to wonder why my friend doesn't use the library?

[LissyGlitter]

My friend posted on a website we both go on, asking if anybody had any roald dahl books they could lend her for a few days as she needs to do a project for her schoolkids (she's a TA) and several people offered one each, so my friend will have to drive round all the local suburbs collecting the books, remember who lent which one, and return them all to the right people. I suggested she just nip to the local library, and she said it was "too much hassle". The mind boggles.

I am shocked at the amount of people who don't use their local library. Why on earth would you not use it? I am the least organised person EVER and I can manage to either return the books within a couple of weeks or nip online and renew them without any trouble, it's completely free, kids don't even have fines, you don't even have to return books to the same library they came from! I didn't even have to provide any ID when I recently joined my local library (I have recently moved house to another council area)

So, what is the excuse for not allowing your kids access to millions of free books? Or even for not allowing yourself them? I enjoy having a huge collection of books (we have just thinned out our collection for moving by about 50%, and still have enough to cover an entire wall of our front room, and we are pretty poor) but I don't want to keep every single thing I read, and there's a limit to the amount of money I want to spend on novels that I'm only likely to ever read once anyway.

The libraries are no longer scary places where a woman in a twinset and a severe bun shushes you, they are fun, friendly places, where your kids will be welcomed and the library assistants and librarians will help you find what you want. If you are not a member or you don't use your membership, go there today!

notyummy No fair enough, I get your point. Just ignore me, was feeling a bit prickly earlier. Just been to Osteopath and been rubbed and clicked and now I feel all mellow

Hey, maybe I'll even make of an effort to check out my library

problem is if you have to pay for buses or car parking then the "cost" of using a library might not actually be "free".

I haven't read all the posts but

YANBU

I am amazed by how many people have never used our library. It is amazing. It has toys, books (obviously) dvds, magazines, tapes, free art sessions, free internet, huge comfy chairs and sofas, information about free things all summer for kids. Poets visit authors visit. They have book clubs homework clubs. However, loads of people we know have never set foot in it, but complain they have got bored with all their books. Very odd. One person was recently telling me what an amazing idea book swapping was because how else would you be able to read so many books for free [hmmm] I wonder..

We love libraries!

In fact, we often seek them out when we are holiday. One of us stays in the library with the kids while the other does a little child-free sightseeing, then swap. Some of the ones we've found in this way have been brilliant - Rugby and Sedgfield were particular favourites.

We dont have a local library and its a fair journey into town so by the time parking and petrol are taken into account is quite costly. Added to that I dont like used books and much prefer to buy new - I keep the ones we like and pass on any that we dont or DS grows out of so no waste.

I dont for one moment think DS misses out in any way and I am not lazy notyummy. He has an excellent selection in his room and access to books at school.

Does anyone remember the 'library bailiff'?

When I was a child, the local council would send a big man round to your house to demand any overdue books.

I used to get such a wallop from my mum if he ever came round.

I love our library and take the children there often...Ours is quite small and so the choice is quite limited
I usually get something recommended by the librarian for myself
For DD2 (2.5) there are plenty of books we read a couple while we are there and then bring one or two home (and she has stacks at home...)
DD1(8) we order and reserve online books that sound interesting. She is now reading the Harry Potter series -there is only one copy of each at the library so we have to reserve the next one each time...

We also got most of our books from charity shops...reduce, reuse, recycle...

I did have a problem in the library in the nearest big town when ours was closed for refurbishment.
I noticed there was a torn page in one of DD2's books -honestly don't know if she did it or not - I showed the librarian thinking it just needed a bit of sticky tape. The librarian told me it was ruined and it would cost me £5 ...saying things like 'would you like to borrow books with sticky tape in them' (for a toddler- with just a little -I wouldn't mind) and 'children should learn to respect books' (DD2 wasn't even 2 at the time and it was thin pages...and between them DD1 and 2 have taken out hundreds of books - and we have only had a torn off lift the flap once!) I was furious and paid up but then later I lodged a complaint. The manager contacted me a few days later and apologised and refunded my money - but now I make sure that DD2 only reads library books supervised...
I do think that if had been our local library where the librarian knows me it wouldn't have been such an issue though...

Another library lover here. Now the bus fares have gone up and its over 3 quid return to town I only go in once every 1-2 weeks on the day I do other town stuff. SO we are no longer going to rhyme time and story time and maybe once a wek just for somewhere warm and dry to go. But as I'm going less frequently I am taking out 8 books most visits and boy can have another 8. its JUST enough books for a fortnight, but only just some weeks.

Exeter central library has a great children's library. with Fab librarians, who do seem to know their books quite well.

When we move I'll have to get used to using the mobile library as it will stop near our new place every fortnight.

