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Original poster

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

188 replies

Ulysees · 13/01/2024 12:22

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ulysees · 13/01/2024 23:29

@Papillon23 are you the original from way back?

OP posts:
Talisin · 13/01/2024 23:35

@CoffeeWithCheese if you’re in the UK, you can join any public library in the country - you don’t have to live in the area! I work in a library and often have this conversation with customers, it seems to be a widespread belief that it’s not allowed.

Ponderingwindow · 13/01/2024 23:36

Not as much as we did when dd was young. I strongly prefer ebooks for most fiction reading and our local has a very limited service for that. I do use the library for cookbooks, craft books, non-fiction, music, and dvds.

DH on the other hand is there 3 times a week at least.

Mothership4two · 14/01/2024 07:46

Talisin · 13/01/2024 23:35

@CoffeeWithCheese if you’re in the UK, you can join any public library in the country - you don’t have to live in the area! I work in a library and often have this conversation with customers, it seems to be a widespread belief that it’s not allowed.

I didn't know that. I thought you could only join in the county you live in.

Papillon23 · 14/01/2024 09:24

I assume not, given I'm not sure what you're asking! I have been here for probably a decade under a variety of usernames, most ending in 23 for no reason other than it's more likely to be free that way.

Edit: sorry forgot to quote @Ulysees

AyeRightYeAre · 14/01/2024 09:34

I used to use it all the time when I was younger.

Then I got a kindle.

Original poster
Ulysees · 14/01/2024 09:35

Papillon23 · 14/01/2024 09:24

I assume not, given I'm not sure what you're asking! I have been here for probably a decade under a variety of usernames, most ending in 23 for no reason other than it's more likely to be free that way.

Edit: sorry forgot to quote @Ulysees

Edited

There was a Papillon years ago. She was really nice. Not you. I often wonder where she went or if she name changed?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ulysees · 14/01/2024 09:39

@Papillon23 I just searched their username and no results? Very odd. They maybe had something tagged on to papillon too? Never mind.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 14/01/2024 09:53

Kalevala · 13/01/2024 21:06

I use my library but there are often not enough copies of popular 'literary' books, so waiting times of months. Other new (more easy reading) books there seem to be one at every branch with only a couple booked out at a time.

At our library when something like the new Richard Osman comes in we purchase 40 copies for the county but we can have 600 on the wait list . A book can sit on the reserve shelf for two weeks and then the customer gets it for three weeks so it can be five weeks before it gets moved on to the next customer. So yes it can take ages for popular books to become available.

I live in a different county to the one I work in I'm a library member at both.
The county I work (which is a small county) in has around 15 libraries plus several mobiles, all paid staff plus relief cover. The libraries offer many services above books.
The county I live in is a much larger county so the libraries are managed on a city basis. The city I live in has three libraries that pay staff. The rest are volunteer run. They struggle to get newer books/stay open/offer additional services.

It's a shame the fate of libraries is really down to the local council.

MRSMTO · 14/01/2024 09:59

No, I don't use our local library because it's only available 9-5 and I work 8.30-5! Besides I just buy my books from either Tesco or Amazon and put them on the Tesco second hand book shelf when I'm done with them.

Kalevala · 14/01/2024 09:59

At our library when something like the new Richard Osman comes in we purchase 40 copies for the county but we can have 600 on the wait list . A book can sit on the reserve shelf for two weeks and then the customer gets it for three weeks so it can be five weeks before it gets moved on to the next customer. So yes it can take ages for popular books to become available.

Yes, that's what happens at ours. Though, it does seem that books on the booker prize shortlist or similar seem to only have five copies and a long wait list, while they have three times as many copies of other popular new fiction and a third of them on loan.

IlsSortLaPlupartAuNuitMostly · 14/01/2024 10:10

Kalevala · 14/01/2024 09:59

At our library when something like the new Richard Osman comes in we purchase 40 copies for the county but we can have 600 on the wait list . A book can sit on the reserve shelf for two weeks and then the customer gets it for three weeks so it can be five weeks before it gets moved on to the next customer. So yes it can take ages for popular books to become available.

Yes, that's what happens at ours. Though, it does seem that books on the booker prize shortlist or similar seem to only have five copies and a long wait list, while they have three times as many copies of other popular new fiction and a third of them on loan.

