BBH: How Many Public Libraries Are in Your Area?
“How many public libraries are in your area? Are they easy to get to?” Is this week’s Book Blogger Hop topic. The hop takes place weekly, starting on a Friday and concluding the following Thursday. Each week features a specific prompt that poses a book-related question for participants to address.
The Book Blogger Hop was originally launched by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and continued until December 31, 2012. It was reintroduced on February 15, 2013, with the approval of Jennifer, by B.J. Burgess @ coffeeaddictedwriter. The hop takes place weekly, starting on a Friday and concluding the following Thursday. Each week features a specific prompt that poses a book-related question for participants to address.
As I might usually add an extended version, this time it stays true to it’s original around books.
How many public libraries are in your area?
My closest city has a good collection of libraries – around 38 locations in total, plus one main building. So far, I only know the main building and it’s full with such a huge variety of all kinds of media, like books, magazines, comics and even movies on DVD and Blu-Ray but also video games to lend!
For lending media, you’d need a library card, which is a one-time-a-year fee of around 30 bucks, and it’s not even 10 bucks for students. Otherwise, there’s a lot of space where you could pick whatever you’re into and work through it right there. As they have lots of study spots for students of all kinds.
Last year, I went there many times, not only to go through their media but also to study, working on my blog in silence or just enjoying the atmosphere.
It can get hard to find a spot, since it’s a quite popular spot for students in universities or even younger ones to meet and do homework or study groups.
This year, I haven’t been there so far, not even to re-new my card but I could still go and read something there. Or re-new it now for a year.
However, I plan on doing so and starting up a routine pretty soon, so I can go there regularly again.
They also have D&D play groups or some workshops to visit without extra fee, so for me it’s been totally worth it.
Additionally, they have Libby, so I can use their e-books and magazines through the app and I’m so happy for them growing the english section!
Just as English is not the country’s first language we got it taught early on, a lot of people – especially students – are pretty good at it and it’s required so as well.
So, it’s not entirely surprising but just as I was happy for my local book stores to get a larger collection of English books, I’m happy for the library doing so as well!
Are they easy to get to?
As I haven’t visited all of these 38 locations yet and only know the main building, I can only consider its location. However, I do find it very easy to get to, as there’re available trains, trams and suburbs to get to it. Which is a big plus for all the people going by public transport, as of myself.
Is it easy reachable by car? I’m not sure nor have I tried it that way yet, so I can’t tell.
I’m lucky to have several public libraries nearby, each with its own personality. One sits right in the heart of downtown—busy, full of energy, and always hosting story hours or author talks. Another branch is tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood where sunlight pours across the reading tables. I often stop by on a Saturday morning just to browse or pick up a hold, coffee in hand.
That sounds amazing, especially with the sun and quiet!
We get our library cards for free. I didn’t realise that some people had to pay. My closest one is a 15 min walk away and there are 98 in my county (although my county is fairly large!).
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/21/book-blogger-hop-how-many-public-libraries-are-in-your-area-are-they-easy-to-get-to/
Getting them for free is awesome! Though yeah, we got to pay for them here.
15 minutes is so close! I think the closes might be 40ish minutes or sth. At least it’s comfortable to get there!
Happy Friday!
Happy reading!
Oh wow, I didn’t think you’d have to pay for them! We have them free here as long as you’re a resident in the area or one we have a reciprocal agreement with. My closest is about maybe 2-3 minutes away, though I’m usually going to the one that’s about 20 minutes away since I work at that location (pretty much most of the others are at least 15-20 minutes away on average for me) — occasionally I’ll drop by my usual, though, especially if I’m on vacation and have a large collection of returns that I really don’t want to lug back to work.
Yeah, at least at this one we do. I got the library card for one in another state as well and can’t remember paying for it, so I’d say that one would be free. It was closer at some point, but now it’d take me 2ish hours or so. Even though I love the city. Maybe I’ll give it a visit at some point!
30 mins is so close, that’s amazing!