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Original poster

Frustration with local library

17 replies

posey · 08/02/2012 20:59

I live in a London borough where I have 5 libraries within pretty easy reach, 1 of which is right near school and the main library very close to home. So a good selection but I am getting soooooo frustrated by the lack of selection of books. I keep a list in my bag of books I fancy reading, that I've heard recommended by friends or on here or read reviews. Books that cross genres, eras, fiction and non fiction, newly published and older ones....generally at any given time I will have 20 + books on my list yet I will be extremely lucky to find a single one Sad
I ordered our last book club book but ended up borrowing it from a friend as it never came in (2 months later)
I know I should be grateful that we have libraries, especially as so many are closing, and I desperately want to support it, but it is pretty tricky.

No wonder the most borrowed author from libraries is James Patterson, there are tons of his books in there to borrow!

OP posts:
GurlwiththeFrothyCurl · 08/02/2012 21:12

Do you check the catalogue to see if your library has these books in stock? If they do, then you can reserve them if they are out on loan. If they don't have them in stock, then you can still request them and they should buy them in. Of course libraries have had huge cuts in stock and staffing budgets and so often cannot buy many new and up to date books because of this. Sad, isn't it?

callaird · 08/02/2012 21:14

I am beginning to feel the same. I love using the library (although I always buy books from my favourite authors (even if I download them to my iPad!)) I find loads of new authors there, then if it's rubbish, it doesn't matter. But they never have any of the more popular books. I ordered Martina Cole 4 months ago, they have 8 copies, I was sixth on the list, every time I call I get told that the person who has it has re-newed it! How long does it take to read a book? And how can they allow them to renew where there is a queue for it?

I also took my charge to get some books today and the children's books were all ripped, pages torn out, pop ups ripped out, flaps torn or ripped off, books scribbled on, every page! I think parents who allow this to happen should not be allowed to take out children's books or have to pay for a new one! I know that sometimes it happens too quickly, but if your child rips a page, tape it back in! I have taken all my charges to the library from around 6 months, I have only had one book torn and that was an accident. I've been a nanny for 25 years!

BeerTricksP0tter · 08/02/2012 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iseenodust · 08/02/2012 21:17

Library service here does not let you renew if someone has reserved. Suggest to your service this would be fairer?

Original poster
posey · 08/02/2012 21:20

It is sad.
Re renewing books when there is a queue waiting for them, I always thought you couldn't. I remember borrowing A Woman of Substance when I was a teenager and being told I had 3 weeks to read it as there were no renewals. I had never read such a big book, but did it (I loved that book) and later bought myself a copy just because I loved it so much!

OP posts:
Original poster
posey · 08/02/2012 21:23

Not sure if there is a facility for customer feedback. Will look next time.

OP posts:
callaird · 08/02/2012 21:23

I did have a whinge about it today when I asked again. Librarian said that there was not much they could do if the renew by phone or on-line. I can see their point! But it is really beginning to wind me up. She said that there were 18 people waiting for this book, I was quite tempted to keep it for six months myself (even though I will read it in less than a week) then decided it wasn't their fault! Am tempted to just download it but have been let down with a lot of her newer books.

iseenodust · 08/02/2012 21:26

The online system doesn't allow you to here. You just see the fine mounting!

LineRunner · 08/02/2012 21:27

Just reserve it. They will let you know when it's in. My library rings me up. Nice people.

callaird · 08/02/2012 21:54

Linerunner - I did reserve it. Four months ago! Librarian is lovely, really tries to help but must be their system. I shall ask them if they can update it in-line with other counties.

LineRunner · 09/02/2012 00:00

I would do, callaird. Sounds crap to me. And reserve a load of stuff while you're at it.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/02/2012 10:16

We can't renew books that have been reserved either on the phone or online either and you get an email or a letter telling you it has been reserved and asking you to bring it back.

DuchessofMalfi · 09/02/2012 10:22

Our local library lets you order in books from any of the other libaries in the county and they will phone you when they arrive. Also, if you try to renew a book that's been reserved, it comes up with a red warning telling you that you can't and that you must return it by the due date. However, they can't stop a dishonest person just hanging on to a book and ignoring the mounting fines :(.

NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 10/02/2012 15:27

I can remember going into the library to ask for Darkmans by Nicola Barker and the librarian saying that they didn't have it and wouldn't be getting it and neither would any of the libraries in our town!

She was quite insistent that nobody here would be interested in it.

She did say they could try and do an inter-library loan from somewhere else but that might take some time. Eventually it arrived and I hated it.

Shortly afterwards it was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and you couldn't move in library for copies of it in our library.

I think it's the lack of funds though. Something like that (MBP shortlisting) for them to take a chance on a book that might otherwise go un-borrowed for weeks or months.

fivegomadindorset · 12/02/2012 14:10

In our county if there are people waiting for the book then you cannot renew online you have to phone up, we do give them an extra week but then that is it.

MsWeatherwax · 13/02/2012 06:23

A lot of the lack of selection is libraries that have gone over to supplier selection. Many have been forced to as it's a lot cheaper and the individuals libraries may or may not have much of an independent budget to top this up. Supplier selection means the publishers choose what you get for a massive discount, handling libraries across the country all at once so less variation that you'd usually expect. It's always worth giving written specific feedback as public bodies take this kind of thing very seriously. You could also ask about interlibrary loans. Am shocked that people can renew when it's on hold!

DaisySteiner · 13/02/2012 07:05

Most libraries have an online service which lets you reserve books from all over the county and then emails you when they're in stock. It's like a free version of Amazon Grin

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