Champion your Library?

carpool72

I lurve my library too, but every so often I have to get involved in a campaign to remind them-in-charge that we don't want a big sparkly central facility that everyone has to travel miles to get to, but a nice friendly one over the road that's open at convenient times. Oh, the power of petitions!

Annie_Other

Libraries are changing, they are great for free services, access to information, training and entertainment.

Kingsway library in Widnes has a cafe, reading and meetings areas, free access to newspapers and the internet. They have fun days and culture days, they have reading groups and opportunities to access training and lots and lots more.

What's on in your library?:beer:

allydowd

I like the fact that you can borrow free audio tapes and CDs to listen to in the car en route to work. I've been listening to top titles all month for absolutely nothing. Talking books aren't just for visually impaired folk. I've also managed to get my OH interested in books this way.

Pitlanepiglet

I use my local library as well, I stopped buying books about a year ago and swapped to the library, not only have I saved money on not buying books, I've read books that I wouldn't have read previously and I've saved myself from yet another mountain of books that I don't have space to store. I've also made myself get new recipe books from the library to see if I like them before buying, I've had a couple that I then didn't bother to buy and only Mary Berry's baking bible that is on my to buy list.

I've also rented CD's but I hadn't thought of talking books, I'll have a look and see what ours has.

Kadeeae

Big, big library fan here!

I seldom buy a book anymore unless it's a cookbook/reference type that I will use over and over. Many people don't realize that you can 'order' books from the library as they can get just about any book that is in print. I do this all the time and use the online service to order books that I've seen mentioned elsewhere. At our library there is a small fee if the book has to be brought in from another system (county).

You can also get DVDs, CDs, Console games, magazines etc at very reasonable fees. Such a great and underused resource!

There are always activites going on for both adults and children, don't know what they are for January as I haven't been on the site since well before Christmas.

tabitha67

I love libraries. Our local one is quite small with not a great deal of choice (unless you like crime/murder or romance!), but I frequently order books, and I can use any library within our council area.

The best library I know is Wellington in New Zealand, or at least it was 15-16 years ago! They had a lovely coffee shop with views over the harbour, fantastic magazine section and the library stacks were open to the public. I used to love browsing the stacks for old book club editions from the 1950's.

Our library is under threat due to council cuts and are having to do all sorts to increase footfall. I go in as often as I can for this reason.

23rdspiral

libarries are good in general. I do use ours, we live in a lovely little market town.. But the one thing our libarary stocks a plenty is stupid chavs and irritating youths who cause a lot of noise and disturbance using the free internet and the staff are powerless to control. Once when i was in there they were fighting and one threw their school boot bag and it hit me on the head!!! :mad: even then there was nothing the staff could do as they were too afraid...

lindab15

I love our library, too. Just a bog-standard local small-town library, BUT lovely helpful staff and a pleasure to visit.

I made a conscious effort about 18 months ago to stop buying books and use the library instead. Saves me money and space - every spare nook and cranny in our house hides books......... now just need to start ebaying the ones I don't re-read regularly !

Have been trying new authors - one of our lovely librarians suggested I try a website which recommends books depending on what 'mood' you're in - www.whichbook.net and it's great. Once you've found a book you like the sound of, it lets you link up to your local library service, check if they have it and reserve it (if you have a current library account).

I combine this with looking on Amazon at people's opinions / ratings to check out authors / books and decide if I like the sound of it.

Fab. Have found a load of authors I probably wouldn't have tried if I'd had to shell out a fiver a time.

My 10 year old also loves a trip to the library, and as well as books gets out the CD talking books, which she sometimes has on in the background when she's playing or doing homework, instead of radio or TV. She enjoys reading, but it's good for those who aren't mad keen readers, just to encourage a love of a good story. That's half the battle.

Long live libraries - use them or lose them !

twink

i have used the library since the family were little, so many books for children and its so good for them to read and be read to

today i went to ours and ordered the new hairy bikers book and it will cost me 60p

they have audio books, cds, dvds, large print books and lots of other things besides

Olliebeak

Audio books are brilliant when you're doing the ironing - or just whenever you would normally put the radio on .