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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder why nobody else seems to take their children to our local library?

62 replies

PaellaUmbrella · 15/01/2013 16:28

We have an excellent local library - it was refurbished about 2 years ago and is very modern, with a lovely reading area for children, nice little cafe etc. It's probably the best library I've ever been in.

Anyway, it occured to me today that I have NEVER seen another child in there. I've lived in the area for over 6 months now, and take DD at least once a week. We go on different days and at different times, so on the law of averages I really would have expected to have seen other children in there by now.

I just can't understand why other people aren't using it. This is a somewhat socially deprived area, so I don't know whether there's a link at all...perhaps if we were in a naice area it would be busier?

OP posts:

shrimponastick · 15/01/2013 16:30

YANBU to wonder. Perhaps the library isn't advertising their serviices enough to the local residents.

I used to work in libraries for a while - and it is in the libraries' interests to get numbers through the doors.

It's a shame, as most councils are struggling, and in my area are threatening to close down a lot of local, smaller libraries.

Fakebook · 15/01/2013 16:31

That's really sad. And that's the reason why so many libraries are being shut down. We have an absolutely lovely library in the park next to our house that is threatened with closure but loads of children visit it.

specialsubject · 15/01/2013 16:35

ask the library staff if anything is going on. Seems strange!

I've moved around a lot recently and having lived abroad am a big fan of the library. All my various local libraries had regular children's sessions.

fuzzpig · 15/01/2013 16:35

That's really surprising. I work in a big library that is always full of children! We have lots of regular and one-off events that are usually very well attended.

I know lots of reasonably well off people who don't use the library for their DCs because they just buy books instead, so I don't think it's as simple as Naice/Deprived areas.

TheSecondComing · 15/01/2013 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WilsonFrickett · 15/01/2013 16:40

I think lots of parents still think libraries are all about 'ssssh' and not a place to take DCs into. Maybe your library needs to sell its services a bit more, do they have Rhymetime for example? That's what first drew me in on mat leave and then when I realised how family friendly it was it became somewhere me and DS went once a week all through his pre-school years. But I wouldn't have just wandered in if it wasn't for the Rhymetime IYSWIM.

DozyDuck · 15/01/2013 16:41

Because DS would shout and eat the books

Pancakeflipper · 15/01/2013 16:41

That's sad.

Ours is like a crèche.

But they do a lot of things for children. There's baby story time with ball pool for the little ones. Craft time for older toddlers, homework clubs and art clubs for the school children. And in Summer hols they do circus skills days and have an incentive to read lots of books.

Our library thinks "get em' borrowing young then we might keep libraries alive regardless of the kindle generation."

ShatnersBassoon · 15/01/2013 16:42

Have you never been tempted to ask the librarian why people don't take children? There must be a reason.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 15/01/2013 16:44

Our library don't mind if the kids shout and eat books. Or play hide and seek in the stacks.

PoppyWearer · 15/01/2013 16:45

I used to take my DC1 (DD) regularly for books, also to rhyme times and story times, but now she's at school and so tired afterwards, we just head home.

DC2 (DS) is a shouty book-eater so no way I'm taking him any time soon (I tried, once, never again).

I would guess that it's also the case now that books are cheaper than they were when we were kids (for me, that was the 80s). My parents had no choice but to take us to the library regularly for new books. My DCs have loads of books they've never got around to reading, thanks to presents and Book People offers.

PoppyWearer · 15/01/2013 16:46

My library is tiny and definitely would mind shouty book-eating!!

manicinsomniac · 15/01/2013 16:48

Because all the other parents are rubbish and you are wonderful?

On a serious note, I expect they're just too busy. I take mine to the library occasionally in the school holidays but in general, if the library is open I'm at work.

I don't really see the point anyway, I can't move in my house for books (and they're dirt cheap on ebay and the book people, I'm not ridiculously extravagant) and, if I borrowed yet more, I'd only forget to return them and clock up fines anyway.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 15/01/2013 16:52

Our library is tiny too, they're just very friendly and used to babies/toddlers (and on occasion adults with sn). It also doesn't do fines for late children's books.

SugarplumMary · 15/01/2013 16:52

This is a somewhat socially deprived area, so I don't know whether there's a link at all...perhaps if we were in a naice area it would be busier?

No - I live in a very socially deprived area and the library is always very full of DC ? toddlers during the day and after school DC from all the local schools are regularly there.

They are very welcoming to DC though - and tolerate noise.

Viviennemary · 15/01/2013 16:53

The library hours have been cut in so many authorities that lots of people just simply can't go any more as they are at work. That's the reason why people are using libraries. You want to return books. You can't because the library is closed. The local library will be extinct soon which will be a shame.

Viviennemary · 15/01/2013 16:53

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 15/01/2013 16:54

I take my DCs to the library on weekends as I work during the week. Have you been on the weekend?

Does your library host specific events? When I was on mat leave I only went on weekdays when they had their rhyme time thingy on.

Viviennemary · 15/01/2013 16:54

Aren't. What's going on!!

PoppyWearer · 15/01/2013 16:55

Ah, see, our library is tiny and full of retired people (mostly men getting away from their wives) who look up and tut at every sound.

SugarplumMary · 15/01/2013 16:55

Our local one open is 8.30 am to 6pm weekdays - so you know its always open but sadly no longer open weekends.

Other nearby areas lost the libraries completely.

mathsconundrum · 15/01/2013 16:57

We went to groups when dd was a todd leOne she's y school she has after school clubs and we buy books or she reads her school book. Libraries here are in the more deprived areas. So would need to travel to get there and then make sure we go back to return books.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 15/01/2013 17:02

That is a bit strange, our libraries are always rammed with toddlers being read to, primary children borrowing story books and unaccompanied secondary children doing homework or playing on the computers. Wide mix of backgrounds AFAIK.

It's not rocket science to get children in - you do Rhyme Time sessions, you advertise them in parents mags or with local HVs => the parents get in the habit of deciding that the library is a good placd to go when it's cold and wet.

Original poster

PaellaUmbrella · 15/01/2013 17:03

To be fair, I haven't ever been at the weekend - it's open on Saturdays, so perhaps more people go then...I still don't understand why there's never anybody there with DCs in the week though. There are hundreds of mums with DCs wandering around our local shops, it's just so strange that they never seem to venture into what is a really nice library.

OP posts:

piprabbit · 15/01/2013 17:13

Do they do a storytime for toddlers?
If they don't then maybe they could start (would you volunteer?).
If they do, then maybe other parents only go the library once a week during story time - which might no coincide with when you go.

Do they so the Summer Reading Challenge for school age children? That always makes our library busier in the holidays.

My library is also visited by classes of children with their teachers throughout the week.

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