I Love It Here!Things I Miss |
LibrariesOne of the things I miss is easy access to university libraries. I used to miss it more, though. Recently the local public library got connected to a regional organization of libraries. The card catalog is long gone, replaced by two computer terminals. I can sit down, search for books in the system, and get them delivered from other libraries. It's great! The other day my wife and I went to the library. I walked away with a Leslie Charteris book. She had placed a request for a Chinese dictionary. It arrived the next day. The only downside to this regional system that I've seen so far is sometimes having to wait for someone else to finish using the terminal. In May of 1997 they turned the terminals around to make room for a few more: Internet access was on the way. By the second week of June 1997, the Bryant Library had Web access at two computers, right next to the checkout desk. Library users can sign up for one hour sessions and explore the Web, starting from the Great River Regional Library Web site. They've got a pretty good set of links. The library changed its appearance in the late nineties. Since being handicapped accessible is a good thing thing for public buildings these days, the old outside steps went, replaced with an addition to the front of the building housing inside stairs and an elevator. The renovation took out some interior walls, and opened up a shaft from the core of the building to the cupola. The interior is a great deal lighter now, and the expanded shelving is a big improvement. BookstoresBefore moving here, I had never lived in a city without several bookstores. There are a couple of stores that sell books here, but I have to drive about twenty miles up the Interstate to Alexandria ("Alex" to us) to reach the nearest chain bookstore. And even there the selection isn't quite as wide as I like. St. Cloud, over forty miles down the Interstate in the other direction, is the closest place with a good range of new books for sale. On one hand, I have to wait before buying books. On the other hand, I'm not spending as much on books as I used to. Besides, I find that I don't have as much time for recreational reading as I used to. And, now that there are a number of new- and used- bookstores on the Web, I've got the best of both worlds here. |
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This page last updated: December 19, 2010