Comments on: Ten reasons to love the Toronto Public Library http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library Toronto's new weekly city magazine Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:43:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Anonymous http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44681 Anonymous Tue, 12 Feb 2013 04:33:39 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44681 I'm sorry, but they won't buy you a book. You can make suggestions which then go to a committee, if you're lucky. Budget is so tight they will almost certainly not buy something requested by only one patron. The free museum pass "service" is or was so easy to cheat on that people were actually caught re-selling these passes outside the relevant institutions. If museums, etc. want to give out free passes, why don't they do it themselves? It' a waste of library staff time and our money to have them providing this "service" which is done a free publicity for the institutions involved. I’m sorry, but they won’t buy you a book. You can make suggestions which then go to a committee, if you’re lucky. Budget is so tight they will almost certainly not buy something requested by only one patron.
The free museum pass “service” is or was so easy to cheat on that people were actually caught re-selling these passes outside the relevant institutions. If museums, etc. want to give out free passes, why don’t they do it themselves? It’ a waste of library staff time and our money to have them providing this “service” which is done a free publicity for the institutions involved.

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]]> By: Joe Clark http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44297 Joe Clark Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:25:59 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44297 Are you saying the book you handed back was never set to Claimed Return status? It isn’t correct procedure to skip right past that step to Trace (let alone Missing). Are you saying the book you handed back was never set to Claimed Return status? It isn’t correct procedure to skip right past that step to Trace (let alone Missing).

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]]> By: DES_Toronto http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44118 DES_Toronto Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:32:19 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44118 You forgot some of the online treasures you can get through the TPL, such as Naxos Music, which offers over a million tracks of mostly classical music, and JStor, a repository of academic journals. You forgot some of the online treasures you can get through the TPL, such as Naxos Music, which offers over a million tracks of mostly classical music, and JStor, a repository of academic journals.

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]]> By: Wil B http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44117 Wil B Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:13:35 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44117 I hope you make it back here soon :-) I'm sure Dartmouth is lovely but there are advantages to being in a big city too! I hope you make it back here soon :-)

I’m sure Dartmouth is lovely but there are advantages to being in a big city too!

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]]> By: Wil B http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44116 Wil B Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:07:34 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44116 Sometimes the internet makes me feel like an old geezer. Everybody understands why you use the library for books. After all, most people couldn't possibly afford to buy every book they wanted or needed. But when it comes to movies, people are like, 'just use netflix' or 'just download it.' Do people really think that they can download everything with absolute impunity and zero cost? Everything is free now? And where are they doing all this free unlimited downloading? At the library, I suppose (so maybe you do need the library after all?) Oh well, I'm 35 now, so maybe I *am* an old geezer. I might as well admit it! :-D Sometimes the internet makes me feel like an old geezer.

Everybody understands why you use the library for books. After all, most people couldn’t possibly afford to buy every book they wanted or needed.

But when it comes to movies, people are like, ‘just use netflix’ or ‘just download it.’

Do people really think that they can download everything with absolute impunity and zero cost? Everything is free now? And where are they doing all this free unlimited downloading? At the library, I suppose (so maybe you do need the library after all?)

Oh well, I’m 35 now, so maybe I *am* an old geezer. I might as well admit it! :-D

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]]> By: P.M. http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44109 P.M. Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:58:17 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44109 Oh ok, I get it now. You have lots of complaints, and you think each one is perfectly justified. And your theft of library materials, that's justified too. You have your reasons. Guess I had it wrong when I thought you were a whiner and a thief. I didn't realize you were special. Oh ok, I get it now.

You have lots of complaints, and you think each one is perfectly justified.

And your theft of library materials, that’s justified too. You have your reasons.

Guess I had it wrong when I thought you were a whiner and a thief. I didn’t realize you were special.

