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.

Had libraries been funded over years like they have where I live, they could really be such a valuable, and relevant resource for so many. Unfortunately, the lack of funding over the decades is really showing in so many areas of the UK. Libraries are one of the last places people can just freely go into without expectation to pay for service, or buy something and be left to it.

I've never really seen ads from councils asking for volunteers , I've lived in many different areas . I just can't believe they are struggling for volunteers (although it's true) . Why don't they put it about a bit ? People love libraries .And also the people who drive around the cities shifting books around for reservations are a god send .

The books I like are too niche for the library to stock. I consider them collectors items (is to do with my favourite film), so I would want to have my own copy anyway.

However, I have found some other topics I am interested in, so I search the library catalogue and can get the book. That is good.

We have a gigantic banner outside our library asking for volunteers, and we have regular Facebook posts asking for volunteers.

The drivers are (at least in our county) not volunteers. They are paid staff, employed by the council.

We have lots of Duke of Edinburgh volunteers at our library but obviously they can only do outside of school hrs.

This ^

I rejoined my local library last week after 15 years of never using it. Ironically I stopped using it when I gave up being a Librarian and changed career path as I could sense the funding was depleting and I jumped the sinking ship.

It's only open a few hours one day per week nowadays rather than 6 days a week back in my day so unfortunately I'll never set foot in it but their online elibrary via Spydus is great.

I had no idea library from home was a service that was offered - I’m going to look into volunteering to do that so thanks for posting!

Our library is poor. My daughter signed up for a card and promptly went down there and found nothing. She wanted a few classics. Books seem to be a low priority. Need to use a computer? There you go. Want a coffee? What kind? Need a children's book reading? Pull up a chair! Want to check out an actual book? Ummm...

So could you check out a book? Can you not request what you want?

There are not many classic books on the shelves at my local library branch, which is quite small, but throughout my council there’s a lot more books in stock than I can see at my local library.

So If I want one of the classics I can reserve one from the library catalogue. Your DD may want to check whether her local library also lets her reserve books from other library branches or the library stores, she may be able to borrow some of the books she’s looking for that way. In my experience most librarians are happy to help people find and reserve the books they’re looking for.

Volunteers are great and all, but libraries need librarians or paid staff with specialized training and credentials to thrive. Not the point of this post so I won’t say anymore.

We live in a world that wants us to value "ownership" and continuous spending to achieve that. Libraries are devils work, invented by hard left revolutionaries who want cause chaos with their wicked Ideas

I love this, its so true! Reminds me that someone (unfortunately I can't remember who) gave allotment as a good example of practical anarchy in action

@newtlover Love that about allotments. My DH refers to our allotments as gardening punk rock.

Agree with this - we have a few classics but not as many as you'd see if you went into a bookshop. But that's because, sadly, they don't go out!

However, they will all be in the library catalogue and spread over multiple libraries within the council area, and on a junior ticket it should be free to reserve them and get them sent into your library for her to collect. (It varies by authority if you have to pay for this service, in our county it's £1 per reservation for adults but free for juniors.) She can do this online or just by asking at the desk.

Also bear in mind that library stock isn't static. There are various swap and transfer rotas running all the time to keep books moving between libraries, plus even with our current poor funding we get brand new books most weeks.

@SirSamVimesCityWatch Wow that's a lot to pay per reservation 😲 . My library does it free , it would bankrupt me .

It's not ideal but it's still a lot cheaper than buying the book, is how I look at it.

Unfortunately our budget is cut to the bone so there isn't much of an option. We also have late fees on children's accounts, although they are at a lower rate than the adult fees, and I know other councils don't charge late fees for kids. Interestingly the county next to us, which currently do free reservations, is looking into introducing a similar level of reservation charge as they have to find something like £144 million in savings for the part of their budget that covers libraries. 😱 We have a hole in our budget too but it's more like £30 million I think.

We do provide our volunteers with 12 free reservations a year as a thank you. Plus I waive a fair few fines for them when I get the chance 😜

I guess we should appreciate it while we have it free , maybe not for much longer , who knows ?

If it helps, think of it as a delivery charge! Only a pound delivery seems like a bargain 😂

Love libraries, I visit mine very regularly. I long ago exhausted its supply of English language books (live abroad) but I can reserve books from other libraries in the system for 2 euros apiece so I do that.

Can also borrow dvds, console games, board games, sports equipment and ice hockey tickets for the local team - all for free. There's also a sewing machine you can book to use, which I would use if I knew how to use a sewing machine!

They have a regularly changing art exhibition, guest speakers, events for children, and the reading dog comes regularly for children to read to.

There's a new library in the capital city where you can even loan things like power tools, which sounds brilliant.

Gosh that's a good idea a sewing machine library , brilliant ! Can you book it for a whole week at a time ?

@donteatthedaisies0 the library I work at has 4 sewing machines out permanently, plus a cutting table, threads, mannequins etc. You cant book them but they are available to use anytime we are open. They’re never busy, in the few years we have had them I’ve only seen two in use at the same time, but there will be someone in using them every single day, working on projects from making a pair of curtains to hemming a pair of trousers.

It stays in the library so you just go to the sewing room and spend however long you need on sewing, and come back again if you need to do more another day.

This is such a lovely thread. I love the library. My nearest one has closed for a few weeks for refurbishment and I’m missing it so much!

the sewing room sounds amazing, also the reading dog!
another service we have which I suppose other libraries do too is the reading group service- you can order a set of copies of one book each month, for free. You choose from a list, ordering for the whole year ahead. The list is quite long!