How to ensure no one visits libraries?

[daffodilandtulip]

I took toddler to the library today, to find a handwritten note on the door to say it had moved. We were only here before the holidays!

Anyway, we headed over to the new one, to the children's section. The books are in "troughs" on wheels, and were all pushed into a corner, so you could only get to a couple of sections. There was a huge arrangement of soft toys on top of the books. We started to look at the books, and the librarian rushed over and said "who's moved all the teddies" (they were still on top of the books, just moved around so we could read) so I apologised and asked if it was ok to choose some books or were they still arranging the new area. She said it was fine and the area was finished - but we kept having this bizarre huffing and rushing over to rearrange them if we touched them.

Toddler chose a book and went to sit on the kids playmat, where there were a few sensory type toys. Toddler started to play but everytime she touched anything, we had a repeat of this bizarre huffing and rearranging. Again I asked if it was ok to play, and she said it was

Finally, we gave up when the air con started dropping our heads and that was the end of our library experience.

I mean, it's hardly going to encourage children to read if they can't look at the books or touch anything? It's not a museum. We were being quiet, respectful, appropriate, gentle with the books - all we did was try to actually see the books. I don't get it.

Oh that sounds awful. I’d be tempted to go there more though and give some feedback. Hopefully there is an improvement. We are luckily that out local library is very child friendly.

I don't know how you kept so calm. I would definitely have said something around, 'I thought the library was for reading and looking at books!'

I think at first I was worried that we'd walked in when it wasn't quite ready or something, which is why I apologised. It was just bizarre.

Pop a note in the suggestion box. A lot of the libraries round here are manned by volunteers now and by volunteers I mean officious older ladies

That’s so weird - the libraries I’ve been to recently are full of interactive things and the staff encourage kids to play and explore the books. Sounds like you encountered a certain type of library assistant who probably hates anyone touching stuff and messing up “her” library.

We were a regular visitor to this same library before it moved and they were always chatty and helpful!

Definitely say something. She doesn't sound like she knows what she's doing, or even what a library is.

Yes I'd second putting something in the suggestions box or feedback email if there is one.

"I visited the new library at 10am on Thursday, with my toddler. There were toys set out, but each time my toddler played with one, or we moved one to reach the books that were underneath the toys, a staff member immediately came over to put the toys back in their place. They seemed to me to be annoyed. Whilst I understand the need to keep the area tidy, this created an unwelcoming atmosphere where we did not feel comfortable to read the books and use the toys provided."

How very bizarre!

If its new they're probably due a visit from someone and staff are running around like the proverbial chicken trying to keep it perfect.

Yes that's true. Although surely kids happily reading books might give a better impression 🤔

I've looked online and there's no way to comment so I'll look out for a box when we go back.

Sounds like she was being a bit possessive of what she perceived to be her stuff in her space.

Do libraries attract this kind of person? We have a weird control-freak type who volunteers at our local one too.

It's usually a volunteer with a superiority complex behaving like customers or service users are the bane of their life.
I always say something because the behaviour is ridiculous.

So have you , presumably a young, not officious ‘lady’ volunteered?

Dear, oh dear.

She was probably not a librarian. Councils can’t afford qualified people these days. She was either a volunteer or a clerical assistant on an annualised hours contract who gets paid less per hour than checkout staff at Asda.

If you want to comment, you would be best doing so from your county council’s main website.

Omg that's so bizarre definitely mention it to someone higher up the chain

Some of our local librarians are a bit like this, they also seem very thrown if you ask for reading recommendations for children

At least you could get in the door. My local library is now a ‘smart library’. As far as I can tell, this means they’ve sacked all the librarians and instead you swipe your library card and enter a pin to open the door. The card expires every few months and I keep forgetting my pin because I don’t use it very often. I used to call in most weeks but it feels like an initiative test to get in now. And if you do manage to pass the entry test, you’re often the only person in there which is kind of creepy.

I expect their next move will be to declare nobody is using it and so close it altogether.

That's what today felt like an exercise in.

So many libraries have closed. Our library has moved to a tiny space in a local, tatty shopping centre. So no later night openings. Very few books at all. I think we have more at home! It's a disgrace really. The old building has been sold for redevelopment after being allowed to fall into disrepair and vandalised.

I remember we used to use the library as teens and as postgrads in the evening to work and use the reference books, and just for some quiet. Nothing like that available now. You could travel into the city I suppose, but that's an expense for many.

That's odd and unwelcoming behaviour about the teddies @daffodilandtulip
I would follow up on making a suggestion if you're able.

The problem is that particular person.

The problem is that particular person.