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Original poster

Libraries....will you miss them?

75 replies

Curiousmama · 01/10/2010 20:30

If the government do close our libraries will you miss them?

I certainly will Sad I use ours regularly but it's always quiet. I can't understand why people don't take advantage of free books? Also you can order the latest books for a small charge and it's free for under 17s.

Ds1 has just really got into going which is good news as it gets him away from the xbox, wii etc.. He's reading like it's going out of fashion right now. I think it helps that where we've moved to everything is nearby, including the library.

I know things have to change but if this happens I'll be gutted.

OP posts:
jellybeans · 02/10/2010 20:22

I would miss ours and so would my DC. DD goes to several clubs there and they are great for baby books and childrens books. Also, they are fantastic for internet access for those who don't have their own connection.

UniS · 02/10/2010 20:23

Oh yes I'll miss it. or rather them as I use 3 regularly. I'll miss the mobile, and the local town and the nearby city central county library with dedicated childrens library and librarians, each fills a different niche.

I sort of see why county are shouting about having to close librarys, if they threaten a broadly used front-line service more people will listen and complain and say NO, than if they shut down less well known small user group things like elderly day centres and special needs provisions.

Takver · 02/10/2010 20:33

I would miss ours although I love it & use it every week - but me & mine would get on fine as I'd just buy 2nd hand books on abebooks.

BUT those who would really miss out would be the children/teens with no computer/internet at home & with parents living on 40 quid a week who can't afford to just buy a book if they fancy it.

Ours is a tiny little library, only open 7 hours a week - but if you want to go to the next nearest library it is £6 return for one adult & one child on the bus, so its not going to be high on people's lists, is it really.

Fortunately I reckon fingers crossed we are safe for the moment as our librarian is retiring, & she says her post is being advertised properly not filled with temporary staff - as she says, this is a Good Sign . . .

CrispyTheCrisp · 02/10/2010 20:35

Ours has closed Sad

Original poster
Curiousmama · 02/10/2010 21:31

Sad about that CTC

OP posts:
BeenBeta · 02/10/2010 21:55

pointydog - there is a first time for everything. Wink

ijclark · 03/10/2010 14:28

It's great to see so many people supporting their local library service. Quite frankly, with the impending cuts to services, libraries need their supporters more than ever. They are vital to our communities and our democracy as a whole. Without them we will all suffer.

I guess I should add that I am also a member of a small group of library workers that is working to try and address some of these concerns. We have recently established a website called 'Voices for the Library' and we would love to hear from Mumsnetters who value their library service. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who would like to contribute a story about why they value their library service. We want this to be as much about the people who use the service as those that deliver it.

You can find our website at www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk and we also have a Page on Facebook. We would love to hear from you!

Original poster
Curiousmama · 03/10/2010 23:25

ijclark thanks for the link. I'll be glad to give my voice to any campaign towards saving the libraries.

OP posts:
Original poster
Curiousmama · 04/10/2010 14:31

Shall i pass it on to my local library or will they already know about it?

OP posts:
bigchris · 04/10/2010 14:39

There was a similar thread like this s few weeks back
tim coates posted with another link I think

Original poster
Curiousmama · 04/10/2010 14:45

Was there? I'll have a look for it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Curiousmama · 04/10/2010 14:50

There's been a few threads about this topic if you do a search for libraries.

Just shows though some were still in the dark. Needs to be known and hopefully people will get their library love back Smile

OP posts:
bigchris · 04/10/2010 14:53

here

ijclark · 04/10/2010 16:33

@curiousmama Pass it on to as many people as you can :) Really want people to get involved and share their love of libraries. Particularly interested in short stories we can publish on the site.

Original poster
Curiousmama · 04/10/2010 19:49

Thanks bigchris.

OP posts:
MinaTannenbaum · 05/10/2010 20:33

Ian, Voices for the Library is a fabulous initiative, well done to you, Bethan, Phil & co for setting it up. I have shared it on FaceBook and will spread the word amongst my team of academic librarians.

Original poster
Curiousmama · 06/10/2010 12:26

Glad you've found it useful Mina. How do you know he's Ian btw?

OP posts:
ijclark · 06/10/2010 19:30

I'm guessing it's because my full name is on the site? Or a wild stab in the dark that 'i' is for Ian? :)
Else I'm a little freaked out! :)

MinaTannenbaum · 06/10/2010 19:46

I'm a librarian myself Grin and CILIP member. So I used my professional skills to check the About Us section of the blog, and extrapolated from there.
Not too stalky I hope...Wink

ijclark · 07/10/2010 08:35

That's a relief! Grin I have been looking over my shoulder the past couple of days just in case Wink.

Original poster
Curiousmama · 07/10/2010 11:15
Grin
OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 02/12/2010 22:16

From a press release this week (for those on this old thread who didn't believe me ...)

"Oxfordshire County Council is asking local communities to come up with innovative ideas to run their local libraries as it proposes to cease funding 20 of the 43 facilities that currently operate in the county, with possible further changes to service levels in future years."

crazyspaniel · 13/12/2010 11:28

I live in Oxfordshire and have heard about these proposals. My understanding is that if local communities / volunteers want to take over the running of libraries that are to be closed, it will not be a simple matter of donating their time. The council will not provide the building or the books (even the current stock) - hence "volunteers" need to essentially be donors, willing to stump up, or fundraise, for both.

BookwormSW11 · 27/01/2011 22:26

There is a national day of action on 5th February. You may well find that your local library is hosting an event.

Mine is: if you live in South West London please come along:

York Gardens Library (5 minutes from Clapham Junction). Read-in starts at 12.30 (with noisy rhyme time for kids) and will run til 3pm. Authors and others will read from their work and local people will talk about what the library means to them.

Come along!

This local library supports children who do not have computer access, do not have books at home, need the help they get at the library to do their homework and helps other local people gain qualifications and find jobs. It is vital and the only community space in a very deprived area.

Please support your local library.

MarinaResurgens · 04/02/2011 10:33

As well as Bookworm's event there is a regularly updated national list of other Library happenings tomorrow here:

Voices for the Library's FB page

and a great list of quick ideas to get involved with the campaign to save England's public library services here:

CILIP Action Ideas

Finally, some ace downloadable posters from librarian and blogger Phil Bradley:

What did YOU do in the fight to save libraries, daddy?

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