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.

Our library also does free tea and coffee facilities and a place to sit on comfy chairs to stay warm and charge your phones.

Libraries are great. Went as a child, volunteered in one as part of DoE award (not sure if you can do that now?) and have continued going as an adult and now as a mum.

I will always remember taking my daughter back after they reopened after lockdown. She sat outside with a new book hugging it. It made the librarian cry.

They are a huge community asset, the new ones are fabulous and everyone is always welcomed.

@CCLCECSC Yes, DD volunteered at the library for D of E a few years ago, it was perfect for her - didn't have to interact very much with others, got to organise things, and along the way discovered some new authors.

I call BS on this. Almost everyone unless living under a stone has heard of Dahl.

That's how I interpreted this post as well. It's a positive. No one needs to be buying books when you can borrow and pass it on for someone else to get joy out of the same book from the library.

Love a library!

Libraries and parks are the only spaces in urban areas members of the public can go to “be” without having to pay money or buy something (in the city I live in, and almost certainly others too). I’m not counting the atria of museums, from which you’d eventually be moved along anyway. They’re also places of learning. Greatest invention since, well, books.

Using a library is an act of community service. I try to take books out every time I pass the building, even if I don't particularly want to read it. I can return a few days later, and know it all adds to the statistics for supporting the library.

Years ago I was a member of the library in my old town, when I was skint and didn't own a kindle.

I've just joined the one where I live now so my 2yo can get books out and I'd forgotten what an absolute gem they are and how much I loved going. I still read a lot but all eBooks due to having to read in the dark most of the time 🫢

Maybe I should buy a torch.

I'm off all week, in a week's time, and I planned to go and borrow a stack of books and bring them home to read, but actually, after reading this thread, I'm going actually sit and read there too.

If I could get a decent cup of tea at my library it would truly be my favourite place in the world!

I’m also happy to hear all the library love.

Mine is also a warming/cooling centre and has multiple computers for the public to use free of charge.

I spend a good deal of time preaching about libraries because they’re an amazing resource, especially for people who don’t have a lot of spare money, so we can’t have them going away due to lack of use.

As a librarian myself, I think the only way this could have happened was if the librarian didn’t understand what the child was asking for- were they pronouncing Roald Dahl in a non-standard way perhaps?

I live just 20 metres from my local library and love it.

Take DD there a few times a week for song/story time etc

The only downside is its open just 4 days a week now, and 2 of those are half days. I really hope it doesn't close anytime soon.

The original Kindle is the only reader which cannot be used to download as it doesn't have an internet browser. All subsequent devices such as Kindle Fire can be used to download from library sources.

I work in a library as well as the books we-

Can have books delivered from any other library in our county at no extra cost.

Offer cds, large print, dyslexia friendly, local history, non fiction, fiction, learn to read, children's books, dvds, audiobooks, jigsaws, board games and kindle.

Have a toddler session, story time, lego club, book club, craft group, gardening group, cuppa and a chorus.

Computers, printing/photocopying/phone charging.

Give out free sanitary products.

Are a warm space.

Provide hot drinks to vulnerable people.

Run free kids activities in school holidays.

I run the village library- one of 74 in Essex! We are open every day except Sunday, half of those days run by volunteers & the other half by staff. It makes me feel so happy & appreciated to read this thread!

I was at work 9am-5pm today & we had families coming in out of the rain to play & enjoy our free refreshments, friends coming in to play Scrabble, a grandfather & grandson using our printer to print a homework project, elderly ladies coming in for a chat & to do a bit of the puzzle & read the paper, a schoolgirl regular coming in for her weekly 14 books & so many more. We are about books, but so so much more.

Please keep using us & enjoying us 😊

i love the library but world of books ect and other second hand companies on ebay gives a lot more titles for reasonable prices

I love my library. The staff are lovely. It's free to order a book. They no longer have fines.

I think like a lot of people, I was a member of the library as a kid but as I moved away after uni, it took me ages to join again. I loved walking into the big library in town as a kid. It’s a wonderful old building and just hot libraries should be, high shelves filled with books, a rabbit warren of shelves and hiding holes to sit and read. I need to take DC to that one! Although I don’t know if I’ll be able to get them back out.

I joined my local library during lockdown but didn’t actually start using it until I was on maternity leave. That library was the smallest library I’ve ever been in, the range of books was quite poor. However, the librarian would always welcome me, no matter how many times I’d pushed the pram there that week. The poor range of books meant I would pick up a mystery book, it would be wrapped in newspaper and I’d have no idea what I would be reading until I got it home and unwrapped it. I actually found some gems in there. We’ve moved now but I will always be grateful to that teeny, tiny little library and it’s librarian for saving my sanity during maternity leave.

I think the member of staff concerned was probably a summer volunteer (likely not a native English speaker) or a low paid part-time admin worker. Public libraries in our area are not staffed by librarians but by a mixture of these admin workers on annualised hour contracts and ‘Library Managers’ who are also just glorified administrators. Librarianship has been cut back and deskilled so much it’s frightening.

Where do you live? I'd be so disappointed in my library did that

God our libraries don't even charge late fees! Mind, we do have some of the highest council tax rates in the country (God knows why), so if it helps keep late fees away that's a small benefit.

I love the library. One of my favourite experiences as a child was our regular visit to the library. My local library is amazing. Staff are brilliant. Books are free to reserve, and no fines for late returns (which would stop me from borrowing books as I'm terrible at getting them back on time). It's only open Mon -fri during core working hours unfortunately. Thankfully I can visit during these times but others couldn't. There's a larger library in the town centre which is open later and at the weekend but I don't love it like my local one. I do understand why people buy books when you (more often than not) only read them once and can borrow them for free! I only buy books my library doesn't have, or that I want to re-read, and usually then second hand still because there's something special about reading something you know someone else has read in my opinion. Ebooks suck in comparison!

Libraries are brilliant. Well done OP!

A lot of the books I own have never been in my library. Plus, I like to have them on my shelf at home.