Are Libraries still relevant?

[Hoolahoophop]

I've just completed a questionnaire for my local library service who are considering shutting some of the smaller libraries in my area.

I was wondering how many keen readers still visit the library.

I go a couple of times a month to select kids books with my DC.

I read for about half an hour a day while breastfeeding my youngest to sleep. I can't hold a book so use my kobo. I buy my kobo books because borrowing ebooks from my library, putting them on the PC, click and drag, plugging in my kobo, clicking and dragging some more feels so inconvenient and costs so much time I'd rather just buy a book for a few £ direct from my kobo using Wi-Fi.

So as an adult the library no longer works for me. Just wondering how other readers feel.

Libraries are absolutely brilliant. A safe, free community space for people of all ages. They're so important in allowing for human connection and in my local community they are very much frequented by all sorts.

Zadie Smith wrote a long piece on why libraries are important:

www.nybooks.com/daily/2012/06/02/north-west-london-blues/

Libraries are great. Its not just for books and computers. Many classes run there.

Do you all borrow real books or ebooks? Just over half the libraries in my county are ear marked for closure according to the letter I got with the consultation so there must be quite a few people not using them.

When I was on mat leave I was in our library several times a week - either at rhyme time sessions or just having some quiet time out of the house with my baby. Now he’s a toddler we go once a week (OH and I both work full time) and borrow books for us all.
Books save us from gazing at our phones constantly!
Our library is a community hub - there are always people in there but there could always be more.
If there’s a book I desperately want to read I can reserve it (if copies are all on loan or it’s elsewhere in the county) for 80p.
Our county also do very good online service and where I can download audiobooks for free.
I grew up going to libraries weekly devouring all the children’s, YA wnd finally adult books. I hope that I’ll be able to give my son the same opportunity.
So no, they’re not irrelevant.

Hoola I read physical books.

I think a lot of the arguments for ebooks over books don't really stand up when you think about libraries - don't have space to store books? Borrow them from the library. Ebooks are cheaper? Library books are free. Better type size? Libraries stock large print editions.

I always borrow actual paper books. Ebooks and kindles leave me feeling some part of the reading 'experience' is missing!

I don't use my local library often. Partly due to the age of my kids I think, as we visited much more often when they were younger. It's also the convenience of buying books on my kindle.

That said, I would be very upset if my local library shut down. I think they are a hugely important community resource. It's not just that they allow people to access books who might not otherwise be able to do so but they provide a community hub, letting people to access services. I think I heard someone say on TV that libraries are one of the last public spaces people are allowed to occupy without the expectation of purchasing something.

I'll be honest - if you don't bother to use your library, you don't get to be upset when it closes. Can people really not see how their own actions will make this happen? Use the bloody thing!

I love my local library - I've used it regularly since I was about 7yo and still going strong at 33 and my DC absolutely love it too. The only thing I've noticed as regular library users is that my DC don't necessary understand the value of books as they have always been free for them to borrow. When we go to a book shop I have to explain the difference between the library and a shop where you buy the books. I've had them trying to stack them up in a shop like they do in the library!

The other thing is that it costs 90p to reserve a book now and seeing as that is almost the price of some Kindle books I think it's a bit steep. Also there are a few local charity shops that are selling books for 25p so I always check them first before reserving from the library.

There are plenty of public services I don't use. That doesn't mean I don't think they should be available for others.

I use mine every week and order about 6 books a month at 75p each. My mother used it for paper books,audible books, knitting group etc.

The reservations trolley is always full as is the library. Small library in s largish rural town. Opening hours have been cut.

I went to the library today. It’s a very nice little library (well furnished, lovely building etc) but a complete waste of good space. It would rather it was nice cafe of something. The majority of the adult books are coffee table shit or erotica (wtf?) and the kids book selection is nothing special. I only stopped by because we were next door and I though DS might enjoy reading s book for a bit.

Yes! I use my local libraries regularly for myself, and used to frequent it when my DS was small, both to get books and to attend story session etc.

When I go to my lovely cosy local library there are always teenagers studying, older people chatting or knitting, and maybe people who can't afford heating just hanging out. This is in an affluent area.
The other library, in a less affluent area, is equally as busy, with people getting books,using the computers etc. Libraries are totally needed. They're a community space that isn't driven by profit.

I love books and reading, I practically grew up in libraries, but I rarely use the library anymore

With a toddler I just find I have less brainspace and time for reading generally, and I read a lot of classic literature all of which is free on my Kindle, and downloads in seconds so much more convenient.

