Fully Booked! (Library services)

Member Name: jo1976

Product:	Library services
Date:	28/07/09 (108 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free access to books, internet, other services

Disadvantages: Not as well promoted as it should be

I've always been an avid reader and have been a member of a local library for most of my life. Growing up in a rural village, I looked forward to the mobile library service visiting once a fortnight and I used to walk away with a carrier bag stuffed full of books. Now, as a mother of two, visiting the library is still very much part of my regular routine and both of my boys share my love of reading and, consequently, the local library.

Given the current financial climate, I'm surprised that more people don't appear to take advantage of a public service that, at its simplest, offers access to thousands of books for absolutely no cost! You're not limited to the books available in your local library as books can be ordered in from other libraries, if necessary, for a small charge. Our library charges 50p per book for inter-library loans. There is no limit to the number of books that can be borrowed from the library and, if three weeks isn't enough time for you to finish them, they can even be renewed by telephone or online so there really should be no need to pay any overdue fines, which sometimes puts me off borrowing books!

There's no reason why the internet needs to sound the end for our libraries either. Although we've got instant access to all this information via our home computers, nothing beats the feel of a real book in your hand, to me. Libraries have embraced technology too and offer free internet access to members of the public. I took full advantage of this service when my own PC died on me a few months ago and it was a real lifesaver. I do think the internet facilities and library service in general should be publicised more as I'm sure that many people just think of it as an old-fashioned place full of musty old books and don't realise how much more they have to offer.

Every Monday, I go to 'Baby Bounce & Rhyme' with my two year old. This is an activity for pre-school children which involves listening to a story and singing nursery rhymes, helping to lay some of the foundations for skills the children will develop at school. There are other activities available including a similar story and craft-based session later in the week. Whilst on maternity leave, I attended a six week course in Baby Signing at the library, which was totally free of charge - I dread to think how much I would have paid for a similar programme in the private sector! Recently, I've even noticed that they have been holding Baby Yoga sessions at the library too! All of these are totally free and provide a great facility for parents and young children. It's just a shame that these aren't more widely publicised. I only know that most of these services are available because I'm already a regular visitor to the library. Libraries really need to target those families and individuals that aren't already using the service.

As well as the singing group, we always come home with a selection of books for my two year old's bedtime story. There is no charge for late returns on a child's card - which is ideal for chaotic and forgetful Mums like myself! There are also no charges for any damages to any books loaned to under-fives so it gives us an opportunity to 'toddler-test' some of the more elaborate lift-the-flap stories at home, without wasting good money on them! Older children aren't neglected either. During the Summer holidays, our local library runs a 'reading challenge.' This is a very simple, low-cost activity for them to promote regular reading amongst children and they give out stickers and a 'gold medal' to children who read a certain number of books during the holidays. My six year old is very excited about the prospect of receiving a 'gold medal' - what it is to be six - and it helps to keep his reading skills fresh during the long break from school.

Yesterday, we all picked up a new selection of books and I also chose two audiobooks for the kids - perfect for a long trip in the car when we go on our holiday next week. Again, this is a service that would benefit from wider promotion as, despite being a regular library visitor, I wasn't sure whether that particular service was free or not. (It is free, I discovered, for loans on a child's card.) The library also loans out a selection of DVDs although charges aren't made totally clear. (I know there is a small charge to rent them but I'm now wondering whether it might be free to hire them on a child's card too.) I'll have to ask the very helpful staff on my next visit.

I hope that other people continue to make good use of our library service. Times are hard and money is tight and I would hate to see library services to be targetted either locally or nationally as part of cost-cutting measures. If they aren't being used, then councils have got the justification to close services down and that would be a huge loss to the community. Thankfully, our library does appear to be well-used. There's been queues at the counter every time I've visited recently and the baby groups are always well attended. I just feel that library services themselves need to promote their services and facilities more widely to make sure they reach as many people as possible. Libraries should be there for the masses, not just the few!

Summary: I love my local library