It would be cool to map the relationship between a book getting linked on HN and its checkout rate at the local public library. That's usually the first place I head when I see something I want to read on here.
Your local library has a much better offering of niche non-fiction than mine. Many of the texts I see here aren't even available through my school's cross country academic network. I did read this book that way, but I had to wait for it to come quite a distance.
My city's newest library is an art piece with less books than any other here, to be fair.
You aren't limited to the books (or other media) that your public library has on hand. You can use your local library to check out books from just about any other library in the US (and many internationally). Ask them about inter-library loan and how to use it.
My city's newest library is an art piece with less books than any other here, to be fair.