The Secret Life of Libraries

[MarinaResurgens]

For anyone involved in local campaigning to save your public library from cuts/closure, this article from Bella Bathurst in The Observer is both entertaining and relevant. As a librarian, I can confirm that streakers/frotteurs/amiably eccentric clientele are all par for the course, and none of the stories she relates seem all that far-fetched to me

Bella Bathurst

Blinking 'eck Marina! Its been a long time since I've seen you around!

Don't worry, you won't know me, but it's good to see recognisable names from time to time.

I'll go and read the article now.

What a lovely article! Really impressed. I love libraries.

About them being ahem erotic places ... I can understand that. One day, when I was a student, I was sitting demurely reading some huge tome and there was an attractive man opposite. We eyed each other up for a while, but then I fell asleep. I woke myself up with an enormous snore - I mean a huge snort and a grunt - and the man left. I had to hide the book too, as I had dribbled on it.

I'm one of the people who have to be woken up at closing time.

Do you know that in libraries abroad, you can't actually touch or see the books until you request them from someone at the counter, who then goes off to see if she can find it? So you have to know the title and author you're looking for, and can't browse.

Ah, good old closed access, Mellow. Keeps the shelves tidy and the books clean

Those were the days, not!

I loved using the library at Hornimans - they used to run "Special Interest" courses for children on a Saturday morning.

I live round the corner from the local library and have heard there are threats that this one may be closed too.