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The Amazing Amazon
By Christa McKay
Oxford County Library
For The Oxford Review
July 16, 2001
Last week, a library patron asked if we had the most recent novel by Nora Roberts. I checked our on-line catalogue and did not find it. Next, I checked for it on www.amazon.com and learned that it will not be available for another month or two.
After the patron left, I surfed this amazing website. Amazon.com is an on-line shopping site with an incredible variety of information for readers, music fans, movie goers and collectors, to name a few. It is constantly updated so that the information provided is current. Use it to actually purchase items on-line or just to learn more about what’s available in order to improve your shopping locally.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will be pleased to learn that the fifth installment about J.K. Rowlings popular hero available next year.
I personally love the recommendations provided by Amazon. If you set up an account naming your favourite authors and your interests, they will recommend appropriate books, cd’s and movies. It’s a great way to determine what books to read.
They also provide wishlists on which you can indicate the books, cd’s, movies, baby toys, computer software and video games you want. You email the list to people that you know so that they know what to get you for your birthday, Christmas or whatever. It puts an end to those socks they buy for you year after year.
As an alternative, they can always give gift certificates. That always works!
If there’s a movie you want to see that’s in theatres, Amazon.com provides a short summary about current movies.
The top five movies by gross revenue for the past week were A. I. Artificial Intelligence, The Fast and the Furious, Dr. Doolittle 2, Tombraider, and Baby Boy
For the avid stamp, coin, and antique collector, Amazon provides online auctions. This is a great way to acquire some very scarce pieces to add to your collection.
A special section on tools and hardware in Amazon.com could be very helpful when looking for a unique gift for someone who is not always easy to buy for. I’m talking about a lot of guys out there! Just ask them what they need, or in most cases what they want, and you have it made.
You can even purchase cell phones and services when you log onto Amazon, and get a phone and service suited to your needs.
This site can satisfy most of your shopping needs or can provide the information you need to make a more informed choice locally.
Happy surfing!
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