I joined the library this week….

[Rainraingoawayrain]

…and honestly, I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done in a long time.

I used to read quite a lot when I was younger but now (early 30s) not so much. I have a kindle but there’s nothing like picking up and reading a physical book.

Anyway, I signed up online and then went in to pick up my card. A really nice man who worked there was so helpful.

I just can’t believe it took me so long. I had a quick browse and I spotted probably at least 10 books that have been on my “to read” list for a while. It’s probably been about 15 years since I last stepped into a public library and now they all have self service machines where you can borrow a book in about 20 seconds and it’s all processed electronically.

And… it’s all free. And there are about 10 libraries I can go to in my London borough. I just wish I had joined sooner.

Love the library and always take out a load of books each time I go to keep their usage high. Ours has a seed library/exchange which is great too. Loads of my friends never go and I worry about the library closing down.

Love our libraries - I live in a city and am very close to several, feel very lucky
One in particular is wonderful, the staff have all kind of community activities and when the kids were small it was so nice to be welcomed and make decent crafts such as Christmas cards. Then when the children had paint on their hands or needed the loo they were able to use the staff loo.
My friend with additional needs goes to an adult crafting session in several libraries - it is so community focused, often basic biscuits and hot drinks are available too - I love to see all the pcs in use as well.

I had one two minutes from my house as a child growing up in the '80s in an OKish, but working-class area. I was there a lot from around 7 yo to 16 alone, sometimes for several hours after school, but sometimes taking younger siblings who I had to control a bit because it was very strict about noise etc. I loved it, I read and I read and I read - actually about anything, often reference books that had very little correlation to my life as a 14-year-old, and always had books out. Despite it not being the most extensive of libraries, my parents definitely could not have given me access to those books. It was warm, peaceful and lovely. I read things I would probably never read now because time is now short. I am sure it has massively helped me in life developing a love of reading early on and it was a lovely place to do it. Being able to read well, and to some extent, write well has made a huge difference to me career-wise, and plenty of this is down to the library. We should not let them close. Thank you for posting x

Hear hear

I use my local library all the time, mainly to borrow books of course - and ebooks and audiobooks via the Libby app - but also to use the loo, wait in a warm and dry place until school pick up, drop off used batteries, pick up recycling bags…. It’s a real hub.

Well done OP! I have belonged to a library ever since I was a child. Both my parents and I were always avid readers. We have a shiny new library in my town, and it's just lovely - and even better there seem to be more people using it now.

my library also rents out Wi-Fi hotspots which work amazing

The middle sentence here is one of the strangest things I’ve ever read.

Just to share the love and big up library use more;

Most can give you free access to ebooks and audio books via borrow book app.

They usually have a program of activity groups from toddlers up to teens, as well as adult interest groups.

Ours also has a toy area, garden and colouring table set up all the time, so it fills a bit of time whenever you take the kids.

If your hanging round in ours for any lengthof time, one of the lovely librarians usually pops over with tea, juice and biscuits.

If your moving house or Internet supplier and have stuff to do online, they'll happily let you use the WiFi.

My library is rubbish. Only read on kindle now and all the ebooks have a waiting list until June or July :(

What don't you understand? They're saying there's no point in buying a book as they won't read it again so better to loan. 🤔

Libraries must be protected at all costs. They’re a community hub.

Completely agree. I didn't go as an adult until I had my daughter. I love going in and browsing.

I live in a village which has a library - which is open from 9-1 weekdays and Saturdays (closed on Wednesdays) and not open at all on Sunday. Doesn’t leave much scope for working people to visit. The next nearest library is 45 minutes away. I can’t get library ebooks because I’ve got a kindle and don’t like reading books on my phone.

I used to love the library as a child but I’m not going to make a 90 minute round trip to visit a decent sized one

Yes!! I love the library. It brings me a lot of pleasure and calm in an otherwise stressful lifestyle.

You can get ebooks and audio books from the library too!

If they have any staff they are doing well. Most public libraries are run by volunteers with minimal training these days. If you are lucky there might be one qualified library assistant. Chances of seeing an actual librarian are pretty much nil.

I joined the library last year when I got made redundant and it's brilliant.

You don’t usually have to wait that long though. Once people return it it’s available.

I am a librarian and I am so happy that our libraries are so appreciated.

We are very understaffed but do try our best!

I love my library too! I do my research (goodreads and tiktok), then once a week or so, log onto their portal and reserve books on my list. They give me a call when they are in, and I go collect. While I'm there I'll also browse, add more books to Goodreads tbr, and return any from the previous week. It saves me a fortune.

I also use the BorrowBox app for audio books (via local library).

Ours also has a fantastic gift shop. I'm in a small town centre, and the Library gift shop is hands down the best place to go for cards, wrap, gifts. Whoever does their stocking of it picks so well.

I just started working in my local public library, which was honestly my dream job as a child. They truly are community hubs, where I work we have sewing machines, film clubs, book clubs, local history groups, community French classes, I could go on. In the few months I have been there I have gotten to know people I never would have met, reconnected with people I hadn’t seen in years and gotten to know so much about the work going on to help improve my town. If you are reading this post, please join your local library! Even if you don’t read you will find something there for you.

I am library staff. Thanks for using the library! I liked my local library so much I got a job there...
Could I ask you to borrow your books from the staff at the desk, rather than the machine if you can? Our machine doesn't register on our statistics in the same way so affects our footfall to borrowing conversion rate. Our conversion is shot anyway because so many people come for Lego/craft/book bug or just hang out and read without borrowing while swimming lessons are on next door. We're a community resource, but proving it gets interesting.
We use Libby in our area rather than BorrowBox for online e-book and audio, check what system your library uses if you can't find them.

Another lifelong library fan here!

It's free to reserve books where I am. There's also the facility to ask the library to order a book if they don't have it in. You can use your library ticket in any library in this county and the next one.

Our library isn't open as a library all week, but on the closed days it's open as a warm space and they have things like yoga and tai chi classes.

I remember reading (in a library book) that Caitlin Moran pretty much educated herself at her local library when she was growing up and I was the same.

Thanks to all the librarians out there.

My library is awesome, a real hub of the community, they do so much there.

Yup, they are amazing places