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Mostly I enjoy e-books for use with text-to-speech. If I'm reading a book, I usually am only reading that book and don't need thousands in my device. And I will take that book with me everywhere. However, I also will seek out multiple books to compare and contrast a specific concept simultaneously.

Favorite aspect of e-books: sharing annotations

Favorite aspect of physical books: curious onlookers will strike up conversations

(also, physical books are tangible assets)

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T18:46:24 1776969984

People, ask your local library to join LINK+ and to purchase great books!

Ask how to submit 'Purchase Requests'.

LINK+ is open to libraries (public and private) in California and Neighboring States.

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T18:32:10 1776969130

LINK+ is a union catalog of contributed holdings from participating libraries in California.
Patrons from member libraries request an item not available in their own library and it is delivered to them for check-out.
LINK+ is available to authorized patrons of the participating libraries.
LINK+ may be accessed directly at linkencore.iii.com or while using the local catalogs of participating libraries.
Materials may be borrowed if they are listed as "available" in the union catalog.
An item may arrive at the requestor's library in 2 to 4 days. Materials will be held for up to 10 days.
The loan period for all LINK+ materials is 21 days with an option for a 21-day renewal unless the item has been requested at the owning institution.
You may renew a LINK+ item up to three days prior to its due date unless it is on hold.

There is no charge to request or borrow LINK+ materials

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T18:36:23 1776969383

https://csul.iii.com/screens/members.html

    Alameda County Library

    Alameda Free Library

    Alliant International University - San Francisco 

    Alliant International University - Fresno

    Alliant International University - Irvine

    Alliant International University - Los Angeles

    Alliant International University - Sacramento

    Alliant International University - San Diego

    Amador County Library

    Belvedere-Tiburon Library

    Benicia Public Library

    Berkeley Public Library

    Brawley Public Library  Coming soon!

    Calaveras County Library

    Camarena Memorial Public Library  Coming soon!

    Carlsbad City Library

    Chula Vista Public Library

    Contra Costa County Library

    Coronado Public Library

    El Centro Library

    El Dorado County Library

    Escondido Public Library

    Glendale Library, Arts & Culture

    Hayward Public Library

    Imperial County Library  Coming soon!

    Imperial Public Library

    Larkspur Public Library

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    Loyola Marymount University

    Marin County Free Library

    Menlo Park Public Library

    Mill Valley Library

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    Napa County Library

    Napa Valley College

    National City Public Library

    Nevada County Library

    Oakland Public Library

    Oceanside Public Library

    Pacific Union College

    Palm Desert Public Library   

    Palo Alto City Library

    Palos Verdes Library District

    Pleasanton Public Library

    Rancho Cucamonga Public Library

    Richmond Public Library

    Sacramento Public Library

    San Anselmo Library

    San Diego County Library

    San Diego Public Library

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    San Leandro Public Library  

    San Mateo City Library   

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    San Rafael Library

    Santa Clara City Library

    Santa Clara University

    Santa Cruz Public Library

    Sausalito Public Library

    Solano Community College

    Solano County Library

    Sonoma County Library

    St. Helena Public Library

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    Stockton San Joaquin County Public Library

    Sunnyvale Public Library

    Tuolumne County Library

    Yolo County Library

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T18:30:18 1776969018

The O’Reilly for Public Libraries Complete subscription includes more than 43,000 books and 30,000 hours of video in areas such as information technology and software; business; digital media; professional and personal development; and desktop and web applications.

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T18:26:18 1776968778

San Francisco Public Library [0] is the best resource for readers in California. Of all the libraries in the state, I've found they are the most likely to acquire new titles, and often they are the only holder if the subject is particularly niche and technical. Even most university libraries are switching to digital collections *which can't be loaned out*.

One reason I say SFPL is great for all^H^H^H many Californians+ is their book collection is available for free pickup at a your local library via the inter-library sharing program, Link+ [1].

((People, submit purchase requests at your local libraries. It's what it's for.))

