To understand why people do not use Librarys anymore?

[AngelWreakinHavoc]

I have not been to a Library for about 6 years. I am not Someone who reads daily, weekly or monthly.

I was recommended a couple of books by a friend of mine (American Psycho and The story of O, just incase You are interested :) )

Anyhow, I walked into the Library and there was no one in there except the lady behind the counter, She seen me come in but she was on the phone, I wandered overe to 'where I thought I should be looking' and stood looking for what I wanted for about 6/7 minutes.
In all honesty I was hoping the lady would get off the phone and come and help me but instead I had to stand and listen to her talking about alsorts of random stuff.

In the end I just left without any communication or the book I wanted to read.
Is this normal behaviour for a librarian or am I being unreasonable thinking this was wrong?

If the librarian was on the phone, she was probably talking to someone who was renewing their books, making a reservation or maybe booking a computer. Probably someone older who doesn't know that you can or doesn't want to do all of these things over the internet from the comfort of your own sofa.

If you look at your council website, you'll find a link to your library catalogue, you can browse, reserve and then pick up your reservations on your next visit. It means that each branch can keep less stock, but still provide a decent selection.

If you live in London there's a fair chance that your borough is part of the London Libraries Consortium which gives you the choice of 14 boroughs-worth of books.

The library website will also give you access to things like digital newspaper archives, on-line reference books (encylopaedias etc) homework help, and even free on-line courses via "ALISON" and also unlimited access to the Driving theory test practice and the UK citizenship test practice.

Most libraries willl provide public computers and free internet access so that those without it at home can fill in government forms, do job searches, order their shopping, or browse facebook.

Most library staff would not interrrupt someone who was browsing the shelves, but if you go and ask for help they will spring into action and fire up the catalogue or give you personal recommendations.

There are now many fewer library staff. There is unlikely to be a floor-walker anymore, just a couple of staff behind the counter and a couple of self-service issuing machines.

Please go back to your library and talk to the staff, browse the local library website/catalogue and look at www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ to get some more ideas of what you might enjoy before you go!

And I checked... the LLC has multiple copies of 7 different editions of American Psycho, (83 copies in total)
www.londonlibraries.gov.uk/Brent/02_Catalogue/02_004_TitleResults.aspx?page=1&searchTerm=american+psycho&searchType=99&searchTerm2=&media=&branch=&authority=&language=&junior=&referrer=02_001_Search.aspx

Ruby we are now not allowed to hide behind the counter, we have to floorwalk instead. Tidying, displaying books, shelving returned books, answering the phone, helping with computer bookings/ problems, answering queries and keeping an eye on the self-service machines and the desk all at once. Whilst trying to look not-too-busy-to-be-interrupted. With fewer staff than we used to have.

YWBU OP but never mind, and don't be put off the library.

If you like (or hate) American Psycho you might be interested in reading a book of essays called Where Was Rebecca Shot? by John Sutherland. It looks at unexplained mysteries and apparent mistakes in books and tries to find a theory to explain them.

I can't say that AP was a pleasant read but sometimes an unpleasant one can still be worth it.

I feel your pain OP, but for different reasons. Here are some random issues with our library:
The "librarians" don't know how to use their computer. They either get stuck and have to get all a colleague to help, or "the system's down".
The books are sorted by no recognisable method. The sign in the biographies section says "A-Z by subject name". Except that they have Alan Bennet's "Untold Stories" (which isn't a biography) next to Carol Vorderman's life story. Anything about the Royal Family is in History.
The staff like to chat about your book as they check it out. I'm reading a biography of Eleanor Talbot, and the lady who stamped it said " ooh you're like me, I love historical novels about the Tudors" .
I'm afraid the whole experience is pretty unsatisfactory and often compounded by the fact that they stamp the wrong date in the book - current one is due back on 25 July but says 25 April, which will involve me in a heated debate again when I take it back.

And btw, DH told me in no uncertain terms that I wasn't to read American Psycho, and I'm a very very robust reader with no squeamishness about horror (all those Tudors ).

I agree I'm not sure American Psycho is in the same league as 50sog. It's not written from a female point of view of having a liking of kinky sex. It's more like a horror book. I'm not sure that it's to get off on.

Yes, Slimjim I too am one of those staff. But we have no rota-ed floor walker anymore. There just aren't the staff left. How on earth shelving is supposed to get done I have no idea, when everything needs to be tidied before the shelving can begin...

I am not library based anymore, but I still drop into the branches and work in our central library on Sunday. It's not easy to get the balance right.

Oh yes, and you may encounter the free solution to less paid staff: the well-meaning but often under-trained volunteer.

Yes YABU Normal practice is you are left to browse and no one will bother you. If you can't find a book you can use the computers to look itup, or go to the desk and ask.

I think the OP makes a very valid point.

As someone without previous experience of using a public service which she is entitled to use, she struggled on her first visit, and she wasn't sure how to go about getting help from the person who she thought was there to help her.

It's the same kind of experience we all have at some point, and I agree - it does make you feel pretty stupid and uncomfortable.

VJ Why do you think that over 65's don't read adult fiction? I am speechless. Quite a few over 65's actually write it.

And OP, please don't read American Psycho. It's pure sadism. Not something you want in your head. If you ever meet a man who enjoyed it, run for the hills.

I am pretty sure I read The Story of O years ago - am I right in thinking that 10 year old Odile seduced an adult man? I hope I imagined that!

If its the book that I remember, I threw it out with the rubbish and the friend that had lent it to me went beserk