sources of knowledge

[DrV]

My library used to have a book on VB-DOS, but they sold it or threw it away or something, so now they have pretty much no decent programming books. (just stupid web-authoring stuff - mostly WYSIWYG how-to guides). They're getting tired of me asking for new books, too, I think.

[TheBigBasicQ]

My university is full of technical books. I am getting tired of reading technical books. It's been ages since I read a novel or a magazine( non technical one ) :S

[steven_basic]

Some good resources I like to use:

1. Local library (as stated).

2. Regional libraries: Here I have access to both the library region where I live (county) and the region where I work as I am required to pay an occupational tax. This gives me a total of 7 libraries within a reasonable distance of home/work.

3. Used paperback book stores: Believe it or not, pretty much all computer books are considered "paperbacked". I have found that most used book stores will take any computer related book as a trade for store credit and you can find really good deals on them.

4. Donation Centers: Goodwill, local "thrift" stores, etc. recieve a lot of computer related books and manuals. Many businesses will clean out an old computer supply room and dump the entire load at a donation center for a tax write-off. I have found complete sets of manuals for Visual Studio, VBDOS, Borland products, you name it. (Also a good location for old hardware for those who subbornly refuse to upgrade their OS past Win95)

[VonGodric]

Well my Local and City main library don't have a lot of programming books, what are are old or constantly out.

But the good thing is Tartu's Univerity Library wich is Estonians biggest one. There you can find ANYTHING -only name and I can almost assure you it is there. Though bad thing is that since I'm not student from the Uni (... yet) then I can't take books home. But this library fortunately is like mini-city byitself. It has 2restaurants, several small bars/coffe-corners and several shops. Ofcourse a lot of reading rooms and computer classes you can use. Unfortunately all computers there are "locked" to certain tasks so you can't directly try out anything

[Punk Krash]

Our library has only a few on programming .. mostly web based .... or obscure (Turbo PASCAL... etc)


though i did see one on C++ which suprised me... i think government-man is gonna shut it down for that though.... ya know.. cause aliens must have been involved ..

Our library is mostly where the homeless go to keep warm and shave.... *shudders*

[steven_basic]

Just went to the library closest to my work during lunch. Found "VB.NET in a nutshell" in the "friends of the library" store for $1.00. There were also several books on generic Win32 programming, but were dated around the time of Win95.

[Diroga]

steven_basic

what is a regional library?

where would i find donation centers for books

places like goodwill, salvation army and vallue village do have computer books, but i have never seen a modern book. most of the many are dates to mid 90's and older. i did buy a pascal book. oh and the books there smell.

[steven_basic]

what is a regional library?

I am referring to the libraries that are a part of the library system in which your local library resides. I get a card at my local library. It is part of a "county-wide" system all linked together. I can go to any of the other libraries in the system and use my local library card to check out books. Usually, you can return a book to any of the libraries in the system.
The place where I work is required to deduct an occupational tax on workers that live outside of the city (Birmingham) and commute in to the city to work. As part of this tax, I am allowed to get another library card for this region and use it at any of the other libraries in this system.
At least that is how it works where I live.

where would i find donation centers for books

If you find a donation center that specializes in electronics (for instance an organization called "Hannah Home" has a single location where all PCs, TVs, etc. are sent because they have an actual techie type person who donates time to get items into working order) you will usually find tech-oriented books. I have found a newly donated supply of nearly identical 486 systems in the PC section and at the same time I found a complete set of MS Office refernece material w/disks in the book section. Some local business upgraded their system and donated the old for tax purposes.
Also, check with your local library about book donations and sales. I know of at least two of the libraries I frequent that have "book stores" on the grounds of the library. One advertises the store openly, but the other has the store kind of hidden away and you have to specifically ask about it (This particular one is called a "friends of the library" support store).