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]]> By: EJD from Dartmouth http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44108 EJD from Dartmouth Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:15:16 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44108 As someone who is legally blind & physically disabled, I really appreciate the TPL, I have very fond memories of the East Mall & burnhamthorpe branch as well as the Jane & Dundas branch, but my personal fave, is at Wellesley Community center.. I currently live in Dartmouth N.S & the libraries here, just dont compare, there accessible computers are so out of date that its sickening, the ones in TPL, were reserved for blind/low-vision (CNIB cardholders as well as physically disabled people) it was a huge help, also the access to accessible format books is the BEST in Canada, even better than CNIB's own online digital library, as the TPL collection of talking books, does not require the use of a hugely expensive machine to listen to them, nor do they require you to deal with ppl only over a phone or online!! I also regard highly the TPL's collection of Large Print books, amazing selection & the staff are incredible at finding the one your looking for, going as far as to call several other branches, hunting the book down.. I miss the TPL horribly & cant wait to get to move back to Toronto in 5 yrs, to be able to come back to my beloved TPL... As someone who is legally blind & physically disabled, I really appreciate the TPL, I have very fond memories of the East Mall & burnhamthorpe branch as well as the Jane & Dundas branch, but my personal fave, is at Wellesley Community center..
I currently live in Dartmouth N.S & the libraries here, just dont compare, there accessible computers are so out of date that its sickening, the ones in TPL, were reserved for blind/low-vision (CNIB cardholders as well as physically disabled people) it was a huge help, also the access to accessible format books is the BEST in Canada, even better than CNIB’s own online digital library, as the TPL collection of talking books, does not require the use of a hugely expensive machine to listen to them, nor do they require you to deal with ppl only over a phone or online!!
I also regard highly the TPL’s collection of Large Print books, amazing selection & the staff are incredible at finding the one your looking for, going as far as to call several other branches, hunting the book down..
I miss the TPL horribly & cant wait to get to move back to Toronto in 5 yrs, to be able to come back to my beloved TPL…

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]]> By: fanofToronto http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44100 fanofToronto Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:59:16 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44100 To P.M... Please re-read, I am not exaggerating about not getting 'attention'...I was the fifth person to go and complain...you say its not their job to apply the library rules? Please...Im not talking about the other branches, Im specifically talking about the reference branch. Very few of them actually walk around....I volunteered at a library when I was younger so I know what "tasks" are to be done..Im not asking for them to shush every person, but 4-5 complaints in means something...not "go downstairs to security while I do my Sudoku puzzle"... Yes she was doing it! She is 50ish and wears rimmed glasses...Everytime I see her, shes doing the puzzle! Not even on break! And what annoyance? Re-read please P.M!!!! They are using funds for other things (gallery? Really?) instead of fixing the elevator! Do you know how hard it is for handicap challenged people to go up the flight of stairs? On average its a 3 minute wait. But they put in a cafe that is actually more expensive than a Timmies/Timothys and even Starbucks!. I beg of you to go there on any day of the week/weekend and go up to the 3rd 4th 5th floors and walk around. See whats playing on the screens.. This doesnt happen on the main floor as they actually have 'walkers' who monitor whats being surfed on the web. And as a tax-payer, I have the right to 'complain' if something is not at an acceptable level...Im not asking for top notch, A++++ service...just the same amount of service I get from other libraries... Now you remind me of the type to just keep quiet and bear a grin...and I dont blame you....Im just like you...HOWEVER, one can only take enough of this bs and what not.. Please...I am venting so lets go past that...but I encourage ANYONE this weekend to go to the reference library...10-5pm...Just walk around...shizzz...And wonder why all the physically challeneged people are on the main floor only and not on other floors! And how one persons job is to go upstairs to find the books for them! Because the elevator is slow/always filled with people!... And yes I took the books...didnt rip anything off or anything like that...the security guard barely looks at my bag...its so sad.. I seen a guy steal the keyboard (LOL)... and I seen another girl bring 5 bags of McDonald (Not exaggerating at all) upstairs...Im all for eating as in snacks...but not full meals... and what do you know!...the ones eating the Mcdonalds were also the ones talking out loud! To P.M…

Please re-read, I am not exaggerating about not getting ‘attention’…I was the fifth person to go and complain…you say its not their job to apply the library rules? Please…Im not talking about the other branches, Im specifically talking about the reference branch. Very few of them actually walk around….I volunteered at a library when I was younger so I know what “tasks” are to be done..Im not asking for them to shush every person, but 4-5 complaints in means something…not “go downstairs to security while I do my Sudoku puzzle”… Yes she was doing it! She is 50ish and wears rimmed glasses…Everytime I see her, shes doing the puzzle! Not even on break!

