LAPL

So I didn’t think this was a hidden secret, but chatting with various friends recently I have realized how few people know the awesomeness of the Los Angeles Public Library system (and yes, I just said Aweseomness, deal).

Besides the fabulous Central Library downtown which deserves it’s own post, we have this huge library system with over 70 branches around the city. Odds are there is one convenient to you. Besides books, most of the branches have DVD’s and CD’s as well.

The best part is how web based the system is now. Search for what you want, if its in the system you can place a hold on it. They will pull it off the shelf and hold it for you behind the counter and email you that it’s ready. You just walk-in give them your card and pick it up. The system will even remind you 4 days before the books is due. If you want to keep it for longer, log into your account and renew online. Your account will tell you have many books you have out, when they’re due, if they’re late, and what you have on hold. It’s amazing. I have had a continuous stream of books going for the past two years.

They always get the big new releases (I’ve been on the hold list for Michael Connelly’s new book that release this October, since June). The one problem I had is learning to regulate what I put a hold on. I would put too many books in at once and not be able to get thru them all (you can only renew so many times, and if someone else has a hold pending, you can’t renew at all). Now I have 2 or 3 books going at a time. If some of my books have long hold lines (the system will tell you your place in line) then I might have a couple more. When I’m about to return a book, I add one to my hold list. It’s a phenomenal system that has saved me hundreds of dollars and has more then doubled how much I read each year!

-Kim