Library Closures

Our godawful mayor wanted to close more than half of our city libraries - fortunately there was a lot of fuss made, petitions signed and objections made at a public meeting and we now have a reprieve for a couple of years. Closing libraries is an abomination - everyone should have access to free books and, in the internet age, free computers. Smaller libraries are already staffed mostly by volunteers and my local library has a room they rent out for yoga classes, lectures etc. We have even had an offer from Banksy to help keep the libraries open - he comes from our city originally. I visit the library at least weekly, I order the books I want online mostly and then collect/return when the library is open (5 half days per week). Its also been really convenient since my printer broke as I can't afford to replace it until the new year so I pay 10p per page for printing. I'm keeping an eye out for when they need more volunteers as I would love to work in a library.

Here in Denmark, smaller libraries still exist and have taken up the challenge of getting more readers, by housing reading clubs and making access easier.

We have the system mentioned from N. Ireland with an entry code, so you can go in at any time that suits you. As all books have for years been checked in and out electronically by the person borrowing them, this seems to work very well.

The public libraries are manned for differing numbers of hours weekly, depending on the demand. They house the counters of the Danish equivalent of Citizens' Advice in country areas, and even in larger cities. Here you can renew passports or driving license, apply for pensions and of course, receive advice in general. The libraries also house various voluntary schemes, such as local archives, historical societies and the nation-wide senior citizens' association runs computer classes and the like. During school holidays there are various book and computer related activities for children whose parents are not on holiday.

In smaller towns and villages, free legal advice is provided at the libraries on a fixed date every month. All these activities tend to bring people who would not usually go to a library in to them and most are curious enough to look around and perhaps borrow a book, cd, or dvd, while they are there.
As the public library catalogues have been on a homepage for years now, you can reserve books from your nearest public library or any other in the country over the computer and collect them when they are in. You can also access the various university libraries, the Royal Library, public archives etc. by computer, either from your home or from the nearest library. Books that research libraries do not permit you to take home, can be made available in the reading room of your nearest public library.

School children regularly are taken to visit the children's sections of the library and encouraged to read there, or take books home.

All public libraries are still funded by the state, and paid for by tax-payers through income tax, rates, etc.

We have managed to retain some of our libraries by making sure that they are well used. For example we have a singing for fun group every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, knitting and other craft sessions run by volunteers, classes and lectures at relatively low cost and lots of free community activities that happen all the time,; young mums, toddler story time, clapping and choruses for toddlers, knitting and nattering etc etc etc.

With regard to books we have adopted an ebook system, it was OpenBook but we have just changed to the much bigger BorrowBox system of downloadable ebooks, which saves money by providing books to read for those who would rather not visit the library, but actually it increases both revenue AND footfall, because so many authors now write in series so the ebook first in the series is available but not the others so as soon as someone reads and enjoys the first in the series they then reserve order the next as an actual printed book and have to visit the library to collect it and return it, when they hear us lot singing and join in. Ok it doesn’t ALWAYS work like that but you have to think out of the box, make suggestions to whoever controls the library purse strings and keep nagging everyone you know to visit and USE the library.

Sadly the lovely one they closed hasnt even been sold for any other use its just sitting there unused-its in centre of a small town& this is quite a busy town -shops& houses& schools all around it even small supermarkets and workplaces-with a good bus route too, so its not a rural one where no one went in!im mystified as to why it was closed.And more than a little annoyed.we were not consulted- i went one day and there was a sign on door saying it had been closed down!It had one closing day every mid- week but surely they could have simply had two closing days and seen if that helped first?or cut staff to one rather than 2?(as it is theyve BOTH now lost their jobs)Ludicrous!

I try to use our library but the wait for books is quite long so I often end up buying..having trawled the charity shops. Our book Club sets books 6 months ahead so we have a day out searching or copies in the various charity outlets!

Ive always supported libraries and encouraged my kids to go too.(even my youngest,almost 16 goes occasionally)it depends on your mindset i guess- i taught my kids to read at an early age(4)and ive always instilled in them a love of books- many parents dont these days so its a dying trend i suppose.I always buy a book for GC at christmas as well as a toy.and often for their parents too!What about the councils re- instating the 'older fashioned' mobile libraries for the areas where theyve closed down branches?to make it easier for elderly or disabled or busy people??younger ones like things to 'come to them' so with later times that might work.?

Here in North Somerset we are lucky, not only is it a fairly new building but it has extended open hours via the use of a code on the door, its unmanned. The rest of the time it open full time except for Monday when its closed and is also open half day Saturday and Sunday. The library has computers to use, toilets and a coffee machine with the added bonus of a meeting room for use. You often see students at the computers doing what ever students do and runs classes for people to learn the basics of using a computer. It does a huge service in ordering in books for the many reading book clubs in town and seems to be well used by all ages. Long may it last.

And yes there was usually quite a few 'intermediate' ages in- mums who had dropped children at school so had time to browse,people my age(50's) younger ones who needed computers.etc...

