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Old 08-27-2008, 05:16 AM
 
34 posts, read 482,048 times
Reputation: 63

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I am moving to SD around Sept 15th and I'm so excited and very happy to see there are lots of things that interest me in the city. Hello to all.

Just curious...Can you only join libraries within a certain range? How does this work? Also, do you have to pay or have a college pass? Thanks so much.
Leah
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Old 08-27-2008, 07:33 AM
 
Location: San Diego
5,319 posts, read 8,983,727 times
Reputation: 3396
In my opinion, San Diego's public library system is one of the best in the country!

There is no charge to get a library card, but you must show proof that you are a current resident of San Diego (either homeowner or renter).

Some of the biggest branches are located in Downtown, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach and La Jolla.

There are lots of smaller branches located all over San Diego. Many of the smaller branches are slowly being rebuilt, so that there will be lots of larger branches during the next 10 years. See this website:

Library Building Projects | San Diego Public Library (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/projects.shtml - broken link)

With a SDPL card, you can borrow materials from any branch and return them to any branch you choose.

The library has a website which lets you reserve materials online, and have them sent them to the branch closest to your home when they become available. They e-mail you when the materials arrive. There is no charge to reserve the item, but if you don't pick it up within 7 days, then there is a small charge (around $1).

San Diego Public Library | City of San Diego

You can also renew your materials on the website.

You can borrow books and music cds for up to 3 weeks, and renew them once for another 3 weeks, for a total of 6 weeks, however, you can only renew as long as nobody else is waiting for the same item (i.e. has it on reserve).

All of the libraries offer free WiFi, and also have computers available to use the internet for free. The bigger branches like La Jolla and Mission Valley have the most computers on site. The WiFi is available 24 hours a day, so if you need to get online when the library is closed, you can bring a laptop and stand outside the library door.

San Diego County has a separate library system which does not interact with the San Diego Public Library. So if you live in the city of Poway for example, their library is not connected with the above SDPL system. However, Poway's library is connected with other nearby libraries outside of the city of San Diego.

Last edited by RD5050; 08-27-2008 at 07:50 AM..
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Old 08-27-2008, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Escondido, CA
1,504 posts, read 6,151,186 times
Reputation: 886
I'll also add that there is a HUGE well-known library in UCSD, you can even see the library building on postcards from San Diego. It's 8 floors, if I remember correctly. They have nearly every scientific book published in English in the last 50 years, and probably many of those that were published in other languages. You can't check out books unless you're connected to the university (you're a student or an employee), but you are free to come in and browse.
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Old 08-27-2008, 03:25 PM
 
Location: Town of Herndon/DC Metro
2,825 posts, read 6,891,659 times
Reputation: 1767
You can get a reciprocal State (San Diego State University) library card for a small annual fee too. But I could get everything from my County library. Their online system is the best, I'd just search and order from home then go pick it up -easy!
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Old 08-27-2008, 03:46 PM
 
Location: Oakland, CA
1,148 posts, read 2,992,764 times
Reputation: 857
Quote:
Originally Posted by RD5050 View Post
In my opinion, San Diego's public library system is one of the best in the country!

There is no charge to get a library card, but you must show proof that you are a current resident of San Diego (either homeowner or renter).

Some of the biggest branches are located in Downtown, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach and La Jolla.

There are lots of smaller branches located all over San Diego. Many of the smaller branches are slowly being rebuilt, so that there will be lots of larger branches during the next 10 years. See this website:

Library Building Projects | San Diego Public Library (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/projects.shtml - broken link)

With a SDPL card, you can borrow materials from any branch and return them to any branch you choose.

The library has a website which lets you reserve materials online, and have them sent them to the branch closest to your home when they become available. They e-mail you when the materials arrive. There is no charge to reserve the item, but if you don't pick it up within 7 days, then there is a small charge (around $1).

San Diego Public Library | City of San Diego

You can also renew your materials on the website.

You can borrow books and music cds for up to 3 weeks, and renew them once for another 3 weeks, for a total of 6 weeks, however, you can only renew as long as nobody else is waiting for the same item (i.e. has it on reserve).

All of the libraries offer free WiFi, and also have computers available to use the internet for free. The bigger branches like La Jolla and Mission Valley have the most computers on site. The WiFi is available 24 hours a day, so if you need to get online when the library is closed, you can bring a laptop and stand outside the library door.

San Diego County has a separate library system which does not interact with the San Diego Public Library. So if you live in the city of Poway for example, their library is not connected with the above SDPL system. However, Poway's library is connected with other nearby libraries outside of the city of San Diego.
Hey RD, sounds like you know the SDPL system well. Do you work in a library? Just curious since I am attending an MLIS program in the spring.
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Old 08-27-2008, 05:39 PM
 
349 posts, read 1,544,806 times
Reputation: 110
We love the local libraries here in Chula Vista. My friend lives near the big one in Mission Valley (near Ikea) and I actually find more at my little local library because they have more people checking out materials up there. We pay $20 a year for dvd's. When Blockbuster is out of a particular movie, we usually find them for free at our library and wonder why we even go to Blockbuster. We are also able to request purchases. Our libraries have a great selection of books, magazines, music, and books on tape. Whenever I'm looking for a particular book or travel guide I can usually find them at our library or order from another.
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Old 08-27-2008, 06:10 PM
 
Location: San Diego
5,319 posts, read 8,983,727 times
Reputation: 3396
Quote:
Originally Posted by mini_cute View Post
Hey RD, sounds like you know the SDPL system well. Do you work in a library? Just curious since I am attending an MLIS program in the spring.
No, I don't work at the library. I just use it often to borrow materials, so I'm very familiar with it.

I've also visited many of the different branches all over San Diego, which is how I found out that Poway uses a different library system than the city of San Diego.
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Old 08-27-2008, 11:55 PM
 
6,893 posts, read 8,933,303 times
Reputation: 3511
What's the deal with the bad quality, scratches of these library DVDs? Any useful cures, tricks to get them to work?
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Old 08-29-2008, 02:42 PM
 
21 posts, read 77,490 times
Reputation: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by bloom View Post
What's the deal with the bad quality, scratches of these library DVDs? Any useful cures, tricks to get them to work?
I picked up one of the hand-operated dvd cleaners, they're called semi-auto radial cleaning systems. Basically theyre round plastic clamshell-type thing, you spray the cleaner on it, close it up and rotate a few times by hand and thats the cleanest theyre probably gonna get. If they dont work then theyre probably toast. You can find these kits at best buy, radio shack, etc.
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Old 08-30-2008, 09:49 AM
 
6,893 posts, read 8,933,303 times
Reputation: 3511
Quote:
Originally Posted by ManOfSteel View Post
I picked up one of the hand-operated dvd cleaners, they're called semi-auto radial cleaning systems. Basically theyre round plastic clamshell-type thing, you spray the cleaner on it, close it up and rotate a few times by hand and thats the cleanest theyre probably gonna get. If they dont work then theyre probably toast. You can find these kits at best buy, radio shack, etc.
why not just use windex and a clean rag?
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