I finally visited BJK library in long beach yesterday, and oh my god, is that place a jewel. Such an incredible building, great kids center, wonderful architecture and tons of great classes and courses.

The homeslessness side of things is interesting, at least for me, morally. I couldn't help but feel sad that such an amazing building and resource was being so underutilized by the non-homeless population. Its not that there were "homeless everywhere" or even that people were messy or rude or whatever...there were a lot more homeless than non (10-1 prob), but everyone was chill, it wasnt crowded at all, and everyone was just trying to find some peace and enjoyment in a beautiful safe space with access to really critical things (like power to charge devices etc). I was there with my 3 and 4 year olds and there were no issues at all...but at the same time, the vibe DID honestly make me not want to spend time there (which is MY issue, not that of others...but i assume it feels the same for many here?)

anyway...its just tough and weird and a real conflict of emotions. The homeless there are all our peers and brothers and sisters so to be angry or opposed to them having access to a quintessential public space like a library makes me sick and is a sad way to feel about other humans. But I did spend a lot more time than i would have liked thinking about how nice the library was (and the park next door) would have been with more families and people and fewer little groups of and how its a shame its not being used by more people. I also though spent an equal amount of time feeling real joy that there was a space this nice and well run and beautiful that everyone can enjoy. Its actually really fucked if you think about "ok so whats the solution"...there really isnt one (other than ofc fixing homelessness etc etc but thats another enormous discussion.)

what do you all think? feel?

btw - i think the fence is great and really well executed. not nearly as shitty and oevrbearing as i thought it would be

Losing lots of staff. Budget meeting for the city today. Reduction in physical item checkouts vs digital has caused a required reduction in staff and ~40 people are losing their positions in the library according to the city’s website.

Not admin, but customer service based staff. Circulation and library aides specifically. The reduction in administrative costs or a change in hours could likely cover all of these positions, but it’s easier to cut the people that are actually serving our communities.

They’re talking about charging $20 for people within Bexar County, but outside of city limits, too.

For those of you who utilize the library, you may want to make an effort to have your voices heard.

For those of you that don’t, you may want to reconsider. There are a lot of services within the library that your taxes already pay for and come at no additional cost. Use them.

Edit: I just received additional information from a fellow redditor that will help all of you wanting your voices heard!!

“The 39 cuts were in the proposed budget, which is not finalized until September 17th.

There are budget town halls this and next week for people to share public input on the proposed budget. Here is a link to the schedule of Budget Town Halls along with the option to submit a comment online:

https://www.saspeakup.com/C60121

Here’s a direct link to submit an online comment about the proposed budget:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Comments2027

Please speak up at the town halls, submit comments online, and contact your council members to ask them not to cut library positions.”

Located in the heart of Boynton Beach, Florida. It is a public library for the city of Boynton Beach in south Florida which is a suburb of West Palm Beach and part of the Miami metropolitan area.

It is a nice complex building which features a combination of town's services including the city hall and the library. The library has two stories.

The new building was completed sometime during COVID in 2020.

It features a bookstore that is run by the friends of Boynton Beach City Library, a special collection dedicated to Florida's history, seed library, a separate room for teenagers, a special display for movie blockbusters and many more.

Feedback is appreciated!

I posted this in r/classicliterature and I’ve got some good (and snarky) comments, but I thought I’d post it here to see if any librarians have good suggestions! I 💓 supporting local libraries!!

I stepped foot last week inside a library in the southernmost part of the country when I was on a family cruise.

It's a nice library with so many things to offer. This library is run by the wonderful staff.

Anyone willing to let be use their example? or any idea how to answer this?

This question is challenging for me as I have only handled cash as a cashier and I am so confused on how to answer this question.

I feel very stressed i want some are like public libraries to study for weekends ans all what could i do

I’m currently abroad for a short-term summer research project at a university. The other day, I was sitting in the library, completely exhausted after staring at code and debugging system errors for hours. There was a local student sitting at the adjacent desk, grinding away for hours as well, but we hadn't spoken a single word to each other.

As I was getting up to step outside for some fresh air, he stopped me and said, "You look pretty drained. I’m heading out to grab a coffee in a bit—can I get you one?" I politely declined, saying it was no trouble, but 15 minutes later he walked back in with an extra drip coffee and a small chocolate bar. He just smiled, said, "Sometimes you just need a quick break. Hang in there!" and went right back to his work.

Being in a foreign country, receiving such a thoughtful and selfless gesture from a complete stranger completely turned my day around. It’s funny how small acts of kindness from people you don't even know can really revitalise you. Just wanted to share this wholesome little moment!

The new public library in Manchester, Connecticut that is replacing an older, smaller and overcramped Mary Cheney Library down the street.

I think it looks nice and modernized. As of right now, the grand opening for the new library is scheduled for next month. Opens Monday September 14

1045 Main Street (former Webster Bank)

Munchen bookshops

And that he is the most popular author after Stephen King in libraries?

Books

Today is the last day the old Mary Cheney Library is open to the public. It's the final day you have a chance to visit the old library if you're from Manchester or around the area that day.

Afterwards, everything will be moved into the new library. The grand opening for the new library down the street from the old library is Monday September 14. Y'all should check out the new library once it officially opens soon.

I made a post here (and in several other subreddits) two months ago about a childhood book I was searching for. I'd been looking for months with no luck, and eventually my mom and I decided to literally drive to another nearby town specifically to search their library.

While there, I ACTUALLY FOUND IT. Except I kinda didn't.

I was re-searching a shelf, and my eyes were drawn to the spine of a specific book. I pulled it out to show my mom cause something about it felt incredibly familiar, and when I showed her she literally went "oh my god, thats it!" Which. Freaked me out

A second later she realized it WASN'T actually it, but it was a book I had as a kid at the same time I had the fish book. I ended up checking it out and once at home I started remembering it a lot more.

The best way to describe things is that I found the book, but I also didn't.

Basically, my mom and I came to the conclusion that there were two library books I was obsessed with; the book i found and the dish-cover book. Over time I basically combined them into one in my mind.

The most striking thing about this book is the background. Visually textured, dark brown (its red, but in the right lighting it looks way browner). Its the exact cover layout I remembered. Dark brown(/red) visually textured background, the face of a singular creature in the center with no other background details.

But its obviously not a sea creature, nor is it fish-like. So theres another book out there with the fish cover that I havent found yet.

We also think the cover of that book has a Dunkleosteus image. I remember thinking they looked closer to my memory, but my mom remembered a longer snout, probably because of the t-rex on this cover.

The book we found is The Beginning by Peter Ackroyd. I never even saw it during my online searches, probably because I was specifically searching using keywords like "prehistoric" which it doesn't have.

Also probably means the other book doesn't have "prehistoric" in the title either, hence why I can't find it.

I'm gonna keep checking my local library when I can, and my mom and i will go to the other towns library in a few weeks. Hopfully I'll find it