Champion your Library?

CurlyTop

I was brought up on going to the library but when I started working, decided that was where my wages were going to be spent. Only thing was, so many books so little time and consequently, I ended up giving a lot to charity shops when I moved in with my DH as there were just too many to have around the house. I now only have a small amount that belong to me. In recent years, I've returned to the library (more out of money than anything else) and am loving it. Having ordered books previously from amazon, you always get recommendations so I make a note of these in a little book and then get them from the library. I'm a member in two boroughs and their reservation charges vary - 60p for Liverpool and 80p for Sefton but at the end of the day, its still cheaper than buying books. Long live the library and all the good work that they do.

lostinrates

what a great post Viva. Thank you.

One of my New Year plans is to join my new local library.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Oh what a lovely thread.

I truly believe the Library service that our local council provides is well worth paying council tax for.

I love it that my local library is open on Sunday (12-4) and until 7pm five days a week.

I love it that the library has a FREE online reservations service and catalogue. It's great that I can renew books online and see how many reservations a certain book has.

I think it's brilliant that they send me a text when my reservations come in.

There's also a self service return thingie where you put your card into a machine (like a cash machine) and then scan the books you are returning meaning you dont have to queue up for the assistants.

Love my library and I hope any cuts the local government have to make don't affect them

Penelope_Penguin

vivatifosi wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I work in a library and having searched over a prolonged period of time couldn't find a thread anywhere on MSE about how to get the most out of your local library.

We do have a thread on Old style

To add to your list - my local Authority allows you to reserve books online at no cost :T It then will send you a text to let you know that they are available to collect :T

I'll add this to the existing thread to keep all ideas together.

vivatifosi

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

We do have a thread on Old style

I thought this would be where I would find one. I've been asking on the website board for a bit and nobody mentioned it so thought I'd start one.

It's a good time to revisit. Local library authorities are under incredible pressure at the moment. It's a good time to use them, or sadly lose them in some parts of the country.

Puddleglum

In Somerset they are planning to close 20 libraries and I am going to a meeting today about the plans to close our local one. We do have to be realistic about the money situation in the country and if we keep the library going then presumably something else will be targeted. However given the benefits to the community through not just book loans, but all the other services they provide the more people who can be persuaded of their value the better in these tough times.

TheDoolallyDilly

Brilliant post from Viva.

I have been a member of library since I was about two (so nearly 45 years now!!) - it was the mobile library in my Kent village first, then we had a new library built in the village - I can still remember (I was about 8) the awe of being in such a huge space, absolutely full of books. Since then, everywhere I've lived, I've joined the library. When I was working in London, I was also a member of the Barbican library and the library at home.

I read 2-3 books a week, there is no way I could afford to buy that many. Plus, I rarely reread, so it would just be clutter (I'd probably have to move out of my house if I had bought every book I've read!). We can reserve and renew online, for free. My local little library has internet access, three book clubs (with waiting lists), activities for toddlers etc etc. I absolutely bloomin' love it :-)

lostinrates

Puddleglum wrote: »

In Somerset they are planning to close 20 libraries and I am going to a meeting today about the plans to close our local one. We do have to be realistic about the money situation in the country and if we keep the library going then presumably something else will be targeted. However given the benefits to the community through not just book loans, but all the other services they provide the more people who can be persuaded of their value the better in these tough times.

This is sad, but might be longterm in the interest of the service as a whle, and its users. Better than losing it all! I have just moved from somerset and there were two small local libraries reasonably but not tremendously near me in large villages/tiny towns. They were open twice a week for half days. Plus there was a mobile service. Generally, seeing as surrounding villagers with out cars would need public transport to either, I hate to say it but I think they would be better served by either one library, slightly biger, open more, or even...the mobile library taking requests and dealing with them weekly from the large but distant bigger town with an excellent library. The small libraries didn't really solve the issue for local non drivers more than the mobile unit did and were, I'm told less useful than the mobile library service.

I'm also wondering if more use can be made of internet/postal service such as with dvd hire in private sector. while not a perfect solution better than losing them totally.

vivatifosi

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm also wondering if more use can be made of internet/postal service such as with dvd hire in private sector. while not a perfect solution better than losing them totally.

The big costs of keeping any business going are staff, premises and stock and libraries, although social enterprises, are no different.

In terms of staffing, the introduction of those RFID kiosks that have appeared in many libraries will help keep the staffing down. While they are not universally popular, they may help keep library costs down and therefore facilities open. The "premises" budget will be looked at through closure of libraries, reduction in opening times and withdrawal of some mobile services. Stock budgets are also likely to be cut. This is one big area where the public can help by giving their books to libraries. Although libraries are not seen as the most important local government service, which is fair, they are among the most loved and it is very easy to donate the odd book.

Personally I'd like to see a public drive for donations as the public is so on our side at the moment and can see that we're so squeezed. In the library where I work we've had some amazing donations, from reference books worth in the £100s for a single copy, through to entire collections from young children who've grown out of Adam Blade or Daisy Meadows, through to a couple of ladies who help us replenish our whole Mills and Boon section between them. Most people though donate one or two nearly new books, and that's great too. As long as they are in good condition, relatively new, have an ISBN number and are in English, we can use them.

My own belief is that the challenge looming after the cash crisis is the increasing use of e-books and the launch of virtual libraries and how the service adapts to that, but I need to get my head round the current crisis first. Staying cost-effective and relevant to the maximum number of people is a conundrum for all libraries.

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

it is very easy to donate the odd book.

I can do this. Than you for telling me. FWIW I'd be happy to buy the library a new book each year too, but would want it to be something of longterm value...not the latest potboiler. My guess is a scheme,so set up for local ''worthys'' to make a donation of say £20 increments for some recognation (name on a list in the foyer or even local rag)might bring support from local business owners for example....