tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post7562330409848989924..comments2024-03-29T00:34:36.786-05:00Comments on Book Chase: Dallas Library Lets Patrons Jump the Queue for Five DollarsSam http://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-1711700637944874302009-02-10T20:03:00.000-06:002009-02-10T20:03:00.000-06:00He sounds like a real winner, Alissa. It's a sham...He sounds like a real winner, Alissa. It's a shame that some people donate only to get special privileges. I wonder sometimes about those folks who have five or six stickers on their cars saying they've donated $100 each year to the police fund - do they expect to get a free pass when pulled over? And do they get one?Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-24664602259424063452009-02-10T20:02:00.000-06:002009-02-10T20:02:00.000-06:00Good points,Jessica. A buck a day for fast reader...Good points,Jessica. A buck a day for fast readers would be great as long as the library were close by. I generally finish a book every 2 1/2 days so that would be a bargain for me.<BR/><BR/>As long as there are enough copies in the regular queue, I'm OK with this idea. It's only if the freebie queue were to get short-changed that I would be unhappy with this, I think.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-81159974767942196882009-02-07T13:53:00.000-06:002009-02-07T13:53:00.000-06:00I used to work in a library, and we had one local ...I used to work in a library, and we had one local bigwig who donated money to the library call in to request books. He would demand to be placed at the top of the list because he donated money to the library. As this was not our policy we had to tell him we could not do so and he would get very obnoxious. Something tells me he would really like this policy.Alissa Grossohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16701189791875707920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-2478146959691675322009-02-06T11:26:00.000-06:002009-02-06T11:26:00.000-06:00I used a system like this in Dublin, California, b...I used a system like this in Dublin, California, back in 1995. They had a huge, modern, new library. I loved the book rental system because it charged $1 per day, and I'm a fast reader. The daily rental rate meant people turned the books around quickly, and if I was too impatient to wait four months, I could pay $2 and rent it myself.<BR/><BR/>We have to remember that the original circulating Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-76335227361442985512009-02-05T20:52:00.000-06:002009-02-05T20:52:00.000-06:00I love the debate - you guys argue very persuasive...I love the debate - you guys argue very persuasively, that's for sure.<BR/><BR/>I'm right on the line on this one because I can see such good arguments in both directions. Maybe, though, I've been brainwashed so much about staying politically correct that I'm feeling uncomfortable about the concept for no good reason.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-22088947170676752962009-02-05T13:00:00.000-06:002009-02-05T13:00:00.000-06:00I'd pay. Means no major purchase for me and no nee...I'd pay. Means no major purchase for me and no need to find shelf space at home for a book I'd not be reading again. With the cost of hardcover books these days $5.00 is a bargain.<BR/>6-8 weeks is not a long time to wait on a list. <BR/><BR/>At one time our library had a system where you could "rent" a new best seller for $1.00 a day. I remember driving to different branches to take advantage ELIZABETHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508304939265970143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-46430466394573696952009-02-05T12:48:00.000-06:002009-02-05T12:48:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.ELIZABETHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508304939265970143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-9670192408337878012009-02-05T11:52:00.000-06:002009-02-05T11:52:00.000-06:00If the library pays $20 for the extra book and len...If the library pays $20 for the extra book and lends it four times, they break even. After that, it's all profit. They have the same variable cost to lend as they do with the free books, but now they are making money doing it.<BR/><BR/>What's wrong with that? It just means more books and services for the rest of us. (In theory -- the library budget might be part of the general city budget and it Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-89233064242673296372009-02-04T23:49:00.000-06:002009-02-04T23:49:00.000-06:00I don't have much of a problem with it - as long a...I don't have much of a problem with it - as long as there are still free books available, what do I care if someone wants to pay to read one of those free books?<BR/><BR/>I question the timing of it, though, since people are currently looking for ways to save money, not spend more. <BR/><BR/>I also don't think it will be used enough to financially help the library very much.Janda/Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16754631494233387294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-58636916832292270132009-02-04T22:37:00.000-06:002009-02-04T22:37:00.000-06:00Terrible idea. Free access is the cornerstone of a...Terrible idea. Free access is the cornerstone of a public library system.Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-69912605740880039702009-02-04T21:15:00.000-06:002009-02-04T21:15:00.000-06:00I'm very uncomfortable with this type of rich step...I'm very uncomfortable with this type of rich step ahead program. I'm a first come, first serve type of gal.maggie moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02462439415973311990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-8975641190165286232009-02-04T18:12:00.000-06:002009-02-04T18:12:00.000-06:00Thanks for all the interesting comments, y'all.To ...Thanks for all the interesting comments, y'all.<BR/><BR/>To be fair, I probably should have said "avoid the queue" in my post title rather than "jump the queue" because the library has effectively set up two separate queues. From the sound of things, all the books and movies in the "pay queue" are bought separately, at least largely, from the proceeds of those willing to pay the premium.<BR/><BRSam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-72825492515773150942009-02-04T09:20:00.000-06:002009-02-04T09:20:00.000-06:00Fabulous idea! I don't mind waiting a few months f...Fabulous idea! I don't mind waiting a few months for new movies (I am #86 of 131 on the list for one movie at my library), but if I really, really wanted to read or watch something, I might pay. I have no interest in owning books -- I don't like having a lot of stuff and I have had to move myself way too many times to value something heavy and bulky -- so I wouldn't spend $5 to buy one. I am in Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-79096187038835761542009-02-04T07:50:00.000-06:002009-02-04T07:50:00.000-06:00The article doesn't seem to describe the program v...The article doesn't seem to describe the program very well - I looked it up on the Dallas Public Library webpage, because it sounded similar to something I've seen elsewhere. <BR/><BR/>People can't actually pay five dollars to jump to the head of the line in the reservation system. Rather, you have the ordinary circulation stacks with the ordinary circulation rules, and then you have another Mella DPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09533666041615939038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-77348871708236625492009-02-03T22:54:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:54:00.000-06:00That's crazy. If I wanted to read it so much, I'd ...That's crazy. If I wanted to read it so much, I'd just go buy my own copy.Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-25004051485780047302009-02-03T22:50:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:50:00.000-06:00So the program is popular now, but I wonder how ma...So the program is popular now, but I wonder how many patrons will continue to be willing to pay. Since the books are popular ones, they're probably the ones that get the best discounts at grocery and book stores. Will people continue to be willing to pay $5 when, for not all that much more, they'd be able to own the book (especially if they get it used)? If I were a patron there, I'd probably A Library Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144279685884011943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-38859635338479984552009-02-03T22:48:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:48:00.000-06:00I'm not sure whether it's a good idea or not but m...I'm not sure whether it's a good idea or not but my initial reaction to the idea is discomfort. <BR/><BR/>While it might be a good thing to raise funds for the library, it doesn't strike me as very egalitarian to allow people to pay to jump the queue. There are undoubtedly many public library users who are not going to be able to spend $5 whenever they would really like to read a particular book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-979007697889471982009-02-03T22:41:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:41:00.000-06:00Free public libraries are one of the best things t...Free public libraries are one of the best things the U.S. has going for it, have been for a very long time. Five dollars doesn't sound like much, but there was a time in my life when I would not have been able to pay it. I don't think that made me less of a citizen; it made me just the sort of person who needed a library. But, I'm sure it will raise lots of money.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906212382849291562noreply@blogger.com