Wednesday 2 May 2012

In Which I Have Fallen In Love With My Library Again!



I always plan these non-review, non-meme posts but somehow never manage it. I think the last one was way in the early beginnings of my blog and it was a debate over e-readers (still undecided on that one by the way). Since I have the time and the inspiration I'm going to do one now.

I am sure I have mentioned already that I have recently begun visiting my local library again. I think most people who have been big readers from childhood would say that the library was a big part of their lives growing up. It certainly was for me. Again I am positive this isn't something I haven't said here before. I loved my library. I can't even remember getting my first library ticket I was so young. I remember visits with just my mum and sister. I remember visits with the whole family. My sister and I would be at the children's side looking through books. If we saw one we liked the first thing we would do is run across to the adults books to hunt out our parents and show them. It always seemed like a long hunt because of course then the library was ginormous. I remember going home as a family and sitting reading with no TV on until it was bed time (although my sister who could barely stand the quiet would wonder off before then).

Whilst I don't remember getting my first library card I do remember getting my grown up card. I was so excited about that because it meant more books. Of course my mum was already loaning out my excess books for me but I now didn't have to rely on her being there. Plus I liked the fact that my card was no longer pink. I think it was from then on that I had many visits to the library myself or with my best friend. I even started taking trips to other libraries. I probably wouldn't have read most of Stephen Kings backlist by now if it hadn't been for those libraries.

I didn't actually intend to stop going but I got my first job and the first thing I started buying was my own books. We all know how addictive book buying is. Especially when previously getting a book of your own was a treat. Of course I bought more books than I can read (and still do). After my degree I began working full time in a book shop and of course that also meant discount and my book buying increased. I was an advocate for our libraries. More than once I expressed my outrage at the threat of closures. Yet somehow not finding the time to go back (yep, my BF has admonished me over and over for this).

I am a student again and on a budget and even though I somehow have less time I have made my way back to my library. Except it's not my library anymore. My old library has moved into an architecture winning building. It's all modern, concrete and metal. You no longer have to be quiet. There is a cafe in there. Also the local swimming pool, college and arts center are all under the same roof. I expected to be horrified by this but whilst I still feel nostalgia for the old building (I can only find images of the outside which is an ugly building) I like this modern new look.


I was there a few weeks ago with my sister and I was impressed by the selection of new fiction books. I was back there again today with my mum this time. My mum has gotten out of the habit of visits too thanks to my staff discount over the years. She has been encouraged by my successful visit to go back. There are no hushed tones and the tables are filled with college students. Gone are the old men in the corner who are there every week, every year, sleeping. The coffee shop even sells alcohol. Why that should surprise me I don't know but it did. We stuck to the coffee though which was quite nice. I like the idea of having online access to my library account and being able to request books that way too. I've already borrowed a few books that I probably wouldn't have bought myself. I can see many visits in the future, especially now there is coffee on the offer.

Oh, and funnily enough these images aren't mine. They actually came from architecture websites.

12 comments:

  1. I love my library because I can request books online and even see what news ones are "on order." Because it's easier for my husband (and my health) if he just goes without me, this ensures that I get the books I want without his having to wait around while I browse and without my making myself sick going through the shelves.

    I still go once in a while but now I don't feel deprived just because I am not always strong enough to deal with a full library visit.

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    1. I think it's a great service too. I have already been on doing my nosy as to how exactly it works. My sister says you can also return books to any library within the same region. I'll probably try not to do that too often as I am sure they don't really like it.

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  2. Your library is so beautiful it's out of this world! at least out of UK world because most of our libraries are so quaint and ancient. Hope to hear what you took out from the library. Enjoy!

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    1. It really is lovely and I am lucky. It's all part of a rejuvenation project. The have a bit theater too and host lots of art events. I do like the old style libraries too. My sister's local one is like that although sadly what they class as new in is probably a few years old in the real world. It's all part of the same region too. It's a shame.

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    2. I'm so curious, I wanted to know which borough library is this?

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    3. It's part of Greater Glasgow libraries. If you google Library at the Bridge you'll find it.

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    4. Ahhh..Glasgow, why didn't I think of that?! Last year I visited Glasgow and fell in love with all those beautiful architecture buildings in the city. Awesome!

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    5. Glasgow does have some fab buildings and a number of them have won awards. This one though is in a fairly rough area. The surrounding buildings are some of the ugliest.

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  3. I stop into our main branch to check out the used book store, but for whatever reason never go beyond that. I think it's time to rectify the situation.

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    1. I'm jealous that your library has a used book store. Ours doesn't sadly.

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  4. Your library looks amazing! I grew up out in the middle of nowhere so we had a mobile library come round once a week. Where I live now has a lot of libraries joined together so my little local library gets a lot of new releases. I think people would be surprised by the selection.

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    1. I always loved the sound of mobile libraries. Always wished we had one even though it was only a five minute walk to mine. Grass is always greener as they say.

      I was surprised by mine. Possible because my sisters local library has such a poor choice. What it classes as new is generally no more than a handful of books a few years old. I guess they put all that work in to making it a center for everyone that they put the funding in for new books.

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