Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Any news of library closures in you area?

45 replies

GabbyLoggon · 22/01/2011 11:24

Our library staff are on tenderhooks
expecting bad news. My guess would be it will not be as bad as they think. But I dont really know. Libraries are one of the successes long ago policies. And I would not like to see them dessimated. "Gabby"

OP posts:
countstropular · 22/01/2011 11:43

Im not sure. We dont use ours but after hearing it might be going, there was a summer campaign to get kids to visit...a certai number of visits and they were to win a medal and certificate. We joined and did that and they didnt bother with the medal or certificate.

we havent been back. I honestly have no reason to use it. Hope it doesnt go though.

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 22/01/2011 11:47

Me too Count, as to use. A lot of young people now use the library computer facilities. Books seem to be less popular than they were. Though my wife still reads a lot "Gabby"

OP posts:
GreenAmy · 22/01/2011 11:50

They might as well shut our local library, it has been so run down in recent years that it is practically useless anyway

countstropular · 22/01/2011 11:50

We read, well my ds reads but I like to keep books and have them in the house. I like the feel of a home library and think it encourages kids to love books. I have never really liked library books.

LindyHemming · 22/01/2011 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 22/01/2011 11:58

You do get the odd case in which a library
user has horded hundreds of books.

Even my library had a very expensive historical book nicked years ago

The worst think about our library just now is the coughing epidemic.

I tried a mask. The wife said I looked good in it. Not much of a compliment. "Gabby"

OP posts:
moomiemoo · 22/01/2011 12:12

Just under half of Oxfordshire's libraries - that's 20 - are set to close.

Casserole · 22/01/2011 12:43

Moomie that's shocking Sad

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 22/01/2011 13:15

moomie and cass

the Oxford figure is truly amazing. Tragic some would say. Hope its a one off. "Gabby"

OP posts:
mollymole · 22/01/2011 13:50

nearly 1/2 in doncaster - but spread really unfairly so that some areas have 3 libraries within a short radius and some areas none within 10 miles or so - our local library, which has some of the best usage figures overall is down for closure

i saw on the news that in a north yorkshire council area they are closing libraries but have set up a help function for those who need help and advice on how to celebrate the royal wedding !!!!!!!!

FreudianSlipIntoMyLaptop · 22/01/2011 13:55

My mum runs the smallest library in her borough. She's been told it is at risk. I'm sure she would get a job at one of the bigger libraries but that's not really the point. It's in an area with a high proportion of OAPs who really rely on it.

:(

detachandtrustyourself · 22/01/2011 14:11

Libraries have been running summer reading challenges for years. The point of them is to encourage reading, not keep the library open. Encouraging reading in the summer holidays helps children to continue reading when not at school and they are less likely to fall behind which helps when they go back to school. (As well as being a good thing in itself). I don't know why the poster didn't get her dc's medals and certificates. Libraries near me take take them very seriously every year.

britflick · 23/01/2011 10:54

I'm a Librarian at a public library. If you want to save your local libraries, the best thing you can do is visit and use them. We are assessed on visitor numbers and usage.
If you have kids, (and if you don't why are you on here!) you should be using your local branch. I've taken my son since birth, and his speech development and vocabulary are very advanced. I put this down at least partly, to his early exposure to books. Most libraries run great activities for kids of all ages too.
Libraries are a lifeline for communities. In just one day I can help someone get a job, find housing, get their child into a nursery, help a child with their homework, teach someone to use the Internet, fill out their benefit form.....the list is endless.
We're not just about books - but please borrow them!

Check out www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk

tillyfernackerpants · 23/01/2011 12:00

We go to our library regularly after school, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. They've recently made all the children's librarians redundant & are now talking about closing down 8 out of 11 libraries in our borough. If they do, well, we won't have one that's easy for us to get to Sad

britflick · 23/01/2011 12:14

What borough are you in tillyfernackerpants?

arentfanny · 23/01/2011 12:16

Dorset are looking to close 20 of the 34 libraries, they are encouraging communities to take ownership of the ones that are closing.

Caoimhe · 23/01/2011 12:18

Our local library may be closed which is not good!! I think the Council are planning on closing 5 or 6.

frasersmummy · 23/01/2011 12:27

Until ds I bought all my books new .. then expense kicked in and I decided to try the library

its an absolute brilliant resource.. I browse amazon and supermarkets for the latest releases and then order them at the library for the princely sum of 37p!!!

We have always borrowed books to read to ds at bedtime but now he is learning to read we choose a story for bedtime, a factual book about whatever he likes and book for him to read by himself

we would miss our terribly if it went

does anyone have a link to closures?

tillyfernackerpants · 23/01/2011 17:36

britflick, its Hounslow borough

feedthegoat · 23/01/2011 17:43

I'm in Doncaster Mollymole and my local one of the 14 closing.

Ds is Sad as we use it every week. Staff are worth their weight in gold too. They are fantastic with the children and take the time to get to know their interests.

MrsDaffodill · 23/01/2011 17:53

We go to the library all the time and use the free online reservations service for the children all the time too (also for myself, though less frequently as there is a charge).

Books which we cannot bear to give back we buy. Kind of like a try-before-you-buy service!

It is brilliant for following DS's ever-changing passions at a low cost. Also for audiobooks, DVDs, etc.

Would be absolutely bereft if it went.

pinkhebe · 23/01/2011 18:00

we have the mobile library once a week at the end of the street and one of small local libraries has a toy library which was fab for younger children, and now is great for board games and jigsaws.

I have been going since my 11 year old was 3 months old, because he would fall asleep in his pram as I pushed him around the wide aisles and then give me an hour or so to sit and read Grin

Dysgu · 23/01/2011 18:01

Here the council is planning on closing 9 of the 11 libraries in the county! It is horrendous.

We use our local one every week - to borrow books (for DCs and us), DVDs and to go to Rhyme Time for the toddlers. I also attend the monthly book club.

We also visit many of the others in the county just for a change of books or to attend story time on Saturdays.

DD1 enjoys using the computers at the library - even though we have several laptops and computers in the house!

There have been public protests and yesterday there was a mass 'borrowing' from the biggest library in the county to demonstrate what could happen if they close all bar two of the libraries we have now.

I cannot imagine what it will be like not to borrow books or to use the library when the DCs are in school. Sad

pointythings · 23/01/2011 18:03

Suffolk are closing 29 out of 44 libraries - this is the (Tory) council that wants to outsource everything whilst its chief executive on £200,000 a year will not take a pay cut. They have a so-called consultation going on in which you can suggest ways for at-risk libraries to make money/be run at less of a cost, but it's as always about cutting lifelines for the vulnerable and keeping the status quo for the rich. This government are worse than Thatcher's lot Sad.

Hulababy · 23/01/2011 18:06

I am in Sheffield. Not sure if we have any proposed closures. Here in Lodge Moor we only have a mobile service. have to admit we have never used it.

DD goes to a book club at the library nearest her school omce a month and takes out a book a month, but have to admit we are not big library users.

I do think it is a shame so many are closing though.

Swipe left for the next trending thread