Libraries

[paddy_36]

Hello ABers,

A work colleague is looking into why people don't use public libraries. If any of you don't use one, why not? And is there anything that libraries don't offer currently that would attract you through the doors?

Would really appreciate all your thoughts on this...

Thank you.

[irisred]

Personally i just love to own books, I never lend my books and can't bare the thought of not being able to lay my hands on the book I need at whatever time I need it.

I'm building my own ecclectic library and currently own around 300 books - it grows by the month.

[CheekyChops]

I don't use a public library because although I only live about 1 mile away from my city library, I don't work near one. I very rarely go into the city centre so would have to make a special journey to borrow / return my books.

Car parking is expensive and I can just see the books never getting returned on time so fines would be very expensive too!

[curiosity]

I occasionally use the library (which is great when you get in there) with my 5 year old. What would be really good is knowing the opening times!! they seem to make them up as they go along, a leaflet through the door would be good, so I could pin it up on the board.

[shaneystar]

I posted recently on the same subject. Which was wether people tend buy books or use the library.I use my library all the time in spite having a house full of tottering bookshelves.
We have a superb library service in my area.Our local library even has a coffee shop, is certainly popular and has an lot to offer.Computer access,music,videos,DVDs and books of course plus exhibitions of local interest things.If it were to close I would be lost !

[Piper-AK]

I use mine constantly. I'm lucky in that in my area there are two that I can access easily. If I was looking for a reason why I have not used either recently, it was because the book I wanted was not available so I bought it. So there you have it. We want the immediate access to current bestsellers or new releases that bookshops offer us, and if we can't get it from our libraries, we go elsewhere.

[woofgang]

I don't use my local library although I do have a ticket. I like to own books and want to read the new releases now. I am also quite busy (as are we all I am sure) and found it hard to make time to go and to return books as the opening hours are quite short (I am an early morning, late afternoon shopper). The other reason is a little sensitive but I think should be said. I have had some unpleasant experiences with dirty library books, finding food debris, clumps of hair and other less identifiable soilings in quite new books....it kind of puts you off and once put off, you don't return!!

[Jules001]

when my children were smaller, I used to spend my life in our local library. I still pop in now and again, but there are two main reasons why I don't go as often as I would like to. Firstly, I don't always have the time to read the books and secondly, the books I seem to want are never stocked at my local library they are always at another branch which is not so easily accessible so I now don't bother to make a special trip to see if by chance they have the books, it is only if I am passing and don't have heavy shopping or stuff with me that I think about going in. I really would like to support the library though and go more often.

[LeMarchand]

I like to own my media, and so tend to only read the sort of books that I'm pretty sure would be worth owning. That said, due to financial constraints, I have been to the library on occasion this year. I ended up glad that I didn't buy "The Da Vinci Code", but bought Phil Rickman's "Merrily Watkins" series in it's entirety.

[Buenchico]

(Posted in 2 parts):

I'm a member of the library services for Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Barnet, so I'm probably not the best person to ask about why people don't use libraries. (In the past few weeks, I've phoned and visited several libraries to find answers for other ABers - not everything's on the net!).

Much of the problem with getting people to use libraries is associated with a lack of parental guidance during childhood. There are lots of kids who've been to Benidorm, Mauritius, Barbados, the Algarve and loads of other places but their parents have never given a thought to taking them to their local library! Without this early experience it's hard to get people to understand what libraries have to offer. (Many schools also seem to think that an hour's visit to the local library every few years is sufficient to discharge their responsibility of introducing children to libraries. Better schools make the use of their local library as an integral part of the curriculum).

[Buenchico]

(Second Part):

At the other end of the spectrum are those people who used to love libraries but see the modernisation of their services as 'dumbing down'. Some (mainly older) people I know don't think that there's any place for internet services in libraries. Most of these people are those who've only ever used the fiction section of the library; they tend to see money being spent on computers as funding which is not being spent on fiction. They frequently don't understand that the library is simply furthering it's long-standing role as a provider of factual information and services. (Although I don't support the arguments that libraries are 'dumbing down', I ought to say that I was recently amazed to find that there's not a single copy of Plato's Republic throughout all of Suffolk libraries! Philosophy, it seems, is not a subject greatly favoured by our local library service!).

What can be done to change things? I don't think that there's any magic solution but I welcome the steps being taken to make libraries more user friendly. (e.g. evening and Sunday opening in Essex libraries - belatedly copied by Suffolk. Coffee bars and toilet faciltes in many libraries. Music playing in the Ipswich Arts Library. Free computer courses in Suffolk libraries. Art & Photography exhibitions just about everywhere).

Chris

[jamesy boy]

my local libraries are fab.

free internet and pc access, DVDs and CDs, regular sales of old books CDs,etc

book discussion groups, groups for toddlers, talks about local history...

amazing, and it's all free!

[shaneystar]

Chris
You may be pleased to know there is a copy of Platos Republic available to Norfolk Library services.
Great post from you as usual and many of the points you make are true.I think the reason I have always used my public library is the fact that as a child we couldn't afford books.I used to spend many a happy hour looking for the latest "Just William".
If I buy a book these days it's always reference books or books on subjects that I am particularly interested in.Otherwise I use the library.Norfolk library service is excellent and I can always get the latest books by keeping an eye on publishing dates and reserving them for a small fee.As for people who moan about the fact that libraries have all these other things going on...we have to move with the times and if people gain knowledge by computer or old fashioned books it can only be a good thing.
I am afraid the picture of complete silence and the stern librarian are a thing of the past except in colleges and academic libraries.Long live the public library.It is one of the things I don't mind paying council tax for !

[sophieb]

I have always used our public library since i was little and still do. My 2children aged 8 and 10 have also been encouraged to use it. They both know how to look up the card index and locate where the book is. We have hundreds of bought books too but we love our visits to the library. I am one of these wicked mothers who limits the time my kids spend in front of the tv/computer and reading expands everyones mind.

[paddy_36]

Hello, thank you for all your comments, you've all been very helpful. Woofgang - appreciate your honesty. Where I work we take a pride in the condition of our stock, but think we need to let people know that. There's nothing worse that unidentifiable soilings! On the positive side, it's really good to hear all your nice comments too - when working in a place you sometimes forget that the services you offer are appreciated by so many people. I've passed all your comments on to my colleague, and they've given her a great starting point. Thank you again, and feel free to post any more comments if you have them.

[helliebobs]

Irisred, you sound just like me!

I have a library ticket and used to go a lot when I was younger. As I've got older though, I prefer to own books, athough I also buy second hand.

Also, my local library, whilst a decent size, doesn't seem to stock many of the types of books I like.

Also, said library is in city centre, and I don't work in the city anymore.

I do, however, think libraries are wonderful places and their usage shouold be encouraged!!