Champion your Library?

exlibris

Thank you OP for this thread. As a retired Librarian hence name, I can't push them enough!

As well as the previous advantages have you thought of the heat you save at home when visiting the library. I got this tip from the dossers who spent most of the day in reference reading the papers and even the books!

phizzimum

most libraries have interesting and free children's activities in the school holidays too.

angeltreats

I'm another one who has given up buying books and get them from the library instead - novels/fiction books anyway. I have saved so much money and from browsing the shelves I've read books I wouldn't have ordered from Amazon just because I wouldn't have known they existed. I also borrow cookbooks to see if I like them enough to buy or if I know there are only one or two recipes I want to make.

My library is part of Swindon Libraries and they are fantastic for ordering/reserving books and it doesn't cost anything.

PetuliaGristle

We've also been library-goers since our two were little, dd joined our local library Emersons Green at 6 months she is 5 now and loves visiting the library. All the staff are friendly and welcoming, Cadbury Heath library in Bristol is very friendly too. Whilst on holiday at Haven Littlesea this year (Sun £9.50 holiday) we visited Weymouth Library, that's great too. Libraries are :A!

dottybird_2

Like many other I too have stopped buying books because the library service here is brilliant. I can order books in if they don't have it on the shelf and I have read loads of random books I would never have thought of buying in a million years. I have also discovered foreign films - for £2.50 I can keep a DVD for a week and with a bit of forward planning the DVD can be passed around to several friends before returning it - even better vfm.

Justamum

I've always used libraries having been a bookworm since I started to read! Our local one is only open part-time though and is very small with not much to choose from, so I generally use it to get books for my DD2 so I don't have to read the same bedtime story every night!

There is another library in the 'big city' (Douglas) which I am a member of, but I don't go to Douglas very often so don't frequent it very often, but they do have a better choice.

The best libraries I've visited were the ones in Sefton (Southport and surrounds). There are about 9 libraries all linked, and you could get books from any of the libraries which meant that there was a huge choice of books.

flutterbyuk25

I adore my local libraries! So much so that even now when I've moved just over the border to the next county I have remained a member of the old county's library! I like the fact that I can order books online and place holds to be picked up at any library I wish (we have about 15). I can plan my social life around where I have to pick books up from e.g if I'm visiting my parents I use the one on way there, or if I'm in town centre I use that one.

I have just set up a book club in my town centre library, first meeting was yesterday. The librarian helps us source books and we can use any part of the library for our meetings. They have squishy comfy chairs or tables and chairs. Plus it overlooks the bay so has beautiful views.

The library by my parents has a drop off box where you can return books after hours which is a fab thing for people like me who work full time.

I was always encouraged to use the library as a child. It was on the way home from school so I would go in almost everyday. During the school holidays they would have playgroups etc. This was the smallest library in the world. Literally just 6ft by 10ft. Sadly I found out that this library closed down last week but I still have so many happy memories from it.

x

Frugal_Mouse

Also a big library fan. Very rare for me to buy a book.

I keep a small notebook and whenever I see a book review that looks interesting I add the title to my list. Once a month or so, I log onto my library's website and check to see if they have any of the books on my list or if I need to ask for them to be requested from another library within the county. Sometimes, especially when already out on loan, books can take a while to reach my branch so this way I normally get a steady stream of books that I really want to read. At 60p per reservation I think this is great value for money.

Just before Christmas my local library had a 'How to make a Christmas wreath' evening. It only cost £7.50 including the materials, an absolute bargain! They also hold other interesting short courses and talks, it pays to take a few moments to read the notice board.

luxor4t

Sadly, my local library has just been closed - a victim to the all-singing-all-dancing main branch just over a mile away.
It's a very long, hilly mile and there is no direct bus which means the mainly elderly local users will be unable to get there anyway :rolleyes:
There is some talk of a temporary mobile library, but with local parking at such an premium I've no idea where they could actually stop the van!

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

..... This was the smallest library in the world. Literally just 6ft by 10ft. Sadly I found out that this library closed down last week but I still have so many happy memories from it.
x

RIP Brynmill Library.

Reverbe

Sadly not a lot is ging on in ours. I live round the corner from mine and I love it to bits. Am in a monthly book club there but there are only the 4 usual suspects that go despite any attempts to attract more. The local council is putting Starbucks in most of its branches (luckily not the main on/ours as there is a Starbucks only feet away)to make bucks - tho I dont like the juxtaposition of drinks near the books. Seems there are less and less books on the shelves and more and more gangs of jobs playing cards and abusing customers,homeless people and installing of computer desks. I have been told that they havent been able to buy new books for ages and even when they are they are not allowed a very free choice to buy from.

I still love my library to bits and will continue to support them and any library. I think they are wonderful. I dread to think how much books would have cost to buy. One year I totted up over £4000 in price of books I borrowed alone(making note of how much they cost retail)If they ever went I think I would have to stop reading as I cannot afford to pay on average over £7 for a book I would only read once.. and that is a conservative estimate.

Well done to the OP posting this thread.