Well I guess that some people are burning through the new RO in two days, but rather fewer are doing that with Prophet Song.
My libraries have 3 out of 13 of the new RO available. All 5 copies of Prophet Song are out. So matching your back of the envelope numbers very closely but I don't think there's a wait list for Prophet Song (mind you the Bookers were a while ago).

Mothership4two · 14/01/2024 10:14

Ulysees · 14/01/2024 09:39

@Papillon23 I just searched their username and no results? Very odd. They maybe had something tagged on to papillon too? Never mind.

I searched around 9.30 and got results going back to around 2015 (I think) but now nothing comes up. It's very strange. I think I remember them too - a friendly and kind poster?

MissDianaBarry · 14/01/2024 10:14

I used the library once a week as a child. I took my own children when they were little but it was because 'we should go' rather than it being enjoyable. We were lucky enough to have lots of books at home and the children's activities felt to be an extension of school. I work in an FE college and we have two fantastic libraries with really helpful, knowledgeable librarians and a really good range of books from text books to the latest fiction - our town library just doesn't compare.

Kalevala · 14/01/2024 10:21

IlsSortLaPlupartAuNuitMostly · 14/01/2024 10:10

Well I guess that some people are burning through the new RO in two days, but rather fewer are doing that with Prophet Song.
My libraries have 3 out of 13 of the new RO available. All 5 copies of Prophet Song are out. So matching your back of the envelope numbers very closely but I don't think there's a wait list for Prophet Song (mind you the Bookers were a while ago).

Show quote history

Ours has 15 copies with a waitlist of 60. Some of the books on the longlist don't even have a single physical copy. Yet there are 10 of a new Barbara Taylor Bradford book with only one reservation.

Kalevala · 14/01/2024 10:33

I've put in stock requests for two books I want to read as they only have electronic copies, and I can't comfortably read a book on my phone.

jillll · 14/01/2024 13:02

The proper library closed. The council are now selling off the building.

It opened up in one of the shop units in a small, local run down shopping centre. Very few books, limited opening hours (in line with the shopping centre). Dreadful.

I used to use my childhood local library for studying and research in the evenings. It was marvellous and a lovely quiet place to work.

MadamVastra · 14/01/2024 13:04

I use the Libby and BorrowBox apps as I work on the days they are open

Oakbeam · 14/01/2024 13:09

I don’t use the local library anymore. It’s a twenty mile round trip to get there and in a town I rarely visit.

CoffeeWithCheese · 14/01/2024 13:25

We also have a local "book swap" which I do use where people take anything they've read and swap it for stuff other people bring in. It started in a carpark during lockdown and now they hire a hall once a month and run it.

Libraria · 14/01/2024 13:48

I notice a lot of people are complaining that their library closes at lunch and as a librarian, I have to comment.

Most of the libraries in my area are extremely short staffed and have had funds drastically cut by the council. In libraries that are run on two or three staff, it is simply not safe to open at lunch with only one or two members of staff on the floor. There are all sorts of H&S implications - it's not just that the library is being run to suit the staff, rather than the customers, as some previous posters seem to think!

I absolutely love our library - our customers are, on the whole, mostly fabulous, chatty and interesting people. I can only hope that the libraries continue to stay open as the financial situation with councils across the country is not looking particularly rosy...

DelilahBucket · 14/01/2024 13:50

Yes, usually once a week. I order the books I'd like online. Always love to chat with the staff too. It's about a 30 minute walk so I combine my visit with some exercise.

Cherrypi · 14/01/2024 13:59

It seems unfair it varies so much by postcode. Reservations are £1.50 in my county. They also got rid of the mobile libraries for rural areas years ago.

Yuja · 14/01/2024 14:06

Yes I try to use my local libraries as much as I can as I would hate for them to be shut down. I find them better for my DC to be honest as I don't find the adult selection great at mine and any current book seems to have a long wait list

Creepybookworm · 14/01/2024 14:08

My local library is open 7 days a week and one at a week it opens until 7. Rather than closing libraries our council is trying to make them more like drop in centres and offer warm spaces for people (so they can cut services elsewhere). This has a downside, it is more noisy and has some anti social behavior issues at times which the staff have to deal with. When the same space is supposed to offer a place for study and 'a place to come and have a warm and a chat' its not ideal.