mtbc | Local libraries

A couple of times each, I have walked over to our local library, Gorbals, and the main Mitchell library, yet another for which we thank Andrew Carnegie, who was born here in Scotland. To my surprise, I was a little disappointed: for having well over a million items stocked, the Mitchell library does not put many of them out on shelving; it's a lovely building but the public floorspace is mostly tables and chairs. From my perspective, I also note that both the main library and the local branch have a rather small science fiction section. Dundee's is far larger, even Coupar Angus' might be larger, if memory serves.

I had hoped to read more contemporary science fiction, with my attending the World Science Fiction Society's annual convention, Worldcon, next year. Much of what I read is decades old as then I can more easily find tighter stories with interesting ideas. I'm more leery of investing in something several fat novels long so the slender yellow spines of Orion's "SF Masterworks" series always attract my attention. I am sure there must be plenty to recommend the modern scene too and I figure that, by immersing myself in a literary convention, I shall learn more about it.

Fortunately, some test searches in the library's online catalogue find copies of everything I think to expect. So, browsing the shelves may not be optimal (time will tell about stock rotation) but if I get recommendations elsewhere then the library may yet serve me well.