You know you're a dedicated library user when...

[ckd]

...at the prompt "Type the 14 digit number on your library card" you don't have to look, and in fact haven't had to look for many years.

Because an arbitrary 14 digit number that lets you get books? That's worth brain space any day.

Especially when you can request the book over the Internet while attending a panel at farthingparty. Heh. (It's still in transit, alas, even though I requested it last weekend; this particular copy looks to be coming from Dedham.)

You know what else is cool, though? An application that tracks your library requests and checked-out items. Mac OS X 10.3 or later only. (Note to locals: Minuteman Library Network seems to require the beta to see your checked-out items at the moment.)

Comments

[julesjones]

That would have been me once upon a time. But then I moved somewhere where the very cheap second-hand bookshop that specialised in genre was closer and had a better range than the town library... I'm going to miss that shop now I've moved again.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Ayep.

I think I know my credit card number on the same principle: if I type it into Amazon, I get books! So this is worth knowing!

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've known my library card number for years too. Ours [counts] are also 14 digits. I wonder if there's some code to tell what library system.

[ckd]

Interestingly enough, my card is not actually a Cambridge Public Library card, or even a Minuteman Library Network card. It still works, though.

It's one of those historical accidents. My card is actually a Boston Public Library card (issued because BPL, as the library of last resort for the commonwealth, will give any Massachusetts resident a card). When I moved to Cambridge, CPL was still part of the Metro Boston Library Network, so they just updated my address and kept using the BPL card. Later there was a mass movement of many library systems (including CPL) from MBLN to MLN; as part of that, library users who "belonged" to any of those systems had their card numbers added to the MLN database so they could continue using their existing cards.

One nice feature of MLN is that due dates are determined by the library from which you checked out the book, even if you request it from another library system. CPL is quite generous, giving a 3 week loan on books, with up to 3 renewals possible.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

I got a Somerille Public Library card (from the tiny branch library in Davis) when I first moved to Massachusetts in 1998, and kept using it when I moved to other towns in the Minuteman network. I changed the address in the computer system, but the card itself still said "West Somerville." I only changed it last month, when I asked the Arlington library for a new card so I could have the little keyring thingee. So I don't know my library card number anymore.

[ron_newman]

Oh, different book. I thought you were the guy ahead of me waiting for Ha'penny.

[ckd]

I usually don't bother requesting books I already know I'm going to buy in hardcover, unless I'm doing it to give the library a reason to buy a copy. (More than once I've requested a book that CPL didn't have, and then received a CPL copy that they bought after my request went in.)

Hmm...CPL doesn't own one or have one on order yet. Clicky-clicky....

[malibrarian.livejournal.com]

One of the joys of living in this state is the fact that we have the ability to request books from other libraries in the state easily. I rarely have to use the normal interlibrary loan system anymore.

And for the PC crowd http://libraryelf.com/ does organize requests, check-outs and fines for many library systems, including our Central/Western Mass system, CW Mars.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

I knew somebody would beat me to Library Elf. Only fitting it should be my dear wife.

[fgherman.livejournal.com]

Oh Thank Ghu I'm not the only one.

[luned.livejournal.com]

Me too. About the only long number I can remember. (Don't ask me for my mobile phone number.)

I use the Hennepin County Library RSS feeds to keep track of my books, but that doesn't help with the four other local library systems I use.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I've had my library card number memorized for years now.

As a Trustee of the Public Library of Brookline, if you like the Minuteman system and the way you can request books from any library in the system, you might want to send a note to the director of the library, cc'ed to the chair of your local Library Trustees and the mayor (or your councilperson). Having books requestable throughout the system costs money and takes a lot of manpower, and I know they'd want to know that the citizens of the town appreciate it.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I should have began my second paragraph with the words "Speaking as a Trustee..."

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I know my debit card number, but I don't check a lot out from my library. They haven't had much money for years and I've either read their SF or don't want to. But when I do request online, I just put the first number in and the computer remembers the rest. I'm pretty sure the cats aren't checking books out under my name.