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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
nailak · 15/01/2013 22:54

our childrens centres have books you can borrow from toy library, and it is more convenient (as parents are there anyway) friendlier, a place parents are used to, and kids are used to too.

PurpleStorm · 15/01/2013 22:54

My local library has reduced its opening hours due to council budget cuts, and now doesn't open on my days off work. So we won't be able to go any more, which is a shame. There were often other children there when we went, and they did various storytime / craft sessions.

I took DS to the big city library the other day, and they had a pitifully small collection of board books (DS not old enough to be trusted with paper pages yet). The local library we used to go to had 4 times as many, despite being much much smaller. So I think we'll have to see if we can try out a few other libraries within a sensible distance.

We also have no fines for books taken out on a child's ticket.

northcountrygirl · 15/01/2013 23:01

I don't take my children to the library as I was put off as a child due to 1. Constantly getting late fees and more importantly 2. Dirty books - books with bogies wiped on them, crumbs in the spine and unidentified substances on the pages.

My children do read a lot of books but we buy them and then they swap them amongst their (non-bogey wiping)friends.

My sister is exactly the same (just as anal). But, books are quite cheap these days - especially when you get the sets from places like The Book People, Amazon etc.

AlwaysHoldingOnToStarbug · 15/01/2013 23:08

I took my lot to the library for the summer reading scheme but I don't go at other times as we're too busy - no time after school as its too far and weekends are busy.

Plus we have a library of our own at home and I ended up having to tear the house apart looking for the books when it was time to take them back as they'd been out with our own books. Too stressful!

I love reading and should do more of it, so I might actually go there for myself soon!

AlwaysHoldingOnToStarbug · 15/01/2013 23:09

*put with our own books, not out with them!

simplesusan · 15/01/2013 23:11

My local library has closed. The nearset one to me is a lot more inconvenient but I am still trying to make an effort.

Dryjuice25 · 15/01/2013 23:22

I am pissed off I have to pay £15 on my local library book which my dd took to school and somehow lost. In reality, it only costs £4.99! Or and the internet is £1.20 per minute which I think is not encouraging for people in a deprived area.

They however provide a fabulous service and they must be sick of seeing my face as I go for a walk and end up there, reading the days papers and also take dc at the weekend. We have lots of kids there too and kids internet is free.They are also open on Sundays, so it's great.

Original poster
PaellaUmbrella · 15/01/2013 23:30

our childrens centres have books you can borrow from toy library, and it is more convenient (as parents are there anyway) friendlier, a place parents are used to, and kids are used to too.

This might be part of the reason actually. There's a children's centre just around the corner from the library with a toy library, and the centre is always busy.

OP posts:
nailak · 16/01/2013 00:58

but the CC did do an event where one of the support workers took whoever was interested to go and sign up at the library, explain everything to them and show them around and stuff as well.

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 16/01/2013 01:15

Reasons we don't use the library -

  • Books are cheap to buy
  • Fines
  • Stress about being 'extra' careful with library books
  • Stress about finding library books in the huge pile of 'home' books
  • Stress making sure library books aren't taken anywhere else (g'parents etc)
  • Hate, hate, hate dirty books
  • Hassle of returning them
  • We have a better selection than the library!
  • Librarians that should have been in other professions

We do go to Rhyme Time though and sometimes into the cafe :)

brighthair · 16/01/2013 01:20

A colleague asked me the other week if libraries still existed Sad and she has 3 small children
My local library is a mix of toddler singing sessions, knitting sessions (they seem to drink lots of tea too) and teenagers being noisy and arguing to bring bags of chips in. I like it Grin

brighthair · 16/01/2013 01:24

Might be worth if a library is badly stocked seeing if another is close by. The one I mentioned above is my "local" one but I actually use 3 others too and each has a different atmosphere and some are definitely better at getting new books in. I had to look on the library website otherwise I wouldn't have known they existed

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