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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

would you volunteer to keep your library open?

337 replies

carriedababi · 15/02/2011 15:52

?

OP posts:
compo · 15/02/2011 21:48

Maddy68 - you need to say more
why would you close them? Why are they outdated? Is it an outdated concept being able to read a book for free?

Wook · 15/02/2011 21:49

maddy68 come and have a look round the library here of a weekend, it is most certainly not underused.
Every library closure will make many people's lives just a little bit more shit.

fluffles · 15/02/2011 21:54

no, i wouldn't. i do voluntary youth work, and i don't have any more hours available (work fulltime and also study).

i also don't use libraries a lot, am a member of the local big one but only in there 3/4 times a year. i think it's a great thing/place but i don't care enough to give up my youth work.

sorry Sad

fluffles · 15/02/2011 21:55

and off topic - i have a kindle i use for recreational reading but i hate using ebooks for my masters course, it's ok to look up a quick reference but not good for reading pages and pages and making notes etc.
that's probably cause i'm old fashioned though and did my first degree without a computer.. i still find it hard to read papers on screen and make notes on the laptop.. i crave pen and paper Blush

OliveMalay · 15/02/2011 21:56

No, I would refuse to do so. It would be an insult to real librarians.

mercibucket · 15/02/2011 21:56

nope, I'm not stealing anyone's job thanks very muchly

mercibucket · 15/02/2011 22:00

I would however volunteer to be prime minister for a couple of months
wasn't there a greek state that used to rotate its leaders - elected at random?

EditedforClarity · 15/02/2011 22:04

What about other forms of volunteering aside from libraries.

What about Special Constables for example? Is this the same? Are they stealing someone's job or an insult to real policemen, or are they essential and why is there a difference?

ivykaty44 · 15/02/2011 22:10

Well volunteer council chiefs - that would save a packet in wages Wink

mercibucket · 15/02/2011 22:10

Think they're making it so that you have to be a special constable before you can become a police officer so that counts as unpaid labour for a couple of years imo - see also unpaid internships

I used to volunteer quite a bit and still would if I had the time - well I do still do stuff tbh but used to do more. it's something I chose to do. cameron can fuck right off if he thinks people like me are going to do something cos some politico has decided it's a good idea

I would never ever ever volunteer for anything that involved someone being made redundant and their job then being turned into a voluntary position

A1980 · 15/02/2011 22:12

I can't. I work long hours, I'm out of house 7:30am-7pm and I'm not giving up my weekends.

maddy68 · 15/02/2011 22:16

I just think that yes it IS nice to have library it is something now which is generally outdated.
Obviously its nice to be able to lend a free book but schools provide this service for kids anyway so its just adults that will dip out.

Some libraries are well used and as you say are busy at weekends, but it is generally a glorified social club. people can download information, meet in a cafe for a natter, playgroup for the kids etc

The costs of running libraries is extortionate and if it is a choice in funding libraries or schools, hospitals etc then I now where `I would rather the cash went
Seems expensive

exoticfruits · 15/02/2011 22:17

Yes, if it is the only way to keep it open, we can't manage without a library.

TimeWasting · 15/02/2011 22:23

I'd rather the cash went on libraries than schools maddy. I said before, why bother to teach them to read and get excited about knowledge if they're going to be stuck reading the Metro for the following 50 years.

EditedforClarity · 15/02/2011 22:23

That's a good way to make people think it's OK isn't it merci?

Perhaps that what they should do with other occupations. If you want to be a in the future then you have to volunteer in that capacity first.

OliveMalay · 15/02/2011 22:25

If it had to be a choice I'd go for schools. No point having libraries full of books if young people have not developed any curiosity for learning or the debating skills to challenge daft decisions like closing libraries.

mercibucket · 15/02/2011 22:27

that is the way it will be in the future editedforclarity and the result will be that only those people from rich backgrounds who can afford to work unpaid for long periods of time (we're not talking the odd bit of volunteering round your main job for the internships now being touted round for example) will be able to access the best jobs. others will get benefits if they also 'volunteer' their labour - back to the 30's for the rest of us serfs

compo · 15/02/2011 22:29

Maddy68 - do you mind me asking if you're a professionally qualified librarian ? You don't sound like one!
School libraries are woeful
and what if you home educate
and what about the older generation who have nowhere else to access large print books? Or taliking books for free if they're visually impaired?

MummyTubb · 15/02/2011 22:30

This is a tough one for me.

As things stand at the moment I wouldn't have the time to volunteer at my local library as I am too busy with my full-time job - the one where I am a fully qualified, chartered and properly paid librarian.

Luckily my local library is not under threat (no libraries in my local authority are). If it was though, I might feel duty-bound to volunteer - to ensure that the value-added aspect of the service wasn't lost. Anyone can lend books - only an experienced librarian can provide a 'library service'.

compo · 15/02/2011 22:33

glorified social club really? Can't believe that's what a librarian would think

MummyTubb · 15/02/2011 22:36

I doubt Maddy68 is a qualified librarian - if she (I assume she is a she, but she may be a he) was she would know why local libraries are not, or at least should not, be glorified social clubs.

EditedforClarity · 15/02/2011 22:36

Yes merci - keeping us working classes where we belong. Social mobility? What's that then?

mercibucket · 15/02/2011 22:50

hopefully we won't be learning long words like that in future - for a start we won't be able to borrow the books to find out about it

MillyR · 15/02/2011 22:55

Part of the benefit of libraries is that they are, for many people, the only indoor local public space you can go to for free.

No, Maddy, people cannot just pop in to a cafe instead. My son can't pop in to a cafe every day after school to do his homework because we can't afford it.

It is all very well calling libraries glorified social clubs, as if non-glorified social clubs actually exist as an alternative. They don't.

magicmummy1 · 15/02/2011 22:55

I think libraries are an essential part of any civilised society, and I for one will be furious if they start closing them. :(

I would volunteer to help keep my local library open IF that was the only option, but I would far rather that it was properly run by trained, qualified staff. In my view, the service would suffer greatly if that ceased to be the case.

Unfortunately, I'd only be able to volunteer at weekends, and then probably with dd in tow. I suspect we'd end up with severely restricted opening hours if this stupid policy was actually followed through. I keep hoping, though, that the idiots in charge of the country will eventually come to their senses and realise that this just ain't gonna work!

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