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Original poster

How often do you use your local library?

134 replies

Ricekrispiebun · 28/01/2022 22:23

I have only got back into going to the library since lockdown lifted but have been really enjoying it and I always feel like getting new books for free is like a present. Also if I discover new authors, I am then able to buy their books.

Sadly so many smaller libraries have been closing so I hope to keep going regularly becase it would be a shame for such a great service to close

OP posts:

FloydWasACat · 29/01/2022 13:52

I am actually on my lunch-break at the library I work at.

It is having downstairs and full of customers or all ages, I love that

FloydWasACat · 29/01/2022 13:53

heaving

confusedofengland · 29/01/2022 13:53

@FloydWasACat me too

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Books Culture

Batholemubrecht · 29/01/2022 14:04

7 out of 13 libraries in our town (NW) were shut with austerity so our lovely local one went and is now offices. Occasionally go in town to use the central one, mainly for the family history section but it's such a pain parking I'm put off.

SophieJo · 29/01/2022 14:21

I’ve been this morning, my usual time once a week. Even though I have loads of books on BorrowBox, I still like to have a book on the go!

35andThriving · 31/01/2022 16:44

All the time. I am always reserving stuff for my ds to read too.

FlickyCrumble · 31/01/2022 16:48

I go fortnightly but myself and DC all have our loan limits maxed out and listen to audiobooks in the playroom and I try to read their online magazines - not the same as having paper in between your fingers but I can’t justify buying them when they are free.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 31/01/2022 17:25

Oh yes, magazines! I can't justify buying Oprah magazine when 75% of it is ads (for American products that aren't even available here), but I love being able to skim through it for free. And DS reads Minecraft magazines through the library too.

OddSocksSparklyDocsandDungaree · 31/01/2022 17:34

We try to go once a week with our 11 month old daughter who has been a library member since 6 weeks old! We are very lucky to have a library that is less than 5 minute walk from our house. When I found out there was a library near us when we moved in, I was thrilled

JuergenSchwarzwald · 31/01/2022 17:37

I am a member and occasionally borrow e-books. I do go into the library as it's within walking distance of my house but usually I've already read what's on their "what's new" shelf!

I am interested in those of you who are members of different libraries though as where I am they will only let you join if you live or work in their borough or county.

It is annoying they put barriers in the way of joining, then hollow out the service by reducing the hours so people can't use it, then they reduce it further "because people are not using it". Well no sh*t sherlock and all that.

SoManyTshirts · 31/01/2022 17:39

At least fortnightly.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 31/01/2022 17:40

Never.

It's open four weekday mornings a week (no afternoons or weekends) and I'm at work.

OddSocksSparklyDocsandDungaree · 31/01/2022 17:51

@JuergenSchwarzwald We have 9 libraries in our city that can be used by everybody who lives here :)

RainingYetAgain · 31/01/2022 17:54

At least twice monthly. I run a book group linked to the central library, so go in to collect books for the next meeting, and return books from the last meeting. Apart from this, I use the ebooks app they provide.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 31/01/2022 17:57

In London you can use your council library card in any London library (which includes further out places like Croydon, Luton etc). So although I live in North East London, if I am in Richmond on a Saturday and see a library, I can go in and take out a book. I can later return it at my local library, and it will go home "in the grey box".

KimmyKimdoo · 31/01/2022 18:02

Every other Saturday to swap our books for new ones - we love the library!

forbiddenwest · 31/01/2022 18:10

We're members of the libraries in 3 different London boroughs as we're on the border of several boroughs. I only go about once a month or so, but get out the maximum no. of books for my 3yo DD and tend to renew loads of times (have hit the max number of renewals sometimes!), so my DD has about 30 books on the go at any one time.
I don't use my library card for myself any more though, I never have time to read for myself and they charge overdue fees when I forget to renew (but on children's cards they don't make any charges).

MrsTophamHat · 31/01/2022 18:11

Around monthly. I love walking out with free books! It's good to try things I wouldn't spend money on in case I don't like it.

CurbsideProphet · 31/01/2022 18:17

I use ours a lot. I always have library books in. Ours is part funded by the Borough Council and comes under rural funding as the County Council couldn't afford to keep all of the libraries going. I don't want us to lose the library so I make sure I keep the borrower numbers up. 75p to reserve a book from another branch is still a lot cheaper than buying books on my kindle.

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 31/01/2022 18:20

Every week! It's almost a full day out with my toddler. Rhymetime then we have a browse and read some books while we are there I usually get a coffee from the machine. My toddler loves using the scanning machine. Then lunch in the cafe a few doors down. Then there's a play area just down the road aswell (we live in a village).

I love the fact we can renew and reserve online now. And I often reserve books from other libraries it's free which is great.

Our library also has lots of things on for older children in the holidays and Lego club on a Saturday but we don't tend to go to that

Bookridden · 31/01/2022 18:26

I'm in there a couple of times a week. I can't get over the fact that I can walk out with loads of new books, some of them brand new. What an utterly civilised concept.

purplecorkheart · 31/01/2022 18:42

Rarely as they have changed their hours so I am working when it is open. I do however have a friend who lives near it and is retired so I can order books and she picks them up and drops them off for me when she is at one of the numerous classes/get togethers that are slowly starting to happen again. I used their e book app and magazine app daily.
I can order any book in Irish Libraries and can get it delivered to my local library or any other one that suits me. You can also suggest ones to buy and they normally do unless it is a very specific book with a tiny target audience. It is free to join and they have got rid of late fees and offer loads of paid services like tracing your family for free.

EnamelWoman · 31/01/2022 18:51

I go every week or two, and get lots of books for my children and a few for me. Such an amazing resource!

duvetdayforeveryone · 31/01/2022 18:52

Before Covid: Almost everyday (except Sunday when it was closed). My children adored it.

Now: Never.

Rotherweird · 31/01/2022 18:55

I go almost every week. I use the app to order books - when I hear of a book I want to read I order it straight away (you can reserve books from the whole region so they usually have it). I love it and it has saved me thousands of pounds over the years!

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