today at the library...
 

i spent about 4 hours waiting for my car to be fixed. i read through the kaleidoscope book and decided i probably won't ever make one of those quilts which made me a bit sad because her snow flakes are truly amazing.

i just can't do that kind of fussy work, and given that the best candidates for those patterns are william morris and friends, often by liberty and the waste must be heinous i think i'll enjoy other people's handwork on those ones. the drafting and precision required tipped to tedious even in the reading though, and that's just not for me.

i glossed a couple of scrap quilt idea books, a handquilting how to or two and finally checked out a book about rennie macintosh and embroidery, the seminal gee's bend quilt book and jinny beyer's first book about handstitching.

it was wonderful. support your libraries by using them. and if you already do, i and my daughter thank you deeply because it's a gift that cannot be taken for granted, having such gorgeous books on shelves, sheltered from rain and cold, welcoming us one and all.

aileen

Yes, I completely agree. Libraries are a glorious thing. And it is free. I so miss the libraries!

I'm sure the staff at your libraries would be very happy to receive your compliments, too. I worked many years in a library, and it's always nice to know how much people appreciate the books and other items that have been selected for patrons. It is not an easy job of selecting materials or to keep programs running, and the staff is there to provide those things for you, so a compliment--or a recommendation or constructive criticism--should be welcome. Oops, I'll get off my soapbox now.....

I love libraries too. In fact I used to work in the book trade, sourcing titles for our State Library Service....I was most fortunate being able to find paid work in an industry I am passionate about. I visit our library weekly....It is such an inviting and peaceful place, and the resources are fantastic.

I love my local library. I can peruse the catalog of books on line, put a book and hold and wait for an email telling me it's ready to pick up at the branch of my choice. Great service.

I was at our local library yesterday and found out they are starting a new program today where children can read to a specially trained dog. I love this! What a great way for any child (but especially a shy child) to have fun and improve their reading. I am a former reading teacher so I was glad to see this.

The library is just like a big candy store to me! I love books and I love to read.

I love the library, too. While living in NJ I was on the board of my local library and I loved being part of that group. Now in Illinois, I am in a group called "Friends of the Library" and this group does a lot of volunteer work for the library. We have an annual book sale..books are donated from people in our area all year long. We sort them and then have a large sale..we usually make several thousand dollars which is used for different things at the library. Some of the things we have sponsored are summer reading programs for children and adults (if the children read the required number of books they received a star for their yard..they loved it), subscribed to Wall St. Journal for the library, subscribed to E-books, subscribed for the license to show movies at the library, paid for programs of interest which are available to the public, and we are available to help the librarians as needed. It is definitely a worthwhile group. You might want to check to see if there is a group like that at your local library. We only meet once a month but we are around to help a lot. Currently, we are beginning to work on our 100 year anniversary and we are scanning the archives for any and all publicity. It is amazing what a few can accomplish.

My DH used to be amazed that I could completely lose track of time in the library, but accepts that as a "given" now.

Let's all show our appreciation for our libraries next time we are there!

ah, I love the library too......my tax dollars doing wonderful things.......our little town will be having a referendum Tues., in hopes of building a new facility.......we will see how that comes out.........my only concern is the fact that the computers in the library can access any website......at least that is what I understand.....freedom of information or some such thing........hopefully I am wrong....

We used to buy several books a week at Costco. Finally we realized we were spending a fortune on books! Now we frequent the library instead. We even sold/gave away the hoard of books we had accumulated, so now there's lots of room on the shelves... but the quilt books are taking over those shelves! I do attempt to preview quilt books at the public library, or at a guild library, but if they're too full of "good stuff" I have to have my own copy.

If your local llibrary doesn't have something, remember to try InterLibrary Loan. I use this for access to the expensive reference books.

ali

I never thought of my local library having books on quilting til a salesperson mentioned it. I have found wonderful books at the library, new and old. It's like a pirate's treasure chest to me to have found this source.
margaret

I was living in a small-ish city before we moved. But the library is wonderful. It has 4 full racks of quilting books!!!! I read so many books I would never have known if not for the library, eg the Gee's Bend book.

Our local library has hundreds of quilting books. I know several of our guild members donate their quilt books when they no longer want them.

The library is our favorite place to go since retiring. We go every week. My husband reads a book or two each week. I do more sewing, but I like to read too. I check out the quilt books, then buy them from Amazon if I like them enough.

I go the library all the time. At my local one, they keep track of inquiries at the help desk. So I ask questions just to keep their count up. If we don't use them, their funds get cut. The computers are always in use by patrons.

My best friend is an owner and trainer of one of these "reading" dogs. He is so fantastic. Huge dog...and ever so gentle. His name is Cannon and he is half yellow lab and half St. Bernard. He is a hit with the kids. She also has a Labradoodle who teaches fire safety.

I love the library! Our library even loans out Nooks, (electronic readers). I enjoyed trying it, but I love the feel of a real book in my hands.

I love libraries. Take advantage our ours, painting class, free color copies, trips for pennies on the dollar, get lunch at the cafe, eat in front of the fireplace,listen to concerts, all the computer services, die cutting machines, dvd, cds, fishing poles, bicycles, paintings, book club parties, nooks. Oh ...sooo much. I NEVeR buy books or mags, ill spend money on fab first.
I love the big tables for basting quilts too. Even swap plant cutting days.

Oh, six yrs ago took class on hand painting wineglasses
You got the lesson and four glasses for $5.
Made my own wedding favors.
And...she even gave me a brush to take home to do thwm with.

