how on earth do they expect us to do any research here?!

[aryanhwy]

OK, I'll admit it. I got spoiled by the library system at UW-Madison. Virtually all books published after 1800 were check-outable, all journals more than 10 years old were check-outable, you could have books shipped from any library on campus to any library on campus, grad students got semester loan (books were due either 30 May or 30 Dec), you could renew up to 5 times, meaning you essentially could have a book for three years without having to bring it back, and the stacks were open.

Here, the stacks in the main library are closed. No journal issues can be checked out. Books from the main library can be sent to a limited number of other libraries, but books from other libraries can't be shipped any where. The loan period is a month, with three renewals. Many books, even newish books in decent condition which aren't really general reference books, must be used in library only. And on top of that, I just found out today that the circulation desk and reading room in the main library CLOSES AT 5:00PM!!!! So all those "in library only" books you have to have returned by then. HOW ON EARTH DO THEY EXPECT US TO DO ANY RESEARCH HERE?!?!?

Comments

[pedropadrao.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the situation at an weird underfunded public library. Sheesh. After I graduated from CUA about 9 years ago, I pretty content myself with whatever CUA has (with a loan time of 3 weeks, but renewable), see if the Prince George's County public system has it (hah!), or purchase the title from Abebooks. Now, I have the additional resources of the NASA HQ library. Granted, our collection is tilted more towards history, policy, & law, but there's plenty for the amateur astronomer & science fiction fan to enjoy. That being said, I'm still purchasing things using Abebooks, but that's because I'm collecting Bonestell-illustrated books.