Library service varies so much from area to area, but just because a town is small doesn't mean it doesn't have access to a wide variety of materials. Here in Minnesota, any library that is part of a regional library system (and that is all but five public libraries in the state) has access to all materials in the state. So, even though my local library is in a town of less than 1,000 people, I have access to the same materials as someone in Minneapolis. I just might have to wait a few days to get it on loan.

Might I make a few suggestions? If you check out an item from the library that is damaged, please let staff know of the problem when you return it so that it isn't checked out to others in an unusable state.

And if you're in an area where library service isn't so good, be vocal about the importance of libraries. Tell the library staff what you want to see. Talk to your city council and legislature and let them know that you value libraries and want to have good library service in your area.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a former librarian and current library board member, so this topic is near and dear to my heart.)

Thanks for a good discussion!