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Unexpected charges

I was absolutely stoked to drop by the library to pick up a couple of books I’d put a hold on recently. Why? Because no longer do you have to wait in line and deal with, er, an actual librarian. No, they simply put your requested books out in the open on a ‘hold’ shelf, tagged with your name, in alphabetical order. Do it yourself – and presumably, get away with never being nagged to pay your late fees either!

For some reason, I also assumed this meant we would no longer be charged a dollar everytime we request a specific book. I’m not sure what gave me that notion, because it’s horribly, wildly wrong. I logged into my library account online and was horrified to see my balance at over $10 (granted half of that is late fees from last year…which I will get around to paying sometime).

I still have more than 14 books left on my reading list. For those of you who actually purchase books, maybe $14 doesn’t sound like a lot (and as an avid reader and book lover maybe it shouldn’t be. But I’m not a buyer – I devour them and move on – there’s just no way I can afford a minimum o$30 a pop for a shiny new novel).

I’ve always thought charging us extra for something that really is just part of the job was ridiculous. I’m still going to forge ahead with whittling down my reading list, but this kind of sucks. All of the books I want to borrowΒ  (progress has been slow so far, mainly because I didn’t want to pay to get any of them out) are housed at random branches that aren’t convenient for me to get to.

Speaking of unexpected charges…now that I’m 22, I have to start paying for my twice yearly-appointments at Family Planning. Six months sounds like a long time, but it sure feels like I run out of pills much sooner than that. (It probably didn’t help that I had to make extra appointments for my smears recently.) I’m no longer a poor student and don’t qualify for a community services card, so I’ll be charged $22.50 a pop. As far as I know, though, my prescriptions will still be subsidised to $3…or so I’m hoping.

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6 thoughts on “Unexpected charges

  • Reply Maggie August 12, 2010 at 17:43

    I’m not sure where in Auckland you live, but there’s a pharmacy in West Auckland on Great North Road that doesn’t charge for prescriptions. Just to let you know πŸ™‚

    Oh, and I didn’t know that there are charges now for requesting books! That’s quite, silly, but I guess they’re making money where they can and with the freight charges or something.. that just reminds me I haven’t been to the library in ages and the books that I have read recently are from friends..

  • Reply eemusings August 12, 2010 at 18:52

    Oh really? Where? (Great North Rd is pretty darn long). What’s it called, or at least which suburb? Still, it’s only $3, so not too fussed.

    They’ve always charged for requesting books. Not if you’re a minor, though. If you’re under 18, use it and abuse it! Read as much as you want. I know I did.

  • Reply Maggie August 13, 2010 at 06:17

    Ohhh, right I see. I’m not really a big reader so didn’t really go much anyway.

    It’s near West City in Henderson. I’ve forgotten the name but it’s close to National Bank. Yeah, wasn’t sure where you lived but if you lived closeby then it would be worth it~ πŸ™‚

  • Reply Stephany August 13, 2010 at 13:39

    Ouch! You get charged for requesting books?! I request books all the time from mine (in fact, I never actually go in and peruse the shelves…I just look on Amazon & request!) and we only get late charges.

  • Reply eemusings August 15, 2010 at 15:43

    No, I don’t own either. I also detest the idea of reading books on a screen. Call me old fashioned πŸ™‚

    I wouldn’t say I have a lot of classics on my list. I’m semi interested in tackling Anna Karenina and a couple of others, but generally I prefer more modern books.

    I’m probably going to finish everything on my list in the next couple of months, and don’t know what I’ll do after that! Solicit recommendations from the twitterverse, perhaps. Or just stalk bookshops and the review pages of the weekend magazine supplements.

  • Reply unknowntheartist August 15, 2010 at 14:47

    I think I have stayed away from libraries now for about a decade because I’m not great with returning on time.
    I buy a good deal of hard to find book from Amazon at pretty decent prices and re-sell them on eBay if I won’t read them a second time.

    If you have lots of the literary classics on your reading list and own an iPod touch or iPhone, maybe it’d work out a little cheaper to buy some of the books in iTunes application form. The books only take up a little space on your iPod/iPhone/computer and you can read it the way you want-fonts, sizing and colours. Plus they’re all yours and no return fees to be seen anywhere πŸ™‚

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