Take ten minutes to visit your library. Books, CDs, DVDs and possibly free internet

Turbo_Gran

louiseg wrote: »

At last, people singing our praises!!!
Did you know if you live in BURY, in Greater Manchester you can borrow books, CDs, videos, DVDs, story tapes, language tapes, toys, pick up your childs Bookstart packs, join in with story times, use the learning libraries facilities to access all sorts of courses, access the internet for free(just pay for printouts), join the Homework Club, get help for local history enquiries and family history enquiries and now you can make non-cash payments for things like Council Tax (no groans please), parking fines, business rates,invoices for room hire etc. You can also get your bus pass and leisure cards. So come along and visit your friendly libraries.
Remember the saying IF YOU DON'T USE IT , YOU'LL LOSE IT.

You took the words right out of my mouth, all over the country councils are cutting back on services,especially if they can say that "there isn't much demand" swimming pools,evening classes ,allotments and libraries have all been hit hard,so come on!! if everyone in this moneysaver club just went along to their library even occasionaly we could all make a difference .

cannycat

Sometimes members of the public can use specialist libraries for reference during staffed hours (e.g. hospital medical libraries, university libraries) - each library is different, and it may be at staff discretion, but it's always worth asking!

I'm also a librarian, and it's nice to see libraries being praised. I work in a medical library myself, but obviously I think ALL libraries are great! Public libraries are also do fantastic community work, reading groups, kids' sessions, holiday schemes, computer access, reference sessions - and usually, if the staff can't answer a question for you, they'll find someone who can.

Libraries are no longer places where stern librarians say "shush" all the time!!

greenkingster

We love doing long treks, e.g. along the coast, island hopping in the Hebrides, etc. I carry my library card with me and can get internet access at most libraries, as well as having a coffee in many. Definitely a good place to hang out on a very wet day, too. A scheme I witnessed in Lanark library was a group of young people (including some with learning difficulties), learning how to write their CV's and trawl the net for job opportunities. Our Ealing libraries are definitely A* facility.;)

oramgepekoe

6 libraries in Hertfordshire are now open on Sundays from 1pm until 5pm - St Albans, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Bishops Stortford, Watford.

Have found this very handy in St Albans as parking is free on Sundays, most shops are open and there's also a Farmers Market every 2nd Sunday of the month.

grunnie

Went in to my local library today and they have a sale of withdrawn library books. Got 2 lots of kids' cassettes with story books for 60p. Great for the grandchildren.:T

caroline1973lefty

great thread, totally agree with the 'use it or lose it' comments, my own local council is threatening to shut down the local library which is frankly the only community facility left in the area.
I have finally managed to part with own unread books, and make some serious money (£400 in a month!) by selling on amazon, telling myself i can always find them in a library if i really want to read them later on.

a couple of things to add are - if your own local authority's libararies doesn't have the book you want, it's still worth asking if they participate in inter-library exchange schemes with other local authorities, or indeed every library in the country - I think schemes vary, but I have managed to get quite a few hard to find books quite easily this way, by reserving online.
Also remember you can usually join the library near where you work, with evidence of employment. (be careful though - having more than one library card can be a fast route to forgetfulness and fines!)

yosoy

Hampshire libraries were on strike 2 days last week as councillers plan to cut nearly half the professional librarians jobs. A real shame. It will mean the end of many school visits, evenings with Authors, out of hours & special activities, cutbacks will affect storytimes & the level of experienced information readily available.

Hampshire requests are 50p (or £1.50 if out of county), 2 hours of free (bookable) internet access a day, many branches have multiple copies of the top 10 best selling paperbacks, Cds at 60p (4 week loans), no book fines for under 18s, talking books for 60p (& language courses £1) - but free if under 18 or over 60, free DVD/video loan if you have any disability that makes reading difficult.

theres always iems for sale - all sale books are 10p,20p or 40p.

Latest DVDs are £3.50 - bit pricey but loyalty cards enable freebies & they have occasion 2 for 1 fortnights. After 6 months DVD charges go down dramatically & many childrens ones are £1.00. Most branches have at least a couple of late nights a week & some open Sunday 10-4pm.
Anyone can join & you do not need to produce any ID to join, either.

and yes from home you can renew (for up to 5 months), request items, search catalogue, & access online resources. Or look at the online sale books which is updated monthly.

Why cut such a service?

dippydora_2

I take my five year old to the library a lot so she has a different story every night. It is brilliant - we love it
Quicktip - if you have children make sure you get a card in their name, because children do not get charged if books are back late or damaged! (this has been a god send as I am always returning them late)

bodgerella

Don't forget Libraries always have children's sessions on during the school hols which are always free.
Our libraries (Liverpool )also have free access to Ancestry the family history site which woulf normally cost at least 10 pounds a month to subscibe to.
It has family history helpdesk
Housing association help desks
Free access to a range of online business materials and useful printed things like trade directories, electoral registers, international phone books, street maps and market research reports which would cost a fortune if you bought them.
Also has free computer courses
Some also have community rooms which are free to use or very loe cost if your starting off a community group.
I also know they will put on free exhibitions or events if you can promise to promte some of the services at the same time.

Kettrin

If you go to the Library this Friday, Saturday or Monday and hire CD's/DVD's you would normally have to return them within 7 days. However the Libraries are closed for the Easter Break so you can keep them for an extra week FREE.
I got loads out for the Christmas break on December 18th and did not have to return them till January 8th, 3 weeks later!!! Hurry on down!!!