Libraries

My local library is in my school so I go there every day. The one thing I don't like about the library system is unlike the UK it only shares books with the libraries in the state, not the nation. That makes me sad because it doesn't carry alot of books I wan't (programming wise, everything else (entertainment, school research) is has), such as AI game programming wisdom, and things like that. However I did get C++ primer from there, and OpenGL game programming from there, and a few software engineering books.

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Original post by superpig One of the greatest things about the UK libraries service is that they basically share books - if you want something that they don't have on the shelves, they can get in touch with a library that does have it and get it sent over, free of charge to you.

You can do the same thing here. I used that a lot when I was first learning basic. But once you get over the first hump, they don't have much around here dealing with anything past the beginner books. :o(

I'm not a subscriber to my libary in Leeds, but in the past the programming oriented books in my old libraries were almost non-existant. If you want to learn how to use Word, Excel, AOL or anything like that you could find several books, but programming wise it was dry.

What I do now is go and sit down in Borders and read the books there. They have a great selection and it's nice to be able to sit down for a length of time, reading the material and buy it if there are still things I need to pick up from it. It's a bit cheeky, I know, but nobody has ever complained. However, if the libraries were better stocked, I'd definitely be there.

I used to, but don't anymore. Partly because I don't read nearly as much as I used to (or should, I guess, just don't seem to be able to find the time), and partly because I found their range and service disappointing at the time. They didn't have any dedicated computing section, and the few books that they did have were all BASIC, or VC++ 4 if you were lucky.

Public libraries will often have a TON of books on word processing/office applications, HTML, and game guides. Programming books, if you find any, will probably be ancient.

So, I guess a better idea is:
Let's start donating up to date computer books to libraries and maybe they'll be worth going to in this day and age.

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Original post by evolutional I'm not a subscriber to my libary in Leeds, but in the past the programming oriented books in my old libraries were almost non-existant. If you want to learn how to use Word, Excel, AOL or anything like that you could find several books, but programming wise it was dry.

Same thing here, sadly.

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Original post by superpig Do you know where your local library is? Do you use it? If not, why not?

I frequent my university library all the time, if only for selfish reasons rather than personal enlightenment. They often have free samples at the coffee shop in there (mmm, crullers). The book selection is quite nice too (over 4 million literary works and resources, all told). And that's not even counting the 50% bonus to research production they provide inside the city radius!

When I started out I had two books, Teach Yourself Game Programming in 21 Days also being one of them. I was in Nigeria at the time, and access to books wasn't that easy, but I'd spend the money I had to buy more books - sacrificing other stuff like clothes or food or shoes (probably because I knew my parents would buy those for me anyway).

When I came back to the US and went to college here, I became a huge fan of university libraries. At UNC Greensboro they had a first-rate computer science program, and the library reflected that. Books on their shelves included Graphics Gems I through IV, 3D Game Engine Design, Effective C++, More Effective C++, Code Complete, The Mythical Man Month and dozens of other notables. They had an entire basement full of technical books, including one on "graphics for fun and profit" that included sections on origami and experimental graphics techniques from the architect behind Squaresoft's Final Fantasy VII engine.

UNC-G was great, but Greensboro wasn't working for me so I ended up transferring to Stony Brook University. At Stony Brook, there are actually dedicate libraries for Math and Physics, Music (UNC-G had an incredible music program and library!) and Computer Science, among others, in addition to the Central Library. The CS library has a broad selection of texts, not quite as extensive as UNC-G's basement, but still quite impressive.

Edit: Both schools also are part of electronic library programs. Stony Brook just joined one, and it's rapidly expanding. UNC Greensboro, obviously, has been part of one for years (since I left there in 2002). In addition, UNC Greensboro is part of the UNC system - much like Stony Brook is part of the SUNY system - which means a certain amount of access to resources at other UNC schools such as Chapel Hill. I got to visit the VR Labs at Chapel Hill for CSC 589 once; very nice. I also visited Duke for an ACM programming contest.

Even before I went to Greensboro, when I was living in Ithaca, I used to Tompkins County Library. I took a walk downtown, signed up for a library card and started borrowing books on any topic that interested me. Cornell's library was also nearby, and while I couldn't borrow books from it, I could definitely read them there! In short, libraries - public and university, which are open to the public - are a huge, wonderful, free resource. If you're not taking advantage of them, then you're a fool.

A key ingredient to success in any field is initiative. Leveraging resources that are made available to you, particularly for free, is classic initiative. Use your libraries. Today.

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Original post by kSquared And that's not even counting the 50% bonus to research production they provide inside the city radius!

Isn't it subsumed in the University bonus?


When I started out, I only had my computer's manual, which included a Basic reference. Later, I made do with the manuals that came with the compilers. Nowadays, I actually go out and buy books. Yes, it's damned expensive, and a pain in the butt to ship home, but there's nothing like actually *owning* your books.

That doesn't stop me from going to the library, of course (same as kSquared [smile]).

..This is the most you can expect from libraries like mine. (Joking...)

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Original post by Benjamin Heath ..This is the most you can expect from libraries like mine. (Joking...)

I dunno dude, 225 pages - sounds pretty complicated to me....

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Original post by evolutional Quote: Original post by Benjamin Heath ..This is the most you can expect from libraries like mine. (Joking...) I dunno dude, 225 pages - sounds pretty complicated to me....

[lol]

Has anyone looked into getting an account with Books 24x7, I have access to the service through my school and they have 51 books on gamedesign alone. Including the entire(i believe) catalogue of game design books put out by premier press. They also have a couple hundred books on different programming topics and other business reference books. Not sure how much it is to get an account with them though, but i'm sure it's cheaper then buying all those books. Plus they are all searchable from within the site.

I dunno about libraries - I've never been a big fan. I agree with evolutional, it's better to go into a bookstore - they have books printed in the last decade and I don't think it's cheeky at all, I see people reading in Barnes & Noble all the time. They even serve you Starbucks coffee while you read. Most people will end up buying something if they've found a book that's useful.

Also, times have changed somewhat since I first got into it 12 years ago, and there are a lot more books on the subject. There are used game programming books on Amazon for only $11... "Windows Game Programming for Dummies", proving that you get what you pay for.

The older books are still useful for learning how to manage a game loop, how to draw sprites, animation, input handling, etc. The newer books are for advanced programmers, and I find that they are generally out of date by the time they hit the shelves. Only exceptions are reference books, which are generally expensive but worth buying, such as the OpenGL Red Book.

Tom

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Has anyone looked into getting an account with Books 24x7, I have access to the service through my school and they have 51 books on gamedesign alone.

There's also Safari.

There are some books online as well.

Thinking in C++
The OpenGL Red/Blue books

Could make a 'virtual library' filled with online programming book links. Could be useful to a lot of people.

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Original post by Oluseyi A key ingredient to success in any field is initiative. Leveraging resources that are made available to you, particularly for free, is classic initiative. Use your libraries. Today.

Cue uplifting tinkly-bell/organ sounds:



(Only people in the US who watched Saturday morning cartoons as children are likely to get this joke. You have been warned.)

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Original post by kSquared

got to see all that on NBC and ABC up here too. They also had that one where they were always signing about stuff... boring for 4 minutes between cartoons... why would a 5 year old canadian care about the us constitution made into a cartoon and sining on the steps of the white house?[lol] I wanted to see Ghostbusters and Bionic 6 dammit!

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Original post by kSquared (Only people in the US who watched Saturday morning cartoons as children are likely to get this joke. You have been warned.)

Actually, they brough TMYK back in the last year. I've seen PSA-style messages with a variety of NBC sitcom and drama stars.