The other is that they are subscribers to "O'Reilly for Public Libraries", which lets people access Everything from O'Reilly for Free [2].

[0]: https://sfpl.org/

[1]: https://linkencore.iii.com/

[2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOsOTawdWFc

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T18:38:48 1776969528

My point was not whether $35/year per person on books is a lot or a little. I was responding to a comment where someone suggested libraries were a way to avoid high book prices. But they're not!

Libraries themselves (and by extension, taxpayers) suffer from high book prices.

Separately, would you mind explaining this part, as I'm not familiar with university libraries: "Even most university libraries are switching to digital collections which can't be loaned out."

Does this mean you can only read the digital collections when physically present in the library, or that they're only available to members and not via inter-library loan?

A few years ago I suggested a book via this form: https://sfpl.org/services/ask-librarian/suggest-title I never received any response.

I've since (very recently) learned there's another way to suggest titles here: https://sfpl.bibliocommons.com/user_dashboard#overlay456

Just now, I went to suggest a book there and got a popup message saying they won't get that book because it's over 10 years old. It's a book about critical thinking. It doesn't need to be updated.

toast0 · 2026-04-23T19:43:07 1776973387

> I was responding to a comment where someone suggested libraries were a way to avoid high book prices. But they're not!

Most of the books I've bought got read by me, and then sit on a shelf forever. If a book is bought by a library, and used multiple times before it's weeded, that's a big win for $/read.

> Just now, I went to suggest a book there and got a popup message saying they won't get that book because it's over 10 years old. It's a book about critical thinking. It doesn't need to be updated.

I think the library is suggesting a 10 year old book might be better accessed through other means. Can you get it from interlibrary loan? Is it available on the used market? It may not be available through the library's usual sourcing, etc.

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T19:46:32 1776973592

Why would the age of the book matter? If it were from a big publisher and they were to publish a new substantially-unchanged edition every three years, why would that make the library willing to consider the book?

The book in question is still in print and still available new.

toast0 · 2026-04-23T20:01:30 1776974490

If nobody wanted it in the first 10 years it was available, chances are it's only going to get one circulation if they buy it for you. That's not a great use of the libraries purchase budget or shelf space budget.

If they had a copy that wore out and it was circulated many times, they would have reordered it when they discarded it.

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T20:52:45 1776977565

That's why it's great that SFPL purchases such a wide variety of books. You can't ILL something if nobody has it.

When I was a teen I got my local library to acquire copies of a number of tech classics:

SICP, K&R, Stevens' TCP/IP Illustrated, ANSI CL, ... all discarded to my everlasting disappointment.

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T21:43:46 1776980626

Books like these approach $100 new. That's a lot of money for someone in high school.

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T22:12:25 1776982345

SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP.

And I can't request a copy because it's too old.

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-24T00:04:32 1776989072

I can't remember the number of times and ways I've tried to get them to re-acquire it. Maybe we should organize a good old sit-in?

https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-ad...

Some universities have it, but the only copy in CA public libraries seems to be at the Sharp Park branch in Pacifica (which I believe was acquired in the last couple of years - good on them!).

Berkeley public library has copies of the JS edition for what that's worth..

mat_epice · 2026-04-24T18:04:03 1777053843

I would prefer my library not buy SICP (at least the Scheme edition) since it's available for free online.

https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/b...

so-cal-schemer · 2026-05-03T00:05:06 1777766706

Yes. It's important to leave room on the shelf for yet another copy of the next edition of Computers for Seniors for Dummies:

https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb51571246__...

btw, Andres Raba brought us the preferred online edition of SICP:

https://sarabander.github.io/sicp/

Also, I'd like to note that in my experience no public library can provision online-only books. I've been unable to get any to acquire Mastering Emacs for example.

https://www.masteringemacs.org/

so-cal-schemer · 2026-05-03T00:17:27 1777767447

the JavaScript edition:

https://sicp.sourceacademy.org/

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T21:10:16 1776978616

What do you mean 'no one wanted it'?