And what annoyance? Re-read please P.M!!!! They are using funds for other things (gallery? Really?) instead of fixing the elevator! Do you know how hard it is for handicap challenged people to go up the flight of stairs? On average its a 3 minute wait. But they put in a cafe that is actually more expensive than a Timmies/Timothys and even Starbucks!. I beg of you to go there on any day of the week/weekend and go up to the 3rd 4th 5th floors and walk around. See whats playing on the screens.. This doesnt happen on the main floor as they actually have ‘walkers’ who monitor whats being surfed on the web.

And as a tax-payer, I have the right to ‘complain’ if something is not at an acceptable level…Im not asking for top notch, A++++ service…just the same amount of service I get from other libraries… Now you remind me of the type to just keep quiet and bear a grin…and I dont blame you….Im just like you…HOWEVER, one can only take enough of this bs and what not..
Please…I am venting so lets go past that…but I encourage ANYONE this weekend to go to the reference library…10-5pm…Just walk around…shizzz…And wonder why all the physically challeneged people are on the main floor only and not on other floors! And how one persons job is to go upstairs to find the books for them! Because the elevator is slow/always filled with people!…

And yes I took the books…didnt rip anything off or anything like that…the security guard barely looks at my bag…its so sad.. I seen a guy steal the keyboard (LOL)… and I seen another girl bring 5 bags of McDonald (Not exaggerating at all) upstairs…Im all for eating as in snacks…but not full meals… and what do you know!…the ones eating the Mcdonalds were also the ones talking out loud!

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]]> By: P.M. http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44091 P.M. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:47:34 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44091 Let's have a bit of perspective here, shall we? The library, like any other public place, is a microcosm of society. There are weirdos and creeps and rude people. And yes, there are annoyances too, like slow elevators or renovations. That's life. Library staff are not the behaviour police. If they spent their time speaking to every group of kids goofing off, or every loud person talking on the phone, they'd have no time to do anything else. That really isn't their job. You say that the Reference Library security are hitting on girls. If this really is happening, go ahead and report it. But I have a feeling that you're just exaggerating because you feel that the staff weren't attentive enough to you. Yours sounds like a complaining, 'customer service' kind of attitude. And if you really do steal books from the library, you are downright despicable. Let’s have a bit of perspective here, shall we?

The library, like any other public place, is a microcosm of society. There are weirdos and creeps and rude people. And yes, there are annoyances too, like slow elevators or renovations. That’s life.

Library staff are not the behaviour police. If they spent their time speaking to every group of kids goofing off, or every loud person talking on the phone, they’d have no time to do anything else. That really isn’t their job.

You say that the Reference Library security are hitting on girls. If this really is happening, go ahead and report it. But I have a feeling that you’re just exaggerating because you feel that the staff weren’t attentive enough to you. Yours sounds like a complaining, ‘customer service’ kind of attitude.

And if you really do steal books from the library, you are downright despicable.

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]]> By: P.M. http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/ten-reasons-to-love-the-toronto-public-library/#comment-44089 P.M. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:22:44 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=119975#comment-44089 It's strange that this post knocks DVD and CD users as 'knuckle-draggers.' Netflix is not free. Movies and music are not free, just like books are not free. If you think that everything is free on the internet, consider the cost of internet access itself, and the cost of computers and electronics. It’s strange that this post knocks DVD and CD users as ‘knuckle-draggers.’ Netflix is not free. Movies and music are not free, just like books are not free.

If you think that everything is free on the internet, consider the cost of internet access itself, and the cost of computers and electronics.

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