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That ancient invention...

**helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
edited January 2023 in General Chat
The Library!

Someone said in chat that they would join book club if they could afford to buy the books. You do know that you can borrow books from the library for FREE, right?

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Who does actually use one? And why... And if not, why not?
Post edited by JustV on

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    We have a local library but it's pretty small and doesn't seem to get updated with new books regularly. Joined initially when we first moved in and I used it for jobhunting because we didn't have internet access yet.

    The librarians were always really welcoming and didn't mind extending the time I was on the internet because it's pretty much always empty. Which is sad. Ooh and have also been there to speak with a CAB advisor who does sessions there once a week. Not all just books I guess
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My library is fantastic. If you like trashy, 1980s throwaway fiction.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Only for uni work really, not for my own personal entertainment. I think the last time i went in one of my own free will was to use the internet to kill some time
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    My library is fantastic. If you like trashy, 1980s throwaway fiction.

    That's a shame. What do you think would happen if you requested a book in? I've known people to do that for book clubs and they've been pretty accomodating...but I guess it depends on the place.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    So was not me that said that! *hides in a corner*
    The local library is terrible anyhow, they hardly ever get new books.

    Nina x
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I've not been for a while. Last time I went, I couldn't find the book I wanted and neither could they, even though some copies were still available. I had to wait for someone to bring one back.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    **helen** wrote: »
    That's a shame. What do you think would happen if you requested a book in? I've known people to do that for book clubs and they've been pretty accomodating...but I guess it depends on the place.

    I honestly don't know, but given how generally useless they are, I'd imagine not a lot.

    Point in case:

    Opening Times
    Monday 10am-7pm
    Tuesday 10am-7pm
    Wednesday 10am-5pm
    Thursday 10am-8pm
    Friday 10am-5pm
    Saturday 10am-5pm
    Sunday 11am-4pm


    So unless you have the combined good fortunes of working nearby and having no after-work commitments then essentially the library isn't available to you during the week. Apart from maybe Thursdays. You'd think in a city with two universities you wouldn't have trouble finding staff to keep the place open until 10pm during the week.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I honestly don't know, but given how generally useless they are, I'd imagine not a lot.

    Point in case:

    Opening Times
    Monday 10am-7pm
    Tuesday 10am-7pm
    Wednesday 10am-5pm
    Thursday 10am-8pm
    Friday 10am-5pm
    Saturday 10am-5pm
    Sunday 11am-4pm


    So unless you have the combined good fortunes of working nearby and having no after-work commitments then essentially the library isn't available to you during the week. Apart from maybe Thursdays. You'd think in a city with two universities you wouldn't have trouble finding staff to keep the place open until 10pm during the week.

    To be fair:

    Braintree Library
    Fairfield Road
    Braintree
    CM7 3YL

    Telephone: 01376 320752
    Renewals: 01376 326057
    Fax: 01376 553316

    Library Opening Times:
    Reduced opening hours from 4th July 2011 as follows:-
    Monday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
    Tuesday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
    Wednesday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
    Thursday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
    Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
    Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
    Sunday: Closed

    It used to be open 'til 7pm and me and mam would go over between work and Slimming World (back when we went...) and browse for a bit.

    Shame, really. At least it's open on Saturdays? (Although that does mean I don't actually have an excuse for still owing them £13 in fines...)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I am a member of two different borough's public libraries but I often end up buying books. I worked out that I read about a book a week, I usually buy them on Amazon at maybe £8 a book so that works out at £416 a year just on books! So I dug out my library card and got to the library last week.

    Also I get books at charity shops - Oxfam bookshops are particularly good as they only stock books so have lots of choice. I got several books from Oxfam last weekend so will save myself a fair bit per book compared to buying it new.

    Also for second hand books I keep seeing these "free bookshops" popping up http://www.healthyplanet.org/projects/books-for-free.aspx I have got free books from the one in Tufnell Park (one about how to be a good fundraiser so good to read for my voluntary work) and one from the free bookshop in Reading of short stories by Christian writers (I like that sort of thing).
  • Starry nightStarry night Posts: 674 Incredible Poster
    My library is really good. Admittedly,I like my classics, and so new books isn't really something I pay much attention to, but the overall selection is good (ignoring the cheapy novels with romantic covers that make me cringe). The librarians are very welcoming and friendly. Whenever I can't find a book I order one in, so far they have been able to find every one I have requested within two days.
    I've got twelve books out right now.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Randomgirl wrote: »
    Also for second hand books I keep seeing these "free bookshops" popping up http://www.healthyplanet.org/projects/books-for-free.aspx I have got free books from the one in Tufnell Park (one about how to be a good fundraiser so good to read for my voluntary work) and one from the free bookshop in Reading of short stories by Christian writers (I like that sort of thing).

    I try to buy all my books second-hand from charity shops. I generally only go to Amazon for stuff I've been recommended and am likely to have a ballache finding.
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    You'd think in a city with two universities you wouldn't have trouble finding staff to keep the place open until 10pm during the week.

    Sure, although I reckon the reality is more about funding for staff as opposed to a problem finding them... Maybe they could recruit volunteers though :chin:

    In terms of after work commitments, you'd have to be busy every single night to not be able to pop in, and if that's the case then it's clearly not a priority for you to pick up a few books... as Franki says, she used to pop by inbetween commitments, and there's always the weekend... You're good at making excuses Mr Carpet.

