Do you use your local library? If not why not?

The mobile library parks about 100m from my house every other Monday. I usually get around 10 books as sometimes I'm not in when it comes (and it doesn't come on bank holidays). Although they are date stamped we don't get fined for late returns and half the time the computer isn't working so they don't even know what we've taken! I love it - it's like having a bookshop delivered to my door. We live rurally where public transport isn't great so the mobile library is a very well used service.

Yes I do. The one nearest to me has daft opening times so I sometimes use others within a few miles. I mostly use it to order new books which saves me loads of money.

I use my library but there are often not enough copies of popular 'literary' books, so waiting times of months. Other new (more easy reading) books there seem to be one at every branch with only a couple booked out at a time.

@43ontherocksporfavor world of books, basically.
cheap or usually cheap books and has a wide range of books. (ebay)
last time i used the library was for a couple of hours with research

I use the Libby app too, currently listening to City of Last Chances. And I downloaded the PressReader app, accessible thanks to my local library.

Yes I use my library. I reserve books for myself and for DC. Last book I reserved was a few months ago - a Tracy Chevalier novel. And today I reserved Sonic the Hedgehog and Star Wars graphic novels for DC. I do pop in occasionally to browse any new books that have arrived, or what's popular.

Yes! I love my library and the librarians in it. The books, the clubs they have on and loads more.

It was closed for repairs recently and I felt really lost without it

I used to when DC were small but there was a really unfriendly librarian so we stopped. Its closed now

We used the library when the kids were small, it supported DD1's rainbow fairy habit for a while and we took the kids to various activities there.

But I have rarely used the local library for myself, I can afford to buy all the books I want to read and have rather more eclectic tastes than the 101 romances our local library has for adults. While I know I could order books in I can get them much quicker by buying them from Waterstones or Blackwells and they are new copies and I can keep them. I have just donated 100s of picture books to our primary school library so I am supporting libraries, just not by being a user right now. Maybe I will when I retire and have more time and less money. I used my college library a lot as a student because they had a good selection of novels.

Really good question. Ours is quite a small branch so whilst we have areas such as the room we use for groups which customers are welcome to use when it's not occupied no we don't have a designated quiet time.

I wouldn't say it's a noisy library though except when kids are in after school or on the holidays

@CoffeeWithCheese Have they refused you membership? I use both my county and the one where I work

Nope since they reduced the opening times so they're not easy at all to get to.

I GO to the library a lot - since my office is in the same building, but that's not my local one so I can't get anything I walk past that looks interesting out (I live in a different county).

I used to when the DC were younger and I worked p/t so could take them on my days off - now I work full time and it’s closed in the evenings/weekends, so I can’t get to it.

@autienotnaughty do you have quiet times at all? That’s the one thing that would get me back to using my local library

I work in a library. It's fantastic, as well as all the books on the shelves, we can request books from other libraries in our county free of charge, we can also request the library service buy books in. Customers can reserve books to collect at a later date. We have an app and website people can use too. Plus two download apps for reading on a device and accessing magazines and newspapers. All of which is free.
We have fiction, non fiction, local history, teen, junior, learn to read, junior non fiction, picture and board books. Spoken word, audio, e books, cd, large print, dyslexia friendly.
We run a toddler group, book club, games club, singing group, local history group, gardening group, craft group, lego group, local walking group, tech support.
We have computers, iPads, free Wi-Fi , device charging.
We are classed as a warm place and can provide hot drinks and snacks to anyone considered vulnerable.
We can provide free sanitary products to females.

And probably more I've forgotten! I also find books for customers I know they will enjoy based on reading preferences.

Libraries are amazing and the only thing that will keep them running is customers.

Yes I love the library. I signed DD up when she was a tiny baby and we spent many happy afternoons in there. It's really easy to order books and the staff in there are lovely and like old friends. I also met my current book group through the library and they are very good friends now.

Big London borough so a great choice of libraries (8 or 9). The most local is yards away, and although it's mostly a (wonderful) children's library there is some adult stock and you can order things in. I go about once a fortnight.

They do so much for kids at my local one. Lego afternoon, stories, drawing club etc. It's often busy.

Use them or lose them I say. Losing them would be terrible.

I use the e-book borrowing service. Don’t go to the library itself as it’s never quiet any more - most days they have some kind of community activity on, which is great for the people who want that but not great for those of us who want peace and quiet from libraries.

For those who cannot remember to return books..my library has an app..its so easy to renew books on. They send emails out to remind you. If you have a particular difficulty..like adhd your library will probably be sympathetic....there are many categories of borrowers that won't incur fines. Just ask.

It might be staffed entirely by volunteers these days.

I'm a member of the queens public library in the US. It means I can get library books straight to my Kindle.

My library doesn’t have late fees, and they automatically renew your books for you, up to about a year I’d say, unless you have an in demand book, You get 3 weeks for books usually. They also have a book drop at the front door, so you can return your books any time you like. All notifications are by email.

They also have free passes to all the major museums in the city that allow 2 adults/2 children free general admission. I used those all the time when my kids were little.

I use my library all the time. I think we are lucky and they are quite accessible. There are a couple in local leisure centres so they are open 7am-9pm just about every day.
(Some self service some manned hours)

In the stand alone libraries they are introducing access outside staffed hours. I think you get a code or something to go in - I assume they maybe have cameras or something not sure as I haven't tried out yet!

Means it's open later into evenings and also on Mondays when it was traditionally closed.

Yes I've started going to our local one recently as I read books too quickly to buy them, I'm spending a fortune. The kids love going as well.
It doesn't sound as fancy as some of these ones though - I wish I could order books online as sometimes I struggle to find the books I like as non fiction are ordered by author not genre.
We can renew online though which is handy!

Because it doesn't seem to be a place to borrow books from anymore. Need to use a computer? Yes. Need a children's book reading session? Available. Want a cup of coffee? There you go. Need to research some subject with good books as resources? No can do.