Most library users select from the books on the shelf.

That's like saying you shouldn't write a book because no one wanted it in the past, before it existed.

toast0 · 2026-04-23T21:32:59 1776979979

Nobody requested it => no one wanted it.

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T22:13:16 1776982396

SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP.

And I can't request a copy because it's too old.

Do you believe that no one in San Francisco ever wanted to read SICP?

toast0 · 2026-04-23T22:29:32 1776983372

I can believe that nobody was checking it out and it got weeded. But you should be able to get it through interlibrary loan.

https://sfpl.libanswers.com/faq/97320

Worldcat says it's at 1483 libraries: https://search.worldcat.org/title/Structure-and-interpretati... (although some of them may not participate in ILL, and some may only have eBooks that you probably can't borrow unless you have an appropriate account)

I'm sure SFPL does tracking on ILL requests and if something comes up more than once or twice in a reasonable period and it's available for purchase, a copy will be purchased to add to the collection.

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T22:41:07 1776984067

OK I just submitted two ILL requests (for two different books).

rahimnathwani · 2026-04-23T21:56:23 1776981383

If that's the case, then why do librarians curate collections? Why stock any book before a library user has requested it?

toast0 · 2026-04-23T22:05:01 1776981901

To reduce latency on first use for books the curators think are likely to be used?

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-24T00:30:01 1776990601

As the top poster said: Use it or lose it.

Request physical copies of books you want to read, and that you think are beneficial to the community. And check them out from time to time.

I'm sure a librarian does their best to keep abreast with the latest best books.. but would they know the field better than someone in it?

I've been told they have experts that consult on title selection. But based on the 004-006 section at most libraries, I can only infer that is the IT guy at the senior center..

If the library buys it, that patron will come..

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T20:27:50 1776976070

Yes. I've found criteria for new books at public libraries to be very limiting. They usually will only acquire newly published books (published within a year or so). But they do get a discount from the publisher, perhaps 30%.

Basically, they will buy books that nobody's had a chance to review yet or talk about, but won't buy books published a year ago that everyone cites and recommends. It's a broken policy.

I'd say it is a way to avoid the high cost of books tho, in that they are a shared resource. Dozens of people may check out a single copy within a year. E-books at public libraries are more accessible, but only a finite number of copies may be accessed by patrons at a time - less accessible than you might think. Additionally, e-books are not owned, but leased. And the cost is substantial and comparable to the cost of a physical copy, and re-paid every few years.

Another way libraries avoid the cost of new books is by relying on other libraries to expand their collection. When my local library joined LINK+, for instance, they substantially decreased the amount of new books they would acquire, and it's stripping influence from the individual patron. Good luck borrowing a copy of Laws of Software Engineering [0] anywhere. Or Crafting Interpreters [1].

As far as university collections go, most have large libraries with huge collections that are available to borrow - somehow. But most of the books are very old. The new acquisitions are primarily digital and may only be accessed through a locked terminal or web portal. Whether the general public has access varies and often costs quite a bit or is free for the immediate community.

Here is info on borrowing at a few:

https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/find/borrow-renew

($100/yr for CA residents, limited access to the library, no remote access)

https://library.claremont.edu/borrowing/

(limited to nearby county residents, but free. no remote access or ebooks)

https://library.stanford.edu/about-stanford-libraries/visito...

(range of options: $1000/yr to $35/two-weeks, remote unclear)

I have had some luck accessing some e-books at some colleges, but for the most part you need to have a login. It really depends on their policies and licensing deals with digital publishers.

[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47847179

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40950235

so-cal-schemer · 2026-04-23T17:23:25 1776965005

Agreed.

I grew up having a lot of books around, mostly non-fiction, mostly from library book sales, garage sales, and used bookstores. There is a magnetic pull to a large well sorted bookcase. Pair it with a comfortable chair free of distractions. The best entertainment to my mind.