    It sucks your library closes at 5pm Franki - that is taking the Michael Bliss and is definitely more reason for complaint.

    Ninaballet - have you ever tried to ask them to order in a book for you? I only say this because it would be lovely for you to be able to in ye old book club. :d

    All this from someone who only has a library card to get cheap local cinema tickets on a Friday night :blush:
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    I've got twelve books out right now.

    Impressive :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    **helen** wrote: »

    Ninaballet - have you ever tried to ask them to order in a book for you? I only say this because it would be lovely for you to be able to in ye old book club. :d

    I'll have to try it *goes to find library card*!

    Nina x
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My local library is pretty good, but it's used a lot (for instance Friday lunchtime had a queue of 5 people at the desk as well as a near full Internet cafe.

    I normally got to waterstones look at books take a photo of the ISBN and try it in the library catalogue first, then amazon. Saying that I spend a fortune in second hand bookshops and charity shops - we have 2 specialist charity bookshops and 3 secondhand bookshops in less than a mile of each other.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It's easier for me to buy a book and either get it delivered to my kindle or my office, than it is for me to drive to the local library. I did go there and they gave me a registration form, but I haven't gone back to hand it in.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ha, not really sure why you're complaining CCH!

    Home library:

    Monday: 09.00 - 18.00
    Tuesday: Closed
    Wednesday: 09.00 - 18.00
    Thursday: 14.00 - 18.00
    Friday: 14.00 - 18.00
    Saturday: 09.00 - 13.00
    Sunday: Closed

    It always seems to be a Tuesday when I want to go.

    However Uni library is open 24hrs a day, pretty cool.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I love the library. Though they asked for more forms of identification to get a library card than they wanted when I got my drivers license. :p They always have the knitting books that I want, and any time I get a book recomendation they have it. Around here, a bunch of local libraries are in a system, so I can either go to or request books from other libraries if the one I go to doesn't have it. You can even download ebooks or get audio books on mp3

    They are also open till 9pm except Saturday and Sunday, when they close at 5pm.

    They always have tons of other stuff going on too, which I should, but rarely take advantage of. Crafting, cooking, games, resume and word/excel workshops and lots of stuff for kids like puppet shows and storytime. They even had a pie eating contest at the beginning of June. http://www.palatinelibrary.org/events/2012-07

    It is a nice place :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    my name wrote: »
    I love the library. Though they asked for more forms of identification to get a library card than they wanted when I got my drivers license.

    Well, to librarians books are more valuable than people.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    my name wrote: »
    I love the library. Though they asked for more forms of identification to get a library card than they wanted when I got my drivers license.

    One time that I moved house I tried to tell them that I had a change of address and they needed lots of proof I didn't have so wouldn't change it on their computer system. Surely it would be better that they had the right address though than an old address as I didn't live there anymore.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I use the library very occasionally - mainly for travel books or OS maps.

    For general reading I use charity shops and then just take them back when I'm done. Mainly because I've got a flare for leaving books on trains/planes/work or forgetting to take them back so rack up library fines so this way the charity shop gets the money and it doesn't matter if they get lost.

    If I'm after something particular I tend to get it as a Kindle/iBook as I don't lose my iPad and it's easy to travel with. In my case the failure to use the library system is definitely me rather than the librarys. They're there, they're good when I use them, especially when it comes to ordering stuff in - it's just I'm disorganised.
  • plugitinplugitin Posts: 2,197 Boards Champion
    Ooh, I was just looking into my local library's books last night and then today I just saw this thread! I would definitely use my library if I was ever short of anything to read! Both my one at home and Birmingham city ctr library are quite good and seem to be on top of new books (even though they are reserved up until the end of the year ;))
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Books for Free = SCAM

    These shops are popping up everywhere and they are not libraries. furthermore they are actually taking £millions away from public services.

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c77b68cc-112a-11e1-a95c-00144feabdc0.html
    Treading a fine line between ?scam? and ?service? in Financial Times

    they let landlords a tax loophole and give away books that they buy at 2p!!

    If it looks too good to be true it generally is!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The library is somewhere I used to go and read a graphic novel while the other half chose his 20 books for the week. I've not been since I forced myself to take his books back and pay the fines on them (they offered to waive the fines, but it was my fault, so I paid)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The library is somewhere I used to go and read a graphic novel while the other half chose his 20 books for the week. I've not been since I forced myself to take his books back and pay the fines on them (they offered to waive the fines, but it was my fault, so I paid)

    This threads quite a few months old, it was dragged up by a spammer :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I always seem to mislay library books and end up paying fines on them. I am disorganised and I struggle with concept of time etc
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    me too SCC.

    I got a beauty therapy instructional book out yeeeears ago when I was doing a course. Completely forgot to take it back, moved house (so I never saw any threatening letters..) but it had got the point where the fine would have been so hefty and I was too embarassed to take it back because it had been over a year. Felt like a bandit :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I quite like going to my local library when I'm back home, to sit and read and chill out. Normally when at work I still read but do it on my kindle or ipad etc.
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