if you rack up some awful fines, go to the branch with your books/materials, be very contrite, and explain your circumstances, and request if your fine could be somehow ameliorated… usually they’ll take some of it off, at least,... especially if you’re bringing the materials back and are very very very nice.

Originally I thought the same would be true for me, the issue is that the subject matter and books I need and enjoy are very recent publications, such as GIS Mapping Spatial Analytics or specific Catholic publications. It’s so bad I sometimes ponder donating some books, and I do have at least 6 regional libraries that do the book searches. The local library just doesn’t cut it for those topics, and I have more success at used book sales if nothing else. Public library is great for fiction, history, recipes, etc. but not so good for some specialized topics.

Also, when I wrote this all my online renews had been exhausted and several books had holds placed on them.

I used to live next door to a library and I am very familiar with asking for assistance and how the library works, and believe me I have tried to find the info and books I want.

I thought regularly using the library would be better for me, but when I still end up buying the books I want online, then it is not really working for me as a cost saver.