How to Make Use Of Your Local Public Libraries
If someone told you that there was a bookshop down the road, and all the books were free – you would go, wouldn’t you? Yet that is what a library is. So how come they are not popular?
Did you know that usually you can request a book that you want to read? Do so. Most of us only read a book once. You can then give it back, and someone else can read it.
And don’t worry – writers do receive royalties for books that are rented from libraries too! They are paid by the number of loans. churches, libraries are right in the heart of our communities doing good. So make use of them. Because if you don’t lose them, you’ll lose them.
Find out what your library offers
Most public libraries run through your local council, and many services cost nothing once you’ve joined. Which is often quick and free, you just need proof of ID.
But not like setting up a bank account (even homeless people can join with a hostel address). Borrowing rules vary, but usually you can take out books for a few weeks, and renew them easily. You can usually take out (or order) books from libraries run by the same council, then take them back to your local one, to save you a trip.
You can also reserve titles (and request them too). Late fees are not that bad, and if you forget to take a book back after several weeks, it’s kind of your own fault. So just remember next time, these are free books!
Other services provided by libraries
Most let you use laptops for free (for a set amount of time each day) using your card. Some libraries let you visit when the building is unstaffed. And often there are other goodies like audio books and quiet zones, study tables and history clubs.
Many also offer scanning and printing services, and many offer large print books, hearing loops and lifts for accessibility. Some even have board games and jigsaws to rent.
And best of all, you get librarians! These are highly trained people who love books as much as you do, and will go out of their way to help. It remains one of the few areas of public life, where you can almost guarantee a nice quiet nerdy bookworm person. Instead of some loud oaf shouting in your face, when you want them to be quiet.
Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A library can bring you back the right one. Neil Gaiman
An English Library Journey (good book!)
An English Library Journey is the unique story of a man, who decides to travel the country, becoming a member of every single public library in England.
From Solihull to Slough and from Cleveland to Cornwall, this 10-year journey sees him visiting different buildings (from Art Deco to a converted corset factory). And pondering over the role of the public library in our national life.
Book Crossing (a free sharing library)
BookCrossing is a lovely idea. You read a book you liked? Then go online and enter the code number. Then you tell others where you are leaving the book (in a restaurant, at a train station etc). Then someone picks it up, reads it and does the same.
You then can follow your book all over the world, to see who is reading it, and see who they pass it onto. Instead of a good book read once, then stuck on a shelf forever more.
Booksellers (not always fans of librarians!)
Of course although we want to save independent bookstores, there is a little bit of off-balance between them and libraries. As giving away free books, means they sell less of them!
A woman spent ten minutes looking around the shop, then told me that she was a retired librarian. I suspect she thought that this was some sort of a bond. Not so. On the whole, booksellers dislike librarians.
There is nothing they like more, than taking a perfectly good book and (with no sense of irony) putting a plastic sleeve over the dust jacket, to protect it from the public. Shaun Bythell (an indie bookshop owner)