I did go a few times for the childrens books, but toddler books are 10p in our charity shops and then I don't have to worry about returns or if the toddler tries to rip it/eat it... If it wasn't a major bus trip to get to the library it might be worth it for rhyme time etc, but not as things stand.

The computers for use is vital for so many members of the community- we have people who have to come in regularly to sort their universal credit, do their banking etc it’s pretty relevant for them.

People learning English are able to borrow books frequently to build upon their skills, it’s really useful for them.

Unfortunately money in all areas of local government is really really tight- to get a reserved book involves staff and travel and the payment helps the service to continue.

The other model would be to pay a bit towards membership each year but I think that might put people off even more.

There just isn’t enough money and it’s really sad because libraries do so much good in my opinion.

Most libraries these days let you logon with an eReader and borrow books straight to the device

I use mine a lot. I like reading, but can't afford to buy books regularly. I'm lucky in that my library doesn't charge for reservations, so I often reserve what I want.

I love libraries! I am lucky because all the libraries where I am are linked, so I can borrow a book in the city I work in, and return it in the town I live in 45 miles away, and vice versa. This makes it much more convenient for me. I read around 4 books a week so couldn’t afford to buy them all. The library also encourages me to try new things - I spot them browsing and as it won’t cost me anything I give them a go, whereas I might not try them if there’s a cost involved. The only downside is that my libraries charge £1 to reserve something which I think is expensive, so I tend not to bother doing that.

Our library is so much more than just a place to borrow books. Young mums take toddlers the storytime, youngsters have a quiet place to do their homework, free internet and computer use attracts lots of people. I love libraries.

Do you all borrow real books or ebooks? Just over half the libraries in my county are ear marked for closure according to the letter I got with the consultation so there must be quite a few people not using them.

Libraries aren't just about books. I go to our local library for events, groups, art exhibitions, concerts and just to sit and work. There are quite a number of community groups who are based there and also a lot of adult classes run at the library. They are also a place for people to access the internet, work and study. I rarely borrow books but I use the library a lot.

Secondly libraries get closed because they rarely make money and councils are starved of funds right now. Borrowing books doesn't make an income. The smaller libraries that stay open tend to be the ones that are able to put on events or classes that sell tickets or bring in external funding. This is hard for the really small ones that don't have the space, though I know some that have put in movable shelving to make the space more flexible for community events.

Honestly I think libraries need to be seen a lot more as community spaces with lots of books than just somewhere you go for a book. I suspect a lot of people don't realise all the things a lot of libraries do.

Libraries have had to move with the times to survive.
I'm 50 and remember the days when librarians would hush you. It's lovely to see how family friendly they are now, with rhyme time for babies and toddlers and free craft sessions in the holidays.
It's also nice to see the hot drinks and newspapers, and the computers for people to use, plus a large selection of audio books.
Ours is free to order titles, and because I'm a carer, I don't get charged for having overdue items.
I have a houseful of books and I'm not buying any more, even from charity shops.
I think libraries are a fabulous free resource, and I wish more people would use them.
If there was one thing I'd like to see it would be Sunday opening, but I guess that's never going to happen.

Our local council closed our village library a few years ago. I was heavily involved with a community group who were intending to take it over and run it on a voluntary basis. We got loads of really good ideas to re-purpose it more as a community hub, and lots of income-generating ideas too and we put together a very convincing business plan. In the end, the council decided to re-open it, so our ideas/plans came to nothing. We've tried talking to the council about whether they could incorporate some of our plans to make it more relevant to the community and less reliant on council funding, but they're completely opposed to it being anything other than a traditional old-fashioned library. So, we're all just treading water and waiting till they close it again so that we can take it over.

I go to my local library about twice a week, and visit other branches in the same borough about twice a month. We’re lucky in our borough; we have an excellent online catalogue and reservations are free. Our library is pretty busy, as it’s open 7 days a week, and aside from those picking out books, there are lots of people using the computers, reading the papers or students using the place as a quiet area for study. You don’t get many places that are open to and used by all ages in the community.

I joined the subscription book service scribd a while back, and since then have barely stepped foot in a library. I pay $9 a month and they hav a huge choice of books, better than my local library, no maximum download either.

I do love libraries though and I realized that they have to adapt to stay relevant, but at the same time I miss when they used to be much quieter than they are now.