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He said he couldn't hang out at a library because he didn't have a library card, which struck me as odd. Do libraries not let you inside unless you have a card

He said he couldn't hang out at a library because he didn't have a library card, which struck me as odd. Do libraries not let you inside unless you have a card in California? Because there's not a single library I've been to that required a library card to enter or spend time at the library. I only have a library card for my city, but I've been to libraries all over the suburbs to read their books (on the premises), write, attend events, and even secure meeting rooms (just needed my driver's license). Actually when I was poor that was one thing I did a decent amount of, was just hang out at libraries. Although I've never been so poor I didn't own a working computer, either, although I came close once. One time, when my computer died I spent a couple weeks hunting down a cheap one (just the tower) for $80 on Craigslist that wasn't too much of a downgrade from what I had (mine was kind of old to begin with). I don't remember exactly what was wrong with it. I want to say it was the power supply fried, but if that's the case, I don't know why I thought I couldn't just buy a replacement for the same cost. Maybe I just felt I couldn't afford to take the chance.

troupe 6y ago
> He said he couldn't hang out at a library because he didn't have a library card But at the same time his plan for changing his life was to start going to the library. :)
Uhhrrr 6y ago
It's true for some campus libraries.
- cableshaft 6y ago
  Well he said he only needed $10 for the card, which suggests a non-college library. And at my campus you just needed a student id to check books out or go on a computer, but it's otherwise open to the public. But maybe. I assume it's accurate, just seems unusual from my experience.
  - kbenson 6y ago
    > Well he said he only needed $10 for the card, which suggests a non-college library. Does it? The public library system where I live offers free cards. I think it's just as likely for a school to include the library card cost in tuition and charge for it otherwise. My guess is "Santa Luna" is actually Santa Cruz, and their library cards are free too (at least now, but I suspect that it hasn't changed). My guess is that since this was written after the fact, there's just some haziness on what was actually the case, and why he didn't frequent the library as much (which might be as simple as that the hours he was out and walking the neighborhood were often not library hours).
fit2rule 6y ago
You can spend time for free in most libraries in California. You just can't check out materials without leaving a $10 deposit, or at least that is how it was in the 90's as I remember it ...

troupe 6y ago

> He said he couldn't hang out at a library because he didn't have a library card But at the same time his plan for changing his life was to start going to the library. :)

Uhhrrr 6y ago

It's true for some campus libraries.

cableshaft 6y ago
Well he said he only needed $10 for the card, which suggests a non-college library. And at my campus you just needed a student id to check books out or go on a computer, but it's otherwise open to the public. But maybe. I assume it's accurate, just seems unusual from my experience.
- kbenson 6y ago
  > Well he said he only needed $10 for the card, which suggests a non-college library. Does it? The public library system where I live offers free cards. I think it's just as likely for a school to include the library card cost in tuition and charge for it otherwise. My guess is "Santa Luna" is actually Santa Cruz, and their library cards are free too (at least now, but I suspect that it hasn't changed). My guess is that since this was written after the fact, there's just some haziness on what was actually the case, and why he didn't frequent the library as much (which might be as simple as that the hours he was out and walking the neighborhood were often not library hours).

fit2rule 6y ago

You can spend time for free in most libraries in California. You just can't check out materials without leaving a $10 deposit, or at least that is how it was in the 90's as I remember it ...