How we can help our libraries.

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How we can help our libraries.
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Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 15 7:35 pm Post subject: How we can help our libraries.
When we’ve read our weeklies - the New Scientist and The Week - we give them to the local library. They are very grateful, as their grants have been severely cut so they can’t offer them to readers anymore. Our mags go first to Ilminster library, which then passes them on to Chard, Crewkerne and South Petherton. Even better than the recycling bin. Please share/forward!

Bodrighy

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2157
Location: Near Devizes

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 15 8:24 pm Post subject:
As a kid I used to go down the library at least twice a week. No TV was one of the reasons probably. Must admit I am now a 'book hoarder' and the main problem I have with libraries is that I have to give the books back. Also a cheap skate so my main source of books is charity shops. More power to your elbow though Annemiek. I sort of feel a bit guilty pete

jettejette

Joined: 01 Jun 2013
Posts: 225

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 15 10:25 pm Post subject:

One of the best ways to help libraries is to use them. The figures for book borrowing aren't the only ones that count, borrowing CD's of films or talking books, childrens storytime or other activities, using the internet or archives are all important too. I filled in a questionaire at our library not so long ago and realised that I used it for most of what was on the list.📚
I think passing on publications is a great idea. Well done for thinking of it!

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46187
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 15 11:31 pm Post subject:

unfortunately most of the book stuff i need access to is not kept in local or even university libraries , at the mo im after a particular book of which there is one known copy in the B L and they dont want to share.we have managed to get three of the series of four but the last is proving difficult.
the bodlean has some papers we want ,again locked up.etc etc

there are archives and reports etc etc that have been very useful but again not the sort of thing one finds in a local library.

i see the value of local libraries,i spent a lot of time in my one when i was a lot younger and read a huge variety of things fiction and non fiction .i still read a lot but it is almost all non fiction and source materials and tt's several thousand books are a better collection than most local libraries if i want a change from history .

on principle i support libraries and think they are money well spent for a variety of reasons but im not in any of their client groups.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15947

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 15 7:15 am Post subject:

After the mobile library I used to used was cut to impossible times, I started going to our local library at the other end of the village, about 2 miles or so away. It is in the old school I attended as a child. The computer is inconveniently between two lots of fiction bookshelves, next to the childrens section, and I would never even think of borrowing anything other than books from a library. We have quite enough DVDs and CDs that we rarely play at home. The non-fiction section keeps contracting too.

I think libraries are very necessary, as it gives everyone the chance to read when they might not want or be able to afford to buy the books.

Andrea

Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 2260
Location: Portugal

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 15 7:48 am Post subject:
I used to really enjoy a trip to the library with the kids when they were small.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 15 3:44 pm Post subject:

I have always felt that libraries are good things. Except I never go near one

- in my case access to the internet from home has really done for them.

Of course not everyone has access to the internet or the cash to buy books so I can see there is a need there. Having libraries in the same building as post/council offices makes a lot of sense when less people need their services than previously.

It was a weekly event for my mother to walk me and my two sisters to the local library - if we were really lucky we stopped on the way and got a custard tart from the bakers.

Instilled in me a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure and research - priceless really.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46187
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 15 5:48 pm Post subject:
perhaps the last line is the reason they are being destroyed,an educated population is dangerous.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 15 8:46 am Post subject:

When I posted this to another forum ("Down the Lane"), someone replied:

Quote:

I just found out last week that our library takes book donations. The decent ones are catalogued and put on the shelves. The tatty ones are sold on to a paper reclamation business and will be turned into paper. An income for the library!

Good idea! I wonder if other libraries do it that way? Hers is in North Lincs.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 15 9:02 am Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

I have always felt that libraries are good things. Except I never go near one

I think I agree 100%. Except I only had a brother. And we got 10p worth of sweets.

I still read for pleasure almost every day.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 15 11:03 am Post subject:

I still use our library. Being cash poor and time rich is an incentive. And the bookshop in town closed.
I borrow cookery books quite often to see if they're worth acquiring permanently and a lot of stuff lke travel and light reading that I know I'd never re-read.
They're massively involved with the local schoosl and preschools (There's nearly always a bunch of kids in there in the mornings). And they were really helpful to Boy Wonder when he was looking for suggestions back when he grew out of children's books and didn't quite know what he wanted to move on to.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15947

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 15 7:51 am Post subject:

Our library often has kids in as groups too Sean. Gets them used to the idea of books, which has to be a good thing.

I will ask our library about taking donations Annemieke. We have a number of books that might be of some use to them, if only for historical interest on electronics and such like. We don't get any magazines they might be interested in I don't think, but I will ask, as husband has stacks of the things around the house and they only go for recycle periodically when he has a cull.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 15 9:59 am Post subject:

There have been huge cuts to Council budgets so all the smaller local libraries are under threat of closure. Trouble is, their footfall is so low it is hard to justify it on numbers. However having had a conversation with a local councillor about this there is apparently no threat to the mobile library service. It seems to be a great service, the librarian knows everyone and will get books in whenever requested or will stock the van with books he thinks will appeal to his readers. I have no idea what the costs or savings might be but it would be good to see this service grow as libraries are cut. I've used it myself to feed books back to the library as there is no parking nearby and it doesn't open until 9.30 by which time I am in work.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15947

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 15 7:04 am Post subject:

In our area it is the other way round. Our mobile was cut to once every 4 weeks, which made it tricky to decide when it was going to be there without a diary, but luckily our local library building is still there. We have one library to serve about 7000 houses which is due to increase by over 10% in the next few years. It seems to have a steady trickle of users when I am there, and isn't open all the time, but does seem to be worth while.

Sadly, where councils are having to cut everything, although I would fight against it, cutting libraries is better than not caring for people.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 15 3:23 pm Post subject:

I go to the library 4 times a week-ie the days they are open. As a result of all the cuts they are closed for Mon. now as well as Wed. We have about 7 computers available, but you are allowed a maximum of 2 hours a day as they have reduced the number from 10 to 7 pooters. There is quite a lot of folks using the library for books as well as the pooters, but in addition they offer a lot of the services here-I can pay my rates here if I want to, collect bin bags and get council information. Indeed the services are good when it is open. There are 8 people in here now and when school comes out there will be double that as kids without pooters at home come in here to do their homework.

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