Some of my favorite quilting books I first discovered at the library. After I'd checked them out a gazillion times I decided it was time to buy my own copies, cheap, used, on Amazon or ebay. The local library where we used to live had an awesome array of books on sewing, quilting, needlecraft of every sort. The one near where I live now doesn't have nearly as many, but I bet I've checked out every quilting book they have at least once.

If I am considering a book purchase I check it out at my library first. Saved me lots of money and I have a quilt library that I love.

I do the same thing and then sometimes I really luck out, because our library sells used library books, cds, tapes, dvds for 50 cents each. I am an avid audiobook listener, especially when I am sewing. And I have a veritable library right here at home that I either give the books to friends or donate them so other people can read them. However, selfish little bugger that I am, if the book is exceptionally good, I keep it and listen to it again and again. Never get tired of listening to a good book.

I have a nephew and his family that live in North Pole, Alaska not too far from Santa Claus (or so they say). No rellies at the South Pole though! Edie

Just picked up a couple of books on quilting there at the local library .. Gonna spend the day reading for sure ..

Our quilt guild meets in our local library's community room for our meetings and our Saturday Sews! They have quite a large selection of quilting books, also. I love libraries! (Of course, I am a former school librarian, a job I loved dearly. Until the district laid off 4 of the 5 librarians in the district. I was one laid off and I miss it terribly!)

How many remember their school librarians?? And carry a public library card!!! Loved my job as junior high school librarian for 37 years. I donate to local library every year and support it. And love to give books to children at Christmas...and hope all does the same...Christmas is for kids to enjoy and celebrate. But any time of the year is the right time to READ.

I love my library when all the kids are in school. Big comfortable chairs, lit fireplace in the winter, quilters magazines to look through and quilting books galoure. And when I do go in there when school is out, I even enjoy all the hustle and bustle and kids excited voices when they find that perfect book.

We are so lucky to have free public libraries. Even though I have an e-reader, lots of access to cheap used books, and friends that I swap books with, I would never want to live in a place that doesn't have a good public library system available. I have to say, though, Lynnie, that library in Long Island seems to have outdone itself as a public resource. Fishing poles and bicycles?!!!

I grew up with a Library right across the street...I think I read every book for my age group when available.....and I kept up the practice as long as I could. However, now that I have severe dry eye, I check out audio books for my Ipod.....for free....WooHoo! My friends all pay lots of $$'s, but not me....:) I can even pick my choices out from home....it is definitely a wonderful place and sadly, so many of our young haven't much desire to read.......unless it's on the cell. Oh well, I'm happy and thankful that I was made aware of librairies early in my life.

I, too, love books. I have been a voracious reader since....well..hmmmm....let's say a LONG time. I like to go into book stores, but usually know that I will leave empty-handed since new books are so expensive. We have a "used" book store in town and it is a great place. The owner is very aware of her stock and the store is bright and friendly. I usually purchase a couple of books at a time there. But the library is a different place....I always leave with something! I load 3 to 4 audio books on my iPod at a time and could not enjoy that past time without the library service. My iPod is my constant companion while quilting.

I have been using the public library since my mom took me as a small child. For several years I bought a lot of books, but when I got ready to retire and was contemplating how to save money one of the first things I did was stop buying and going to the library every week. Saves a LOT of money. I also like to check out the quilting magazines to see if I want to buy them.

Buying paperback books - what $4 - $7? Going to your library getting them in hard cover and if necessary in large print for $-0-. No brainer, and even if the library doesn't have what your looking for, they can get it through inter-library borrowing. Great and like others, it is a candy store for me. If you still feel you need to pay, donate the money you would have spent to the library. They will use it to buy more great books.

I love going to the library and often donate books to the "Friends of the Library" for their annual sale. Unfortunately, my local library only has about a dozen quilting books. :( My primary source for books is Amazon. (The used books are more time than not in new condition.)

Most libraries will order a book for their shelves if you request it. If they start getting several requests for quilting books and see they are being used, they will add to that section as they can. Try taking in the titles and publisher names of a couple of quilting books (just print the info from Amazon) and request that the library add them to their collection and see what happens.

I miss having a local library so much, you are all so lucky. I pay 21.00 every 3 months to use a library 25 miles from home. I just checked out some interesting books ghost layers and stained glass. I also enjoy the talking books to listen to as I sew. Make use of your library they have so much to share.

The first thing I did when I decided to start quilting was go to the library and check out books on the subject. Our local library is just a couple of blocks from my house, so it is very convenient. One book that I found myself checking out over and over 'The Quilters Catalog' a comprehensive resource guide by Meg Cox, I finally bought on Amazon because it contained so much valuable information. I appreciate your suggestions to let the library staff know that we appreciate them. I am ashamed to say that I never thought of that. They are always so helpful and courteous. I think this year near Christmas, I will make them one of my fresh apple cakes (my grandmother's recipe) and take that to them along with a letter thanking them for their dedication and service.

I work at one of our county libraries. I love it. My friend orders the adult non-fiction books, and will periodically ask me, which quilting, sewing, needlework, etc. books we should order. We have had the privilege of having guest speakers and one of our most recent was Jennifer Chiaverini. They asked if I had a quilt they could display, and I told them I had not done any of the elm creek ones, but I had a whole cloth one that my great grandmother had made. (It was made out of tricot and is just gorgeous). I love the library, and I know our library does use patron requests to order books. I am trying to convince the one over the magazines which quilting magazines to order. We have them in libraries throughout the county, but not in ours. Hopefully she can make it happen.

I always enjoy a trip to the library. I've been a reader since I was a kid. They offer a lot more now tho. I like to check out the 'friends of the library" section too - they have books for sale and the prices are good. Nice way to help out the library.