So my mom works in a public library and they get books every month before they officially come out and (so she says, she could just be playing a mean trick on me) apparently they got a copy of OSC's Magic Street. Alas I am not home to read the book, but hopefully it'll get to where I am soon enough. =D
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
They probably got the advance reading copy. The book only came off the press about a week ago. Of course, that means she might very well have got one of the very first still-warm-from-the-bindery copies.
I only got my first couple of copies from the publisher - which I sent on to Aaron and Lauren Johnston, to whom the book is dedicated, and Roland Bernard Brown, who was my chief adviser and the reason the book was written in the first place. Or I'd offer to let you read my copy.
OK, no I wouldn't.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
My library is mean to me. They only have four OSC books. One is in the middle of a series, the other I've never even heard of, then Wyrms, and finally Lost Boys, which I already have a copy of. I think I might complain.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
quote: One is in the middle of a series
SR - Nothing bothers me more about libraries than their tendency to have "part" of a series of books -- by any author.
I will be browsing the titles and it will say "book 3 of xxxx" so I go to the computer to look up the rest of the series, just to find they don't have it -- or they have books 3, 4 and 5, but not books 1, and 2.
Maybe I should point this out to the librarian. Maybe the person ordering books should be aware of this aggravating fact.... FG
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
My library only has the one. I think I will complain. They also don't have the full Hitchhiker's series. They have Guide and Life and Everything. The rest are absent. Though I have noticed libraries doing what you said. Or they don't even have the author at all? I've been to bookstores that didn't have OSC books. It suprised me a little, but it happened.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
You should be able to request the books by interlibrary loan if nothing else.
Posted by Oobie Binoobie (Member # 8059) on :
It's money. Library budgets around my area are voted in a levy. Sometimes the vote fails.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, I understand that, Oobie. But if limited on how many books to buy -- why not always ensure that you are buying Books 1 and 2 of a series, not the end of the series without the beginning? That way, people can check out and read the first book or two of the series, and if they like it well enough, they will go out and BUY the rest of the series themselves.
FG
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Re: series... sometimes there may be extenuating circumstances to explain why a library only has vol. 3 of a series -- they might've gotten vol. 3 as a donation... or, maybe they used to have vols. 1 and 2, but lost them...
Posted by Joshua Newberry (Member # 7864) on :
My high school library didn't have any Card except Seventh Son, so I went to the bookstore, bought a copy of Ender's Game, and told the librarian it was hers. She put it on the featured book table, and now a bunch of people have read it.
Ahh, memories.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
That was a nice thing to do, Josh.
*awards Josh a virtual Newberry award*
Posted by DF2506 (Member # 6847) on :
My local library only has Wyrms, Alvin Journeyman, Treason, and (I think) the Worthling short story book. I have not read Treason and I tried to read the Worthling book but couldn't get into it.
I did read and enjoy Wyrms though and I read Alvin Journeyman (after I got and Seventh Son and Red Prophet from another library).
Most OSC books I have to order from another library. But my library is really good about it. They always order the books for me and they come in (usually) the next week. Pretty fast really.
Though, the library couldn't order Shadow of the Giant for me, since they said it takes six months till a library will loan out a new book. SO I guess it would be August before I could get Shadow of the Giant via library loan. Though the library did say they would look into getting the book for their own library...but I haven't heard a word since I first asked about it. I doubt they'll get it. *sigh*
Anyway, I'm not waiting for them to get or for August to come. lol. I'm going to (hopefully) buy it near the end of the month. I got a job recently, so I'll have the money to do it.
Anyway, I'm reading Treasure Box right now. I got it and Lost Boys & Homebody via library loan (see my thread for more info).
I doubt my library will get Magic Street....
DF2506 " But if, for some strange and magical (lol) reason they do, I'll give it a read."
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
My library doesn't do sci-fi and fantasy. Literally, there is none. They only seem to buy romance and mystery books suitable for woman over 60.
This my city's central library! No wonder we have so many big bookshops here.
Before I move away next year, I fully intend to have persuaded them to at least own a copy of Ender's Game.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Do the other libraries in the city have them? Or even in the county? I live in a relatively small town, but there is an interlibrary loan system which connects the counties 7 or 8 libraries and you can get books within a day or two.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Oh yes, it's possible to get hold of a book IF YOU KNOW THAT THE BOOK EXISTS. The main problem is that most people walk into a library looking for a book to read and grab something off the shelf. I think it's important to have quality books on the shelf so that people can easily access them.
Also, it costs about £1 to order a book through interlibrary loan, which isn't much but is still irritating. So most people don't use it very often.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Oohh, see the library catalog in the library system of my county has all of the books listed in all of the libraries of the county, so when you do a search and its missing or checked out from one, you can see that another library has it, etc.
Posted by eyetell (Member # 8229) on :
Yah i think most counties do that, makes quite convenient.
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