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Public Library
Aug. 15th, 2011 06:25 amUntil last week I hadn't used the Toronto Public Library in years. I had a library card but I didn't use it. This was because my local branch was small and never had anything I was interested in and the inter-branch loan system was difficult to use and slow. Having renewed my card I find that the whole library paradigm has shifted (I realise I am ludicrously late to the party and I probably sound like someone who discovered fire a few hundred thousand years late.) As I see it now we have one virtual library with a series of pick up and drop off points. The "home" location of the book or record is largely irrelevant. I can go on-line, do a catalogue search (now easy rather than arcane) and have anything I want delivered to my local branch for pick up. This is an incredible advance on the old method. I'm surprised the city hasn't publicised it more. Maybe the magnitude of the change isn't obvious to insiders?