No no NO! Libraries are rubbish, never go and tell everyone you know never to go either.

(That way ours remains empty and we get to keep it all to ourselves... mwaa ha ha )

I did say in one of my previous posts happymummy that I appreciated that there were circumstances where cost made it impossible for people (petrol/parking.)

That said, as you buy all your books new you must be minted so surely such trivial things such as car running costs are nothing to you....

If all dds books were new (at least 10 a month from the library) then how would I have any money to spent on clothes? ....or trying to overpay the mortgage, obviously.

Libraries are amazing, magnificent, a truly splendid resource for mums and young children. My DD (aged 2.9) reads several books a day and demands variety; I would have to re-mortgage house to keep her selection of books fresh.

It seems incredibly sad to me that some people don't know or use their local library.

I don't trust myself/DS not to ruin the lovely book.
I buy mine cheap & second hand. Maybe it's a modern "need to possess" thing.?

Personally i couldnt live without local libraries. We have maxed out 2 library cards twice a week for the past 3 years. In two different areas. My biggest problem is that we often out read the library and need to stop going for a few months so it becomes fresh again. but as ds has so many books we rotated between library books and own books. We can often get through 8-10 stories per day and as he likes a new story each time it is very quick throught them. Me on the other hand do little me reading as it is hard to get into a good book when you have to pick up and put down. I like to read cover to cover in one or two sittings.

We get a library bus, which is brilliant - never late putting our books back and a nice chat with the driver too. Also, very exciting for a 2 year old - a bus full of books - wow!

We go to the second book shop in the hols - stacked with super cheap books & mags. Also sell books there when we've finished. We stock up on lots of books - anything they want. Keeps them going for ages. My kids also like to reread books and like to be able to come back to them after a while. The local library is only accessable for us at the weekend with school hours so not practical. The cost of the second hand books must be equal to what I would pay in library fines!

Me and dc's can borrow 20 books each from our library. I've not managed it yet, but I shall keep on trying (there are 4 of them). I walk to the library, it's a morning out for us, the staff are so lovely and friendly, beanbags, toys and puzzles in the childrens' bit. It's heaven, they're all heaven. I have a long-cherished ambition to be a librarian

We have a mobile library that stops at the end of our track (live in the middle of nowhere on a farm) - it is the highlight of our fortnight

As a bookseller I should shun the library really, but it whiles away a morning with the dcs. My only complaint is the lack of toilets in our local libraries, and withoot fail my youngest always needs to do a poo in the library. It must be something to do with the air of calm and relaxation...

I am actually seriously considering doing a postgrad in librarianship after my degree. Libraries are ace. Although apparently my degree being in English Lit could be a drawback as they are desparate for science specialists. Hopefully the fact that I'm mad on libraries would be a good point.

My MIL is a qualified librarian, and she says it was a brilliant job. I worked for a couple of years as a teenager as a library assistant and it was utterly brilliant

Glad I spotted this thread - I've just renewed my books online and on time for a change!

I love both my local libraries. Can easily spend a saturday morning in either.

One is near a duck pond and the other is near a big park. Both excellent ways to tire a 2 year old!

You can reserve books online, renew online or by phone. Really no need for fines but I still manage them.

No charges for damaged childrens books...although never been an issue and stock is in good condition.

Lots of childrens activities run...

Really lucky and agree you must use the library or risk losing it.

Maybe she's had a traumatic experience? I've only recently been reconciled to my local library having lost "Mr Nosey Follows His Nose" age six. For months I was convinced that the police would come and get me.

Libraries are great - I highlight books I like in reviews, keep a note of them and reserve online for 50p at a little library with a car park, so no need to pay to go to the big town centre one.

Lusi - seems harsh to penalise toddlers, Hampshire have a policy of not charging under 3s (or possibly even under 5s?) for "reasonable" damage as they know kids are tough on books. Also no fines for under 5s to give you a chance to find the book posted in the video/under the sofa/in the box of Christmas decorations.

I do love new books, but realised that it is really a ridiculous expense if you ae not going to re-read, so only buy "classics" on the basis they are likely to be read again. If I borrow something that good from the library, I'll buy a copy.

I love libraries and was brought up to get books every week as a child (total bookworm).

I went to a local library regularly on maternity leave and took great delight in enrolling DS (at the age of 4 months).

However, now that I am back at work full time, the whole business of trying to read the books before I amass fines is too complicated. I just don't have time to read so much, and the library is in the next town along, and I am at work when the mobile library comes to the village.

I used to buy books at the supermarket for me if I felt like a read but I am now buying books for DS I find. It's probably a better investment as they do get played with/ read over and over again. I rather love coming home with milk and carrots and a book.