Atlanta-Fulton Public
Well, I'm now in Atlanta. However, I had a bit of a snafu at the local library.
I was in downtown (the 5 Points area, to be exact), and decided to check out the main library on one of the Peachtrees in order to 1) see if I could get a temporary (or otherwise) library card and 2) use an Internet terminal to find a comic book store (I'm missing just one volume of Transmetropolitan ... the second to last volume [note: the URL will take you to a site with naughty language and visual bits not considered appropos in polite society ... there may be nudity as well, but I dunno]) and 3) get the general lay of the land.
From the outside, the lay of the land is simply a concrete square. Tall, brown and very concrete. Inside, the first floor had 6 concrete pillars, 3 approximately 2-3 feet from the front entrance and the others along the back wall in parallel. Tall ceilings, green and off-white walls, and the circulation/privileges area took up the middle space. There's a security guard on duty and you have to present any bag/backpack for inspection.
There are Internet kiosks on the first floor, between the information desk and the circulation area (the info desk is in the northwest corner), but you need a library card to log on. So, I go to the information desk and ask if all the library terminals required a library card for usage. The lady behind the desk answered yes, and said that I could get a PC card from Circulation.
I'm slow. I managed to interpret "PC card" as "temporary library card" or library card for temporary/homeless residents. I don't believe that I'd qualify at any point for a real card, but I'd just like something that will let me use the library's online resources and something to take back with me to CA.
After a long wait at the Circ counter, I finally talk with a lady who informs me that the computers upstairs are down, and so they aren't giving out PC cards to people outside of the jurisdiction and that people with library cards are the first priority to get PC cards when the computers come back up, except for the computers behind me that are up, but those are the only ones.
Have I mentioned that I'm slow? Particularly when in a new city? I am agog; I just stare at the poor woman. I think the words "temporary library card" pass my benumbed lips at some point, but I truly don't remember all that well. She stares at me implacably.
I do remember seeing a sign that if someone outside of the Atlanta-Fulton County area wanted a library, there's an annual, non-refundable $75.00 fee, $50.00 for senior citizens. Reasonable if I planned to spend the year here, but sense I'm not spending even a quarter of that amount of time, this seems to be a bit much.
Does anyone know how to go about getting a temporary card for the Atlanta-Fulton County system? Obviously, I flummoxed the magic words that would have gotten me safe passage ... your help is appreciated.
Comments
I don't think there's any length of residency requirement to get a "real" (non-temporary) AFPL library card. I showed up the day I got here with my lease signed that day with my new address on it, and they gave me my card right away.
As for your query #2 to find a comic book store, I know just the person for you to talk to. We'll have to do dinner soon.
Posted by: carol o | June 6, 2004 04:47 AM
Eli, good luck finding Transmetropolitan #8...if it doesn't pan out, email me and I'll scout around in San Francisco on your behalf, or at least lend you my copy. sarah at holmgrrl dot net.
Posted by: Sarah Holm | June 11, 2004 11:53 AM
Thanks, Sarah ... I'm going to go comic book hunting tomorrow afternoon. I know it's somewhere out there.
Posted by: Eli | June 11, 2004 02:45 PM
(I'm in training to be a Library Cat.) There is normally no temporary library card for Atlanta Fulton Public Library. NORMALLY. I've seen Branch Managers give out regular cards "good for two weeks" when they felt like it. If you've got ANYTHING that shows you live in the city, you can get a regular card.
The "PC" card is just that. It's a card that lets ANYONE use the PC's for 15, 30, 60 or whatever minutes (it varies) and up to two hours a day, IIRC. You have to give the card back when done. Some branches don't give you the card -- just the NUMBER -- so you can use a PC. All you have to do to get one of these is wait in line and wait and.... Then you wait for a PC to come open....
Comic Books stores are easier to find. Titan is one chain. Book Nook maybe. See Yellow Pages. The libraries tend to have them at the Reference Desks.
But do NOT use the Central Library if you can avoid it. Buckhead, Ponce, East Atlanta, etc. all tend to have less hassles.
And do note that part of Atlanta is in DeKalb county and a different library system but their "Guest Card" system is pretty much the same.
Meow for now.
Posted by: Meow Investor | July 21, 2004 05:25 PM