Saturday morning before noon and I don't feel like doing crap during that time.

When I first got married two years ago, we were living in an apartment near where I worked at the time and we had a library a block away. I used it all the time for movies and books. I did have to convince them I was not a permanent resident of the area, but was in fact living in the apartment across the street in order to get a card.(My employer paid all the bills, so nothing was in my name)

[danny_galaga]

Depository.  Kennedy was shot from the Texas School Book Depository. 

 

or was he? hmmmm?

my question still stands, slightly modified...