Library services > Reviews (17)

Having been stuck at 39 ops for so long and not finding anything I was sufficiently enamoured with, or hated enough to find worthy of an opinion, I was in despair.

Wracked my brains, till the lightbulb flashed and I thought of my one true love.

I love books. Have done for as long as I can remember and am one of those saddos who get really excited by the prospect of entering a bookshop, like a kid in a sweetshop. Books from floor to ceiling is my idea of heaven and I think my dream job would be as a librarian, where I could caress books all day long.

Then again, having looked at the librarians in our local library, I don't think I'm ideal material, being neither twinset and pearls or reluctant hippy, which are the two categories ours fall into.

If you are wondering if I'm ever going to get to the point, I want to sing the praises of public libraries.

As their name suggests, they are for everyone. Have even had to step over a comatose drunk in the doorway on one occasion. Don't think he was overcome by the joy of the written word, more a handy, sheltered, crashing point to sleep off the excesses of a Friday night binge.

Must admit, I was rather concerned by his prone state, unlike the library staff who seemed content to walk round/step over him. They are probably more used to seeing this sort of thing than I but I took it upon myself to call for an ambulance and have him hospitalised. Probably wouldn't thank me for it when he came to, but at least it cleared the entrance for all us book devotees.

If you are a council tax (rates, or whatever it calls itself these days)payer and have a permanent address, you can join the library and actually get to borrow books.

Ours allows a maximum lend of eight items at a time. I dont know whether this is standard or varies from library to library.

You can borrow a combination of books, videos, dvds, cds and my very favourite, talking books.

Books are loaned free of charge and you get them for three weeks. If you fail to return them on the due date you have to pay a fine unless you are an OAP. Suppose they make allowances for older people being more forgetful but unfortunately haven't reached my golden years yet, so still have to pay if I'm late with my returns. Have never been really late and mostly have to pay the odd 10p or so.

Videos and dvds will cost you £1.50 for a week's loan. CD's and cassettes are charged at 80p for three week's listening.

Our library seems to have some up to date titles on offer. However if you don't see what you want, you can ask an assistant to look on the computer, and if it can be obtained (they themselves borrow from other libraries, to get you what you want) they will seek it out for you. A fee of 80p is charged for reserving items, be it book, dvd, whatever.

If you reserve three items, you only pay for two. Even libraries are getting in on the act and tempting us to get more than we need. Who can resist the offer of an extra item, free of charge. I know I cant.

If you happen to have a handy small child you can borrow, they too can have their own library card and benefit from not having to pay for their loans.

I learned this after repeatedly forking out and putting dvds and videos for grandson on my card and Mrs Twinset and Pearls behind the counter kindly told me to get junior his own card and pointed me at the help desk.

A parent or guardian has to sign them up, but it's really quick and easy and my grandson was overcome with his own importance when he was given his very own.

I commented briefly on being able to borrow "talking books". These are my salvation. I think they are really intended for visually impaired so they don't miss out on the joy of books and get to have them read to them.

With junior keeping me on my toes so much during the holidays, I havent had much time to read but get round this by borrowing "talking books" and let someone else take the strain and I get to listen. It's not possible to do the daily chores with a book in your hand, but stick a cassette on or a cd and you can have your book with you at times of need. Especially beneficial when ironing, I find.

If you are not fortunate enough to have a permanent address, or of no fixed abode, don't despair. You can still use the library facilities. There is loads of seating where you can while away some hours reading the books on offer, or catch up on the news as all the daily papers are on hand.

If you need to use the library for research, there are plenty of heavy tomes covering every possible subject and if you can manage to lift them up you can take them to a table, take notes and do what you will, just don't leave the building with them.

Should you be spending a pleasant day in the library, keeping out the cold in winter or cooling off in the summer, there are drinks dispensers on hand. If you are too poor to actually buy a drink, cold water is available, free, gratis.

If you haven't got access to a home computer you can book a session on the ones in the library. Never having done this I cant be completely sure of the cost but think it's a pound for an hour.

If you are planning on spending a whole day in the library and need to use toilet facilities, they have those too. However as some people have abused this you will now have to ask the staff for a key and they accompany you to the door and hover about outside to snatch the key back again as soon as you emerge.

Again, haven't availed myself of this service, so can't comment on sanitary conditions within.

Tucked away in a corner is a children's area. This is filled with books, videos and dvd's aimed specifically at small people. There are also a couple of computers which they can use free of charge
and a supply of brightly coloured toys so if you really need some time for yourself to browse you can bung them in here and have a bit of peace.

As I live in a relatively small town our library has an amazing amount of facilities and should imagine larger towns, cities must have even more on offer.

God, I must really be getting ancient resorting to writing about libraries, but I think they are brilliant places.

Why don't you take a look at yours, you might like it.