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by arjie 502 days ago
Yes, the one I went to as a child had a monthly fee and a per-book fee. It had a far more extensive collection than the SFPL library at 4th and Berry in a much more compact space. Most SFPL libraries appear to be homeless-support centers, which diminishes their capacity to carry books since they assign greater room to support functions. But perhaps that is the source of the value observed in the OP.

As an aside, are there university libraries one can join directly for a fee? I was under the impression they were bundled in with tuition etc. If it’s around $100/month I wouldn’t mind that, but perhaps that is an unachievable target.
2 comments
CaliforniaKarl 502 days ago
> As an aside, are there university libraries one can join directly for a fee?

There are. Some are more open than others, but it generally comes down to "give $$, get access".

Here's Stanford's page, for example: https://library.stanford.edu/about-stanford-libraries/visit-...:

One thing worth noting, these accesses do not always include access to electronic resources. Access may only be available from computers that are in the library.

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zmgsabst 502 days ago
At least the one near me — and it’s only $100/yr.

https://lib.uw.edu/services/borrow/card/fee/

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