The San Diego County library system is one of the few public services that actually works – and works well. They’ve taken full advantage of the internet and go out of their way to make desired books and other materials available to library patrons.
The way the system is set up, in which one can search for and reserve materials from a home computer, is beyond convenient. I can browse books at home, and when I find something I’m interested in I can request that it be sent to any library in the system. I receive an e-mail when it is ready to pick up. In most cases, the process takes no more than a week.
The library even makes books not yet released available for reservations. This week the highly anticipated conclusion to a very popular trilogy was released. My wife and I read these books together. A few months ago I looked up the book by its title name on a whim. There it was, months from its release date, available for reservations. I clicked the request button and I became number 36 on the wait list. By the time the book was released, that number reached more than 200. Fortunately for all on the list, the library anticipated the need and ordered 40 copies.
It was very unexpected. I assumed the library wouldn’t even get them until at least a week after the release day. In any case, I was blown away by the organization and speed of our libraries.
According to one study, libraries lend out an average of 2.1 million DVDs every day. That’s just above the 2 million that Netflix ships out daily and a bit above the 1.4 million rented from Redbox every day.
It’s really nice to see that something coming from tax dollars is actually running smoothly – and for the benefit of the people in the community. Thank you, San Diego County libraries.
Coburn is the editor of The East County Californian.
