ChatterBank4 mins ago
Libraries
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.
Answers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.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!
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 !
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.
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).
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
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 !
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.
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!!