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.

I love the idea of a sewing room .

Can you explain a bit more about the reading group , I don't understand, is it like a book club?

I rejoined recently too! I request books I need because our library is tiny but I now have a weekly walk to see what’s there for me. Very exciting.

I read Wintering and Daily Rituals over Christmas. I’m eagerly awaiting my turn with Fern Brady’s book (someone is hogging it!)

@Qwerty21
its a service for book clubs
so- I'm in a book club and we have signed up for this service
we have 1 person who is a contact for the library service (I think they have 1 person designated for this job)
in the autumn they send our contact person an email with a list of the books on offer (like I said its a long list, mostly but not only fiction, quite varied, including some classics)
together, we choose 12 books from the list, one for each month and send our request back
Each month they deliver to the library a set of 10 (or however many are in the group) copies of that months title, and one of us goes to pick them up, and they are distributed at the next meeting. We all return our books individually, although I suppose we could instead have 1 person responsible for collecting and returning, but this isn't required.
Its a great service because it means no one has to buy the books, which I really appreciate as for me the point of the book group is to widen my reading but inevitably sometimes I don't like what's chosen, and this way I haven't wasted any money.

The only down side we have discovered is that sometimes our choice isn't available (because another group has chosen it) and then we get a random choice by the librarian but that's only happened a few times in many years of us existing.

The library does also run its own book clubs that meet in the library.

It's a great service, we really appreciate it.

Thanks to this thread, I went to my local library and took out a book today. I will start going regularly again.

I have heard of children reading to dogs , saw a news item few years ago . This was children who went to kennels for homeless dogs . Obviously the dogs were carefully chosen , but who would benefit from a child sitting with them reading books aloud . It seems both the child and dog benefit from this , child reads out aloud and dog gets the company of a child . It seems it's a win all round .
I do say though it's nice to hear about the various services provided by libraries .

Were they greyhounds? I have seen similar but the greyhounds visit schools etc.
It is such a lovely idea.

My local library does not have sewing machines or anything, but it is worth checking out if there is a local hackspace/makerspace. They usually have that sort of thing.

I pay £12.50pm for access to mine and they have sewing machines, 3D printers, woodwork space and tools, metalwork space and tools.... loads of stuff.