I had an annoying PDF I couldn't print due to size and weird formatting.
After going to Johnson / Timpson who couldn't help (apparently they can't do A4), I visited my very local and small library, chap behind the counter was incredibly helpful.
After a bit of pissing about on my part, the librarian googled the PDF I needed. They chopped it up into A4 pieces and printed it double sided in colour!
Cost me 50p. I didn't have change so he put it on my library account.
I went to another shop and circled back, to pay my debt, and hoping to give my saviour a tip. Unfortunately, his boss was around, so I made a donation instead.
He probably wouldn't have taken the tip anyway.
Useful service!
(I bought a niche card game, but the rules were in Japanese, here's a photo of the papers library hero printed)
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24 comments
Libraries are great. Please do keep using them 🙂
You’re right that they wouldn’t have taken a tip. As they’re council-run, all gifts have to be declared – even tubs of chocolate at Christmas!
Edit: libraries now allow you to borrow audiobooks, magazines and ebooks as well, via apps. So even if there isn’t one local to you, you can make use of them!
I’m lucky, I live in a student area so my local library is thriving. Not all of them are these days.
50p for colour printing? My library charges over a £1 for one page colour printing.
I just joined our local library as you’re able to download audiobooks from them, saves shelling out for Audible
Our local library is a 5 minute walk away and it’s now one of my toddlers favourite places. He gets new books to read every two weeks and the staff there love him.
He was slightly nonplussed the first time we actually took books back, he didn’t understand that we couldn’t just keep them forever haha
Can I recommend PDF X Change editor? Free to download and has tools to print across multiple pages, can automatically pick plot size.
I would have to give praise to my local library and its local history section. They have helped me research stories which my elderly aunt told me about the area & family etc, and by visiting the library, they dug out the relevant records from the 1930s, microfiche access to the local newspapers, the works. Quite an eye opener to get confirmation of what she was telling me.
I’ve borrowed countless books over the years from them, reading things I might not necessarily buy, but want to take a chance on, as well as research and reference material. My local libraries online offerings are also pretty good, free current newspaper, magazine and The Times newspaper online archives online as well as the usual ebooks.
We need to protect and better fund public libraries!
Libraries are absolutely incredible. Ever fancied reading a book but didn’t want to shell out for it in case you didn’t like it? Walk into a library and borrow it for free! It doesn’t even matter if you don’t get around to reading it. And lots of libraries have stopped fining people for late returns, because they don’t want to deter borrowing.
There are also lots of schemes (varies by area) that get you access to things like Ancestry, newspaper archives, and scientific literature. I love libraries.
God the ones in Newcastle are bloody awful.
Kids running around screaming, expensive printing, and I tried to donate some books (Sherlock Holmes / Discworld, not trash) and they refused. I asked what would happen if I just left them and the lady said she’d bin them.
I have so much to thank our local library for. This time last year, my reception aged child refused to read and we tried so hard with him. We made progress, but once school ended for summer, I didn’t want to lose the progress we made.
So, we did the summer reading challenge and when school returned, we started going every week and getting out 5 books to read. We’ve been doing this since September and he’s moved up into the top set for reading and phonics. Libraries are awesome.
I love my library! I read all year and maybe buy 1 book
Oh do you happen to know the name of the card game, love the aesthetics!
Sea Salt and Paper is a great little game! I adore the artwork on it! If you need any more info let me know, I have the English version right next to me 🙂
I love libraries. When I go on holiday, I seek out local ones, just to see what they’re like.
I was at a work thing before christmas,and had forgotten to print a vital bit of info out for something i was doing later with the team. I put a pdf on to a USB stick and walked 1/2 mile to the library but at the door realised I’d picked up the wrong USB. Went back, got the right one, and started walking back and noticed a print shop I hadnt’ seen previously. Went in and printed the 3 copies I needed, and they charged me a quid a sheet on the thinnest of papers. But, it did save me walking any further in the rain. Still annoyed though.
Our local central library got rebuilt a few years ago and I’ve only recently started using the new one. It’s absolutely fantastic.
They’ve now got a toy library, board game section and loads of extra activity groups for users.
It’s become a weekly binding activity for the step daughter and I to visit.
I wrote a lot of my thesis in my local library. It was a godsend; I live in a tiny flat with my spouse and stepson and the place is chaotic and noisy.
I’d love to use my local library. Unfortunately it was shut down to save money along with all the other local libraries in the city.
Many moons ago our local library used to rent out paintings!
My library does an online printing service where you upload a document to be printed from your own device, on their website, and then you just go into the library to collect it. Saves needing to log onto their computers, and you can do it from your phone in the library or from a computer at home etc so it’s really flexible.
Our local libraries are amazing, both for stuff for little ones (I’m there regularly with our six month old!) but they also offer rental of a 3D printer, embroidery machine, and some other bits. They’ve really evolved with the times, and I really want to see them continue on!
You tried Johnsons and Timpsons? Do you mean the cleaners and the shoe repairers? I wouldn’t have thought of them for printing – is that something that they do?
I started using my local library last year and it was fantastic. Haven’t consistently used a library since secondary school.
There is so much media available
People like to take a dump on Croydon, but when I used to live there, I remember the library there being fantastic. A massive selection of books.
Now I’ve got a tiny library near me, but they’ve got an online ebook selection through Hampshire Libraries. It’s Borrowbox, which some redditors have also mentioned here.
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