Do you use your local library much?

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Ive recently discovered our local library and I’ve popped in a few times to borrow books but I wondered if anyone else spends more time in their local library than just popping in? I’ve seen a few people in there relaxing and reading books but I don’t know if I’d feel a bit uncomfortable sat there by myself reading for an hour or so?!

Yes I go in there most weeks to borrow, take the kids after school, go to baby groups there or sometimes just to hang out and browse. I love our library!

It’s such a shame that our library which is right in the centre of things and easy to get to is so underwhelming and unwelcoming

I love ours, I started going to a baby nursery rhymes/reading time with my son when he was about 6 months old. The volunteer and I were sometimes the only ones there, but i was lonely on my maternity and found it really gave my week structure and some light adult company. I also find it good for recipe books as I get bored easy so don't like paying for them.

Now I'm back at work I use it for peace and quiet whilst studying, but my son and I still visit that same nursery rhyme and story club most weeks. It's now expanded to about twenty parents all with under 5s so there's colouring, Sensory play, reading and music. The library is the best thing about the town I live in, it's so useful and welcoming for all ages (I've noticed they also hold knitting classes, lego club and teens study time for those doing GCSEs who need support).

Funnily enough, my daughter and I found out recently that my husband has a library card and we were amazed - he is the only person either of us know to have one! He is not a massive reader but he is self employed and it appears he goes during the day sometimes when he gets fed up.....

To be fair, I work in an institution that has its own library, and so do most people I know - I would join and use the public one otherwise. Libraries are a great concept!

Fairly often. Used to visit much more but I borrow their e-books online more now. Luckily we still have good library hours, unlike previous places I lived where library hours were a soft target for budget cuts.

Also use their print facilities as I don't have a proper printer at home, and I've given up on inkjets for occasional use. Three hours of pissing around just to print one page every three months isn't a good use of time or blood pressure.

I am always in ours . Mainly because I read every day and couldn’t justify buying the amount of books I read each year . I order in all the new releases I fancy reading and pop in to pick them up . Also they run loads of groups , despite only having funding to open 3 days a week , so I meet with a group of friends for a hobby group once a fortnight if I’m not working . Staff are lovely , there’s always biscuits and tea and coffee on the go . They manage to run groups for scrabble , Lego, chair exercise, book clubs , craft both adult and children , toddler book groups plus add hoc authors meetings etc . I would be lost without mine , and probably about £600 a year worse off if I had to buy the books rather than borrow.

That was my main reason for rejoining mine.

No. It's too noisy to be of any use. It's mainly occupied by bored parents and unruly children in one area and the other is a warm place for the local homeless to sit and relax (I don't begrudge either group using the space). The upshot of this is it's not a space to go and spend a few hours working or an hour browsing for books or any of the other things I'd want to use a library for.

Yep, we take our 4 year old every couple weeks to get or renew books. She's just back from Lego club they hold there.

I take my DC for groups there weekly but don't borrow books. It's a small library and the selection isn't great. I do love the atmosphere there though.

My local library is real community hub. Lots going on for all age groups. Unfortunately the activity has driven out people who are there for quiet thinking study time aka me 😖

I use it a lot, I reserve all my books online through their app, you’re notified when the book is ready to collect - charge of £1.20 for this service, bargain! Plus raises funds for the library I like to think and help towards the town keeping it open.

When I pick my books up I’ll often have a browse in the two week fast back section.

I think it's an absolute privilege to have a library, and I love just going in and picking up something I fancy. I've found some excellent books that way, but also no-one is holding a gun to my head to finish it if I find I don't like a book. I order online if there's a book I want - costs £1 and they'll usually get it in a week. I go every week but don't often sit and read in the small local one, but in the nearest big town i will wait for my train in there or if i have to kill time for any reason. I lived abroad for a year and really missed having a library.

I come from a country where there are no libraries or very few, and I think having a library that gets any book for me is a great privilege, and one of the reasons why I love the UK.

My local small town library is great. I order in all the latest releases through the app. No fee for reserving books. Also have extended hours on my card so can pop in any day between 8-8pm, on the days they’re closed.
its great browsing books or collecting when there’s no one around 😁

I used to go weekly when the children were small to get books for them or go to bounce & rhyme etc. Now that they are older my daughter is finding their selection quite limited and my son doesn't read for pleasure. I never found much I wanted to read in there and don't like having to finish a book within a specified time frame. It's a 10 mile round trip and finding parking is hard. I'd rather just buy a book or 2 from Amazon if I'm after something specific or the odd impulse purchase from Waterstones when I'm in town shopping.

Constantly, though more with the kids (2 and 5). I usually borrow a book for myself amongst it though. They need books issued to keep their funding up and our local libraries are really great so I try to help their numbers across genres and I keep up a hobby amongst parenting little kids and the general chaos.

I go to one near my daughter's school as a place to hang out before I pick her up (she goes to school quite far from where we live).
Usually because I need to charge my phone or use the lav 😂
Sometimes read, sometimes I sit and do my crafts like cross stitch, sometimes watch things on my phone (sound off of course).
Sometimes if I time it right I get to listen to the children's story time or the babies singing - which is always sweet (although I was horrified to hear them sing the American version of Wheels on the Bus recently 😂)
It's fantastic there is a place you can simply "be" without having to pay money.

I used to, but now that my dc are grown and i have borrowbox I don't go to the physical library any more.

Yes, my son and I go every Tuesday after school. We both read, he does some colouring, plays the keyboard (with headphones) and sometimes we play a game. The librarians are lovely.

Our local library is 5 min drive and we used to go weekly when dc were little. Now it’s once a month ish. It has loads going on, lots of groups and facilities for young and old. I think some people spend quite a while there as it’s comfy, free tea and coffee and has a few computers. We always have library books out and keep an eye out for events.

I rejoined mine today after many years.

It's a shadow of what it used to be which made me a bit sad, but I'm going to support it anyway!

I go in with my small children every couple of weeks or so and sometimes go to the rhyme time. Both of our local libraries are always busy and have a lovely welcoming feel to them

We have two fabulous libraries, one walkable in local town where I go to a monthly book club and sometimes pop in with the kids for half term craft club or to pick up a book when shopping. There is also another in next town over leisure centre where we do weekly swimming lessons that's open sundays so we go to the Lego club there, and often exchange our books when swimming, plus they have board games and lots of seating so we often stay 30-60 minutes.. There is also a mobile library parks outside our primary school once a fortnight where we quickly exchange books. We are so lucky to be so well served.

I absolutely would just sit and chill if I didn't have the kids with me. But the kids do sit and colour whilst I browse a bit.