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Celebrate National Libraries Day (6 Feb) Tell us what your library mean to you

56 replies

RachelMumsnet · 01/02/2016 16:02

It's National Libraries Day on Saturday 6 February and the Mumsnet Books team wants to show our support as we think they're worth celebrating. Tell us what your local library means to you by Sunday 7 February and you'll be entered into a draw to win a bundle of great books for you and your dcs. Winner will be announced next Monday (8 Feb).

OP posts:
cressetmama · 05/02/2016 12:58

Libraries were my salvation as a young bookworm, in the days when I had time to read books by the dozen. I am still a borrower in two counties, plus the mobile library.

However, council funding cuts mean that our visits have been steadily whittled down to monthly, from weekly, then fortnightly. Our librarians knew what everyone liked, suggested titles and authors people might enjoy, saved new books for pet readers, and chose a selection for house-bound regulars, which were collected and delivered by their friends, generally without sending the same books twice.

Sadly library services are a shadow of what they were once. In my parents and grandparents youth, they were the means to an education for people who left school at 14.

Good luck from me too, Sadik.

gailforce1 · 03/02/2016 21:25

Best of luck Sadik. Our county council, having closed branches, is now setting about reducing the mobile libraries.

Sadik · 02/02/2016 11:25

Thank you :)

NotJanine · 02/02/2016 11:12

Good luck Sadik hope your campaign is successful

Sadik · 02/02/2016 10:28

Currently it means a lot of work, as I'm on a group attempting to save our local one from closure!!!

NotJanine · 02/02/2016 09:52

I love libraries - they are a place of peace, tranquility (except during baby singalong sessions!) and, of course oddles and oodles of free books! It is sad that they are now not so widely used.

I have a clear memory from childhood when I first visited the library in a nearby town, the quivering excitement of seeing all the books, and the amazement I felt when I was told I could choose a whole pile to borrow.

Some people get excited over shoes and handbags, for me it is books.