Do you use your library?

[CuriousMama]

I use mine all the time and I've just finished reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and have now ordered (online from my library) The Passage, by Justin Cronin and Me before you by Jojo Moyes.

I'm always there but am amazed how underused they are? Ours is only small and I'll be gutted if it closes.

Yes, libraries are great for broadening horizons - you can borrow a book you'd never normally touch, without having to worry about having wasted the best part of a tenner if you hate it!

Right I'm going to try a totally new type of book next time I order

CuriousMama: the best way to try out a different type of book is to look at what the librarians have put out and just try one of them. No requirement to finish it.

Right now my library is running an adults' summer reading challenge, so I'm picking books off the display for that as well as book group books and things I order months before publishing date.

Good idea I'm off to the butcher's now and the library's next door so I'll get a book off the stand, thanks.

I have used mine quite a bit in the past, usually I would order from the online catalogue and pick the book up from the local branch. We get free inter-library ordering across the London boroughs, which is nice.

My problem is forgetting to take books back, so I end up paying so much in fines that I might as well have just bought the book . I know it's my stupid fault and I should get more organised, but I haven't managed to so far. I use this to justify buying books instead...

Also now I have my Kindle, the book storage issue isn't as pressing. And it's very tempting to have your book 'instantly'!

Yes, often - but most people I know don't, only friends with small children who need a ready supply of picture books.

The library I use most, in central London, has really gone downhill in recent years... grubby, uncared for, lots of decent books chucked out and replaced with trash. There are a lot of vulnerable/homeless people who come to use the internet and be somewhere warm and safe, which is totally understandable, but it has resulted in a smelly and generally unappealing environment which puts off the actual library users. I'm not sure how this situation could be sorted out humanely, maybe improve day centre services nearby?

I use both the library and charity shops.

I don't begrudge £1 to reserve a book as it will be brought from another branch (possibly at the other end of the county) and delivered to the branch of my choice. I can also return my books to any branch. I find this very convenient because I live in the sticks, and as we are much the same distance from several towns I don't always shop in the same one.

I don't begrudge paying just 35p but some do! Sometimes they're brought from the other side of Durham so why complain?

I couldn't go in today as I had the dog with me but will go tomorrow. Or I may even send ds1 to choose one for me? He's into Game of Thrones so could be interesting? He's into Stephen King too.

I love libraries and I am in 2. One is in the big city where we used to live and still work, the other is in the smaller city where we now live. Big city library is my favourite - central library is big and confusing but I just order what I want online free. Big probably confusing fab-looking new central library is opening next year I use small-city library for browsing and picking up novels on spec - haven't bothered getting to grips with their reservation system as it costs 50p a go. I still miss our little local branch library from our old area, though. The staff there were lovely and we took DS there from a few weeks old. The council closed it just before we moved away - end of an era

I got my 2 books and have been recommended another one by a friend who recommended Harold Fry. It's called Gold. So I'll try to order that.

That's sad about the branch library CM I hope ours stays open?

Our reservations cost £1.25! Still do them though. Our library is fab and is currently being renovated. Amazing how many interesting books you find when they move them about a bit.

That's a bit steep though! Is it because the next main library is far away?

No. I'm in Northants and there's loads of libraries. They've also recently started opening on Sundays.

I used to use our library all the time, but since we had renovation work done to the west wing and built a swimming pool, I find the library (in the east wing) too far to walk to. Plus the butlers off sick just now so I can't get him to fetch a book for me. But once he's back I trust I will.

Every week. And I order stuff in from other libraries.

I just cannot afford new book prices for all the reading we do.

The hours have been cut back which makes it trickier,but I'm still determined to use it just as much as I'd be gutted if it closed altogether.

I wouldn't know what to do without my local library. I'm fortunate in that I have three in my local area (one in my village, two a short drive away in neighbouring villages) and I'm always at one or another of them.

