Do you use your local library? If not why not?

[Ulysees]

We're lucky enough to have a good library in our village. It's open Thursday to Saturday.

I use it pretty regularly. Order books online usually.

I rang today as a book I want isn't available and the librarian said she'll request the library buy it in. It's the Julia Child book My life in France. So there won't just be me borrowing it.

I do buy books too. I just think it's a shame more don't use their library. They'll be gone one day.

No longer. I used to when there was one walking distance from work and when I was on maternity leave. But the local one is only open Monday to Saturday mornings and I avoid town like the plague on a Saturday morning and work FT. I’d also have to take both DSs (DH works Saturdays) and pay to park. I do reread books (am currently reading DS2 books that have been read by me as a child and DS1) so don’t mind buying them.

I use the main libarey in my town

I am member of one it's book clubs read books i wouldn't normally read , so am bit more adventurous in that way nowadays,

Occasionally or sometimes you can watch a films in a side room in this libarey,

like one of the Halloween films with Jamie Lee Curtis actress and Casablanca classic Black and white film Humprehry Bogort and Ingrid Bergim,

the only thing i don't like is this idea of encouraging people to bring snacks and beverages, so they make a mess leaving crumbs or sickness all over computer's keyboards,
or
Just leave their empty snacks wrappings around for someone else to put in the bin,

I know it's obviously to encourage people who otherwise perhaps wouldn't enter into a libarey or only occasionally would

But come one.!

We used our old one much more. It was open5 as a week - with 2 evenings until 7pm, Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon.

Much more accessible to working parents than 9-5 M-F, and 10-12 on Saturday.

@SisterMichaelsHabit please don't generalise about english libraries. I am in the east of England and my library is amazing. Great book selection, free reservations, rhyme time is brilliant, kids and teen reading groups, crafts..the staff are great too. Plus good online services..pressreader, libby and borrowbox. Its a brilliant resource

I sometimes went to the baby group when the kids were little, but I haven’t been for years. It just seems a faff, having to taken books backwards and forwards. Plus the choice isn’t very good and they smell funny.

No I don't use it. I stopped using it many years years ago when then never had books for dd's school project work because all the schools were doing the same project at the same time.

I get my bookclub book online. Don't have time to go nowdays.

I visit my library frequently, although I have only done this the last 5 years since having children. I use it for myself, the children and we love the nursery rhyme groups.

I will be so sad if/when they no longer exist 😢

No, I use Kindle to increase font. I struggle with small font in books due to vision issues.
It’s very unfortunate as I love the idea of library. We used it more when DD was smaller.

I'm housebound so couldn't even if there was one closer than ten miles away.
But I wouldn't use them any more anyway I don't think.

I love reading but hate clutter so replacing my hundreds of books with a kindle made sense space wise. Once I braved it of course. At first I was oh no my books my beautiful books, I can't, I love the smell and feel and look of them.

Then I was hmmm. Countless books in one little hand held device?
and access to countless books? Clearly I have died and gone to heaven.

Which is good because when I actually pop my clogs I'm def headed downstairs 🤣

Not real books. I use the online elements a lot - OED.com for example.the Library is a car ride away . But no parking available. Also the hours are inconvenient.

I hang out in libraries a lot - often because I need somewhere to charge my phone 😂
(I do read while I am there).
I often wonder how many people don't use their local library because they think it's closed down but it actually hasn't.
On my local Facebook recently someone asked something about "the old library that's not a library anymore" - except it is. It's a mix of community hub and library (and very good) but this person had somehow got into their head the library part had closed down.
My mother in law (different town) was complaining that her local library had closed down. Again it hasn't. It temporarily closed due to a leaking roof. It was decided the building wasn't safe so it has been moved to an empty area of the art gallery (newly built but not in use yet) - the library and art gallery are the same building so it's barely moved.
But she was totally convinced it was closed down because "everyone said it had".
In my parents town - again on Facebook - someone asked where you could print some forms off. Someone suggested the library - someone else said "blimey we still have a library I thought it closed years ago". The town has TWO libraries 🙄
3 completely different parts of the country so not connected but people seem to think libraries are a thing of the past.
Odd. So odd.

Yeah I take the kids every third weekend. But I never get books for myself because I find nearly all books are printed so small and cramped now that I have to read on a kindle in large, spaced out type. (I’m only 40 but feel like I’m ancient when I come to read a book.)

I borrow cookery books from there. I feel fazed looking at all the shelves of fiction.

Yeah I take the kids every third weekend. But I never get books for myself because I find nearly all books are printed so small and cramped now that I have to read on a kindle in large, spaced out type. (I’m only 40 but feel like I’m ancient when I come to read a book.)

I'm having 5 minutes in mine right now.
The ONLY issue I have with ours is that it moved to a smaller building and the selection of books has been drastically reduced so I have to order alot in.
I cant always jump right into a new book so the fact I can't just pick it up when i fancy and have to order it in advance is annoying

Can you not borrow books online?

I used it an awful lot when the kids where younger. As it's a pain to gey into town now we often just use the online borrowing library they have, as much easier to access.

@Mazuslongtoenail have you looked at the large print section.
I ordered a book once that came from a different branch. The copy sent was a large print one - I was all "whooh this is good" 😂 (I have terrible eyesight)

Yes at least once a week. Sometimes 4 times in a week during the Summer holidays!

I use ours every week, as does my daughter. It’s always busy, is a warm hub and has computers, recycling, a community room and some lovely staff - as well as a decent selection of books. I live in between two (one a 5 min walk from my house, the other 15) so pretty much spoilt for choice! Love our libraries and would be gutted if they went.

I have ADHD and can't ever manage to take library books back in time. The fines aren't worth it.

I use mine but not enough as I mainly use my kindle. The hours are short because it is staffed mainly by volunteers which is sad. Weekly library visits were a big part of my childhood and that of my daughter. I must try to use it more often.

Probably once a year, if that. The staff are unpleasant, the collection piss poor and it's poorly organised. If I need a nonfiction book I'll reserve it so I don't have the joy of looking on multiple shelves for it. I grew up with a wonderful library and am really disappointed that the libraries in this university city are so crap.

I used to, but prefer to buy books, as I usually read them at least 2 or 3 times each. Plus I tend to read on Kindle.
Also, I'm greedy when it comes to books, and want to read new ones as soon as they're published.
So a library just isn't practical for me any more.

I use the one in our village as well as those in neighbouring towns, on occasion. I would be very sad if they closed down. As well as finding books to read I also use them for cookery books. I do have a kindle app on my phone as well, so there is always a book in my pocket.

I don't use it for physical books as I have a visual impairment and can't read them. However! I do use it for audiobooks 😊