Use them or lose them (Library services)

Member Name: pencoedcharlie

Product:	Library services
Date:	18/10/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A treasurehouse of books. Free.

Disadvantages: May have a limited range of books

My parents house was so full of books that my mother complained that it resembled a library. They both enjoyed books , but as far as I know were not even members of the local library. I just haven't got the space in our rather crowded abode, I've now got just two smallish bookcases, and thats it. I like to think I've got better things to do than extra dusting, I'm hoping so anyway, so I've made a decision not to buy any books at all, ever again, and to borrow them from the library, free, instead. I try not to look at books in shops, or even second hand shops or bookshops, I've almost but not quite managed this.

I have always liked libraries. As a child my dad used to take me there on the bus (probably he joined temporarily just for me and my brother) and it was there I discovered the joy of my then favourite books the Richmal Crompton "William" series, I read them all despite being a girl! My girls definitely had no interest in them, but I think that was because times had moved on.

Anyway wherever I've lived I've always been a member of the local library. Because I like libraries. Libraries have ofcourse changed. When I was a teenager I never used to pay a library fine. This was only because in Aberystwyth where we we then lived they never seemed to notice how long you kept the books for. But from my point of view times have changed for the worse in this respect, you now have to pay a fine if you are a couple of days late, I'm surprised they still allow me in to our local library, except for the fact that I have helped to finance some new books for them. Anyway I am now hopefully reformed from this, you can ring to renew books, or do it online now, they will issue you with a pin number.

Although I like the library I get the feeling it probably is underused. In our family my husband never goes, and my two grown up daughters don't go either. I suppose one reason could be that if you are working the opening times might be a bit inconvenient, but our local library does have limited evening opening. And its very easy to join, and accessible.

Nowadays libraries have lots of facilities .There is computer access , or you can borrow CD's or DVDs, or talking books. In my local library the books all seem reasonably new and in good clean condition.There is wheelchair access and a lift.There is a photocopier , and they sometimes run talks by authors of interest. You can browse through the newspapers .There are posters and leaflets. Upstairs there is the childrens section open from babyhood onwards,no fines for overdue books here. There is a weekly storytime for the very young,For older children there are craft afternoons in the holidays, these seem to be attended by a small but keen group of children. There are also reading schemes and competitions. All free. Last time I was upstairs there was a group of older boys playing computer games. Younger children can sit and colour.

To me the library is all about books, a treasurehouse in fact , somewhere to go where you can gain entrance to other worlds, you can go where you want to go. At the moment I am reading a book on Faberges eggs, I picked it up at random , personally I find it very interesting. One downside of the library I find is that I would like a larger selection of books , eg if you enjoy a particular author it might not be possible to obtain all his or her books in the library, but if you particularly request a book the staff may well be able to obtain it for you.

I hope we don't lose one of our precious resources, our libraries, for even in this age of computers, I believe they still have an important part to play.

Summary: A n excellent resource