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That was good advice when public libraries were less used. But these days (at least in the American cities I frequent), they are massively popular.

Which means if you reserve a new release, be prepared to wait. Even with 17 copies of a particular newish book, the wait for it from my local library system is in excess of eight months.

Wait eight months, or drop $11.95 at Amazon? Easy choice.

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>> Which means if you reserve a new release, be prepared to wait.

Except we wait 2 or 3 years for the damn thing to be written; a little delayed gratification until your hold comes up is such a minor, first-world problem.

Popular public libraries are most definitely better than the alternative. They can justify better funding and bigger budgets, improve physical facilities and move into new service areas.

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