I am one of those people that hardly ever reads a book more than once (it's got to be exceptionally good to make me read it again!), so buying books for me seems a bit of a waste of money.

And besides, even though the opening hours of my local libraries have been reduced since April this year, they have all stayed open so I shall keep on using them for as long as they are there.

K999 :o

Before I read your whole post I thought you meant a real library that I know - my mum used to run one which a few years ago actually was turned into a swimming pool! With the library stuck on the side of it. I haven't been there since the council changed it, but I assume there is some way of stopping sopping wet people soaking all the books . She runs a different library now, it's tiny (a converted house) and under threat, but well used particularly by the elderly some of whom may not get to talk to anyone else all day. Big contrast to mine, which is massive - 3 large airy floors. It's beautiful (won some architectural award apparently!). I feel so lucky to work there and despite having been open a few years we still get people complimenting the building etc. I went to the opening day when I was a SAHM and thought "wow it would be awesome to work here one day" and now I do! In fact yesterday was my one year anniversary so I must remember to take in some cake :o

Yes, although less for me than the children, I get a book out 3-4 times a year, the children take books out far more often. We signed up to story lab on Friday - my dc1 was wearing her circus skills and space hop medals from the past two reading challenges with great pride

I was so happy - dc1, who is only just 5 sat down with his reading challenge books and read them both immediately by himself - he's only read with assistance up to now. I had to take both dc's back to the library yesterday to change their books as they were so desperate to get their stickers!

WRT reservation charges - you will probably find they are set by the relevant council who covers the whole town/county library system, and that it doesn't actually matter about the individual library/distance to next library etc. That's the way it works here anyway - the price was set and we were gutted when they put it up by 25% this year! It is now 75p. Have had some complaints but most people are happy with it because they love the service.

I am amazed that some libraries charge so little (though swings and roundabouts I guess, different places seem to focus on different things for income) - requests are actually quite a big task, start to finish. We normally get about 70 requests per day which need to be found and sent off to other libraries, and then we need to process the requests that come to us for our borrowers (average about 40). Having just thought about it that's about 7-8 hours a day - so one whole FT member of staff could be doing requests all day every day! (though in reality we share it out). That's not including van deliveries which only need to be daily because of all the requests (returns aren't so urgent).

I hope I don't sound defensive here - I'm really not, I'm just explaining if anyone is interested as I think how it all comes together is pretty cool :o

fuzzpig K999 was talking about a real library Thanks for the insight.

I just finished Me before you by Jojo Moyes has anyone read it? Really takes you into the mind and life of a quadriplegic. Very moving but funny too.

I work in a village library and love it - really believe there's something for everyone.

While not under immediate threat of closure, I do worry for its future. I also feel sad that the profession I studied hard to be qualified for is being devalued.

It's good to read that libraries are still reaching people, and benefitting them.

I'm not qualified at all, I am doing an OU degree at the moment. Since starting library work I have considered doing my chartership after I graduate. I'm not sure though as I have no idea what future opportunities I'd have :(

As it is a massive library all the assistants have 'specialisms' - mine is working in the reference library. I LOVE it. I get paid to be a total nerd :o that's something I'd consider as a long term career but again I don't know how much chance I'd have. I also fancy looking into children's work as what I've experienced has been amazing. I just don't know! So right now I'm just trying to focus on graduating (less than 3 years to go... sigh...)

We should send this thread to whoever's in charge of libraries in the government? Although would they listen?

I am rubbish with politics etc but from what I gather it's more a local govt decision rather than anything national, hence there being such a massive variation. I am pretty clueless though so don't take my word for it! I guess there must be somebody in charge overall, would it be the culture minister or education or something?

(considering I work with newspapers every day, I should really read the damn things )

No I don't use our local library. It is expensive to park near it, reading the books within the allotted time and returning them is a pain, overdues are heavily fined, the books are grimy as if people have been eating while reading them, I can easily get books on my kindle or from Amazon and I share books with my friends.