If you missed it on the first day of class, I LOVE the Edmonton Public Library. Our Library is (according to my very limited queries to residents of other Canadian metropolises) one of the best. The Edmonton Public Library can be useful in some way to every single person in our city. I feel that the Library offers the most to all Edmontonians of all public spaces. You can sign up annually for a mere twelve dollars, which allows for 40—yes 40–items out at one time. Moreover, they will waive the fee for your first year if you simply tell them you cannot afford it. Family members of someone who already possesses a library card get a discounted rate, children are free, as well as university students. Do you have a library card? If not, stop reading this and head to your nearest branch right now. Recently the EPL expanded its operating hours to have most branches open seven days a week. It’s that easy, you even get to pick a witty saying and color for your card—mine deems me to be an information ninja, in yellow.
Now that you all have gone out and signed up, what can you do with your library card? Obviously you can roam the stacks of thousands upon thousands of books like generations have done before us; but, the library has more to offer. The library has a continuously growing collection of both old and new CDs, DVDs, Magazines and now even video games. Best part about all of this, you can log on to their sweet website, put whatever you want on hold—and get this—they will ship it to you from anywhere in the city. Well, not specifically to you, but to the branch of your choice.
This seems all fine and dandy, but who wants to add an extra trip to their day to go to the library? In our digital age, this seems mundane. If you sympathize with this last sentence, go rub your face in the snow. If you are on campus, go rub your face in the snow in quad. Then, head over to Cameron, where guess what? There is an EPL branch right on the main floor. No extra trip needed. Bazinga.
Now that you have a conveniently located branch to go to, what excuses do you have left not to?
Regardless of if you do, I still have more reasons why you should head to the EPL.
The staff are awesome. These people provide all of the above for you, and usually take the time to stop and have a genuine conversation with you about your day. Whoever started spreading rumors of librarians being stuffy and uptight must have been illiterate and spiteful.
Next best thing about the library, alternative fine payments! Once a year the Library will expunge your fines in exchange for food bank donations. Kudos to whomever had this gem of an idea.
I could continue on for quite a while about why I love the library, but I think you should find your own reasons, and “spread the word.”
Last suggestion: the sweet website I mentioned earlier, yeah, there’s an app for that.
I had no idea the Edmonton Public Library was so fantastic! It sounds like an amazing place, I must go check it out soon! Thanks for letting all us library lovers know about this!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love, love, LOVE EPL. I discovered last year that I could merge my EPL and U of A library accounts onto my OneCard, and it's been like heaven. I'm exaggerating but, as someone who finds it hard to keep track of several cards at once, it was a great discovery.
ReplyDeleteI love the alternative fine payment system, as well. It's a good way for poor students to pay off what they owe, though I don't mind paying my fines too much. After all, the money we put back into the library only makes it better, and who benefits from that? We do!
When I was a kid, I read a book series called Dinotopia. It was the one series I got entirely from the library.
ReplyDeleteFast forward, oh...Must be 12 years, more or less. I work in a bookstore, I specialize in kids. I want to reread this series I loved as a child.
Out of print. And, yes, even the EPL lacks a great bulk of the series.
That, combined with the whole "I work at a book store" thing, means that the last time I got a book out of the library was, oh... 12 years ago, more or less.
Not to knock libraries - certainly not - but I will always enjoy owning my books over running the risk of never being able to read them again.
Ok...I will admit I have only ever been to the Edmonton Public Library a few times, many years ago. I know. I always relied on the universitiy, or Grant mac, or chapters to read books. After reading your post I have made my mind up to get a card and visit the library immeidately. I didn't really start to enjoy reding until my early adulthood and that is amazing that you can sign out 40 books at a time. I am also excited that you can rent out cd's and dvd's, and for 12 dollars. That is great news. Im really confused as to why I don't have a library card right now.
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