Geographical maps are hard to read, but I still don't like pure schematic maps
So I finally got my library card renewed. It's official: the Cortelyou branch can suck my non-existent cock. The first time I tried I made the mistake of admitting the address on my state ID wasn't my current address so she refused to accept it, the second time I brought mail to verify my address and I thought the issue settled, but then I checked my account on Saturday and my card had expired. But yesterday I went to the Avenue J library (since Cortelyou is now closed for renovations) and the woman not only renewed my card, she waved my overdue fines. And I didn't need to show ID at all.
But in other library news...
Finally looked through Railway Maps of the World by Mark Ovenden, which I guess is a follow-up to his subway map book that I didn't like very much. The first half of the book has a lot more text and historical information, but it's maybe a tad too little text to really go into anything, and then the second half has the same damn problems the subway book did: the maps are too small to enjoy. Not only are they too small, but a lot of them are incredibly poor quality. While Ovenden asks for some leeway, the problem is that these maps are of such poor quality as to be unreadable. And the organization is terrible-he breaks it into sections by continent, which is fine, but then he shows countries alphabetically, which completely destroys the geographical connections between neighboring countries and their rail connections. It would be nice to be able to look at two neighboring countries and see where their rail systems connect, but that largely isn't possible with this book. And while it can't be helped as a limitation of the book format, it would be nice to have a better way to compare different maps of the same rail system.
With the nearest library and the other branches a pain in the ass to walk to, I'm thinking I'll probably be making a dent (finally) in the unread pile I've been keeping in the back room. Also, still have the Nook (until I have to send it back).
But in other library news...
Finally looked through Railway Maps of the World by Mark Ovenden, which I guess is a follow-up to his subway map book that I didn't like very much. The first half of the book has a lot more text and historical information, but it's maybe a tad too little text to really go into anything, and then the second half has the same damn problems the subway book did: the maps are too small to enjoy. Not only are they too small, but a lot of them are incredibly poor quality. While Ovenden asks for some leeway, the problem is that these maps are of such poor quality as to be unreadable. And the organization is terrible-he breaks it into sections by continent, which is fine, but then he shows countries alphabetically, which completely destroys the geographical connections between neighboring countries and their rail connections. It would be nice to be able to look at two neighboring countries and see where their rail systems connect, but that largely isn't possible with this book. And while it can't be helped as a limitation of the book format, it would be nice to have a better way to compare different maps of the same rail system.
With the nearest library and the other branches a pain in the ass to walk to, I'm thinking I'll probably be making a dent (finally) in the unread pile I've been keeping in the back room. Also, still have the Nook (until I have to send it back).