A few weeks ago, I had to go into town for a hair cut. On the way back, I thought I would pop into the central library. I confess that I haven’t really used it in years, which, as a book addict, seems a terrible confession.
When my children were young, a trip to the library was always on the agenda in addition to a little Saturday shopping. Since they are grown and shopping is something that is more ordeal than pleasure, I have lost the habit.
What prompted me to return was a desire to be more efficient with my resources. I buy endless quantities of books, pass them on to friends or donate them to charity. The only problem is that charity shops are so often over-whelmed with books that they no longer accept them. Further, much as sharing books is a good thing, it cuts the authors out of the loop.
Libraries in contrast pay authors based on the number of times their books are taken out. And these books are available to a large audience, not just friends or charity shop browsers.
A card that unlocks the world
Our library has been recently modernised, so on entering, I was delighted to see a spacious room with displays of books dotted around, a large and welcoming children’s corner and the usual stacks. What I didn’t see were very many people.
And this is a great pity, because the library offers so much more than novels. They have a large periodical section and reading area (where I enjoyed the luxury of reading The Guardian in peace) and an extensive reference section on the second floor.
When I looked up what else was on offer, I was very pleasantly surprised. In addition to lots of child-centred activities, they had adult learning courses, computers to use and their own little shop. Ours even has a theatre in the basement.
Membership to the library allows you to source books from absolutely anywhere so that the fairly modest stock on view is only a fraction of what is available. For a fee, you can order books from The British Library.
A book with my name on
After discovering that the novel Kidnapped by R L Stevenson was not about piratical misdemeanors in the South Seas but instead set in the Scottish Highlands, I was determined to read it. Sadly, the book was not on the shelves, so I enquired about reservations. Sure enough, they had it at another branch and in a week or two a letter arrived saying it was available for collection.
I returned to the library to pick up my treasure expecting to pay a fee to at least cover the administration and postage costs – but no, like almost everything else at the library, it was free.
Recommendations
What I love most about belonging to a book group is that we are required to read outside our usual fare. Sometimes this leads to discovering new authors that we admire and sometimes not, but being stretched a little does no one any harm.
Appealingly laid out at the library are recommended reads. I enjoy choosing one book from these more enticing, open shelves. Perhaps I will find a gem. If not, I can always borrow another.
A place of calm
Without the fussy Be Quiet notices of the past, the library was, nonetheless, serene. Stepping in from the busy town centre felt like entering a haven of unhurried and peaceful concentration. Elderly folks were at tables reading print newspapers; children were congregated in the colourful section at the back. Staff ambled to and fro replacing books on shelves and offered assistance at the kiosk. Borrowing and returning books was done in a very modern way via machine using a system even I could navigate.
The building itself is a draw for me: the colourful covers of books, folks engaged in their reading, a sense of community. But, like Specsavers, you do have to go there.
This isn’t for everyone. The library has to be the most accessible public building I’ve been in, but getting to the town is not always easy. Transport, the weather or parking may be against you, or perhaps you wish to remain in the comfort of your own home.
Even here, your library card has reach with an enormous selection of ebooks, eAudiobooks and periodicals on offer. For those who love to read their Kindle in bed, it is a great option.
A hybrid approach
Having discovered the library once more, I am determined to include it in my schedule. If nothing else, it is somewhere I can muse or read without interruption.
That said, I have no wish to abandon my favourite independent bookshop. I want them to succeed too.
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat
The card on the top of the pile is of a painting they commissioned of their upstairs reading room. This is no ordinary bookshop.
Here I can indulge in newly released books and more bespoke periodicals. It’s also a good place to have a chat with the owners and see their latest configurations of the shop.
Use it or lose it
With councils struggling to stretch their budgets with ever greater demands and less income, the first service to fall is often the library. This is a great pity, since it is centre for all learning and information. It is also a warm place where people can sit and read and feel welcome.
I appreciate that councils face tough choices on where to spend their limited cash and if libraries are under-used, we should not be surprised if they close.
Yet, libraries are the great equalisers. With almost everything free, you can access knowledge and support in education no matter what your financial circumstances. As a teacher, I can think of nothing more important.
So if you have a library card somewhere, or need to get one, I encourage you to drop in to your local library and support this wonderful service. I hope, like me, you will be very pleasantly surprised.