alexwlchan5d ago

The selfish case for public libraries: https://alexwlchan.net/2026/selfish-case-for-libraries/?ref=mastodon

I wrote about why I love and use public libraries, and how they help me be a better reader.

The selfish case for public libraries

I don't use libraries out of a sense of civic duty; I use them because they make me a happier, more adventurous, and more prolific reader.

Show threadMia5d ago
@alex I love this! I knew the deadline is a big help, and saving shelf space is vital, but I hadn't consciously noticed how much a library 'reduces the cost of being curious'
Show threadJez 🍞🌹
@mia @alex I am currently (finally) learning the TCP/IP stack "properly" (rather than just blundering my way through cabling, routing, VLANs and firewalls) and while https://book.systemsapproach.org is an excellent resource I really should go check out what my local library has on the subject. Thanks for the reminder!
Computer Networks: A Systems Approach — Computer Networks: A Systems Approach Version 6.2-dev documentation

Mar 19 at 11:01amWeb
Show threadAdrian McEwen5d ago

@petrichor TCP/IP Illustrated by W. Richard Stevens was invaluable back when I was writing IP stacks.

Volume 1 is the most useful; volume 2 was handy for occasional "how does BSD do this, so I can follow convention"; and volume 3 was mostly a bunch of protocols that weren't too interesting even back in the mid-90s 🤣

(That was before IPv6 came along mind, but it'll be solid for IPv4)

Show threadJez 🍞🌹5d ago
@amcewen Ah, thanks, that's good to know!