Comment by torcete

Comment by torcete 4 days ago

4 replies

I "discovered" libraries. They are cool! They usually offer more services than just books. But you have plenty of books that you don't need to keep after having read them, and the trip to the library is like a discovery journey.

Even more, my library also has comics and comic books. These are usually quite expensive, and now I can just read them for free.

SpaceToast 4 days ago

I recently learned that my library has 3D printers for anyone to use, and microfilm of local newspapers going back to 1797; it really is incredible what you can discover in them!

duderific 4 days ago

One interview question I like to give for software engineering candidates at my company is "rough out the model for an online library, where users can check out up to three books, they will be charged for overdue books" etc.

Recently I had a candidate who essentially had no idea what I was talking about. They had never checked out a book from a library.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but I still was.

  • eesmith 3 days ago

    If a candidate comments that libraries are getting rid of overdue fines as research has found it's not effective at getting books back in time, while negatively affecting their poorest members, and that libraries which got rid of fines found it "has raised circulation numbers, brought lapsed users back to the library, and boosted goodwill" (quoting https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/the-end-of-fines ) - would that improve or worsen their changes of employment with you?

    Are you looking for someone who will follow orders, or looking for someone who will challenge them?

    I suspect no one has brought it up, but wonder if any have decided to not bring it up for worry that a challenge would risk their chance of being hired.

    • duderific 3 days ago

      It would neither improve nor worsen their chances. I'm only looking for their ability to model a software application.

      I wouldn't see it as a challenge, as it has nothing to do with the task at hand. If they said "I don't want to do this exercise, because I don't believe in library fines," that might hurt their chances.

      My comment was more about being surprised that they had never checked out a book from a library, since I thought that was a fairly universal experience, at least for software engineers, but going forward I don't think I'll assume that.