Theyve closed one small one in my nearest town but i cant fathom why as it was ALWAYS busy when i went in!! I can fully understand closing ones that arent used hardly but this one was always very busy.

where i live now has some of the best opening hours for a library and the staff are fantastic. trouble is these days you can see a book online download and read it without moving from your chair which is what modern people want. though the computers in libraries are used more and more homes have internet access plus with phones and ipads its cheaper and easier to go on line. things like dvd rentals and cd books must also now be suffering in usage. i think libraries are the hub of a community but with all these things happening they will have to come up with something pretty dramatic to survive. i would be lost without my weekly visit and my 12 books btw im 54

Where I live, we had 2 main libraries serving 2 towns and a further 3 branch libraries. In the cuts the 2 main libraries remained open but the branch libraries are all manned by volunteers as that was the only way they could stay open - and it is working. Volunteers are keeping those libraries open.

Woolwich library in SE London has been closed down and rebuilt in another part of Woolwich. There are computers for adults and children and teenagers who have not got access to a computer. Not every child in Woolwich has parents that can afford them.
The library is always busy.

I have used libraries since I was a child and think they are marvellous places for young, middle-aged and older people. One can read the newspaper, use the computer, borrow video( I do not avail myself of those particular services) and of course books. Two local part time libraries have closed in this vicinity but a brand spanking new modern style area library, archive and museum to (including a cafe) is currently being built on the site of our old beloved infant school with the assistance of Lottery Funding and I am looking forward to using this facility when completed, next Autumn hopefully.

Libraries closing non stop. All the out of town centres have gone over the past 2 years. Smaller communities have to travel to access library facilities. Local authority closing premises probably to sell off.

Our village library is now called a community library run by volunteers. The county library service provide the books and IT and they have paid staff in the central libraries who can give us help if we have any difficulties.

We have increased our footfall by providing craft afternoons and a Lego club, coffee and magazines. I love working there and meeting other generations from the village. It has become a hub for information and people dropping in for a chat and a drink

We have to accept that people do not need libraries the way they did. Research is done on line, casual reading through cheap deals on books at supermarkets or charity shops. The service is used by the retired and the young. Our aim is to get the young reading and we have many challenges to keep them doing so.

A little bit different.
We used to have a mobile library but it has been stopped due to reduced Council funding. It was mainly used by the housebound and elderly in our community.
I am a member of a very active WI. We have 2 members who operate a book stall at our monthly meetings. Members bring in newish books and books of interest and members can take one away for 50p. When they have read them, they bring them back. If books don't move, they are taken to a local charity shop. The proceeds go to an agreed charity and this year we have over £100 to give to the local charity of our choice.

Our main town library - brand new some 10 years ago - and my local library are both well-supported, and although small branches in outlying villages have converted to community-run status, they also seem to be doing quite well. Various community groups use the libraries for meetings (Knit & Natter, Bridge Clubs etc) and the branch nearest my home also has the occasional lecture where you pay a couple of pounds, get a very interesting talk and tea/coffee and biscuits.

I reserve books on line (it's free here over the age of 65) and although I don't have an e-reader a large number of e-books are available through the library service. So I think I'm very lucky to have access to this great resource, and I'm so sad for those who don't.

kittylester,

That’s wonderful news. Villagers demonstrating their care for each other in practical ways.

While the rest of us seek to subcontract our care to the government.

Our small library was closed and taken over by a travelling library van once a week,people would be queuing to get in there,all ages as well but even though it was so well attended we eventually lost that as well

We live in Fife and they have already closed many of the small local libraries. They have computers in the larger branches and used to run courses on them. I am not sure if they still do or not. It’s a shame as many of them are hubs of community information as well as providing books.

Our Library was threatened with closure but won a reprieve but is staffed mainly by volunteers. Opening hours have been drastically reduced. It is shortly to move back into the Memorial Hall as part of the renovations being done which, hopefully, will save the Council some money as they own the Hall and won't be paying rent for the previous Library space. There will also be a Cafe and two retail units within the Hall so we hope that will encourage people to use the Library more than at present. It has diversified already to include IT and Internet access for the public and the local Knit and Natter group meet there too. Would be a great shame if, at the end of the three year reprieve it has won, it does close down.

Well! I was part of the team that took over our village library and most people in the village think the library committee are making a better job of it! We have over 30 volunteers.

I am sorry that people lost their jobs but the part time library staff in ours were redeployed. Our parish council undertook to fund a co-ordinator who does the administration.

We let the space when the library is closed to local groups and classes to raise funds for utiliities etc. We have a small cafe when the library is open. We run computer courses and we have a large independent loan system made up from good quality donated books.

Our library is a much more lively and integrated part of the village now

Oh, and we put on talks - mostly given freely by charities or local experts - making a Christmas wreath, family history, sex education in schools, valuation day. We have Saturday Stories, rhymetime and regular open days.

In our village it has been a positive thing.

How funny. I have just received an email asking me to complete an online survey re libraries and cultural services in the Surrey area, prior to a consultation on Jan 4th.
24/7 access, a bias towards catering to the vulnerable and elderly,
volunteers delivering and returning books to less mobile users, should possible spaces within library buildings used for business, lectures and cafes plus asking whether money should be diverted from other council services to fund more library offerings were among the subjects mooted.
We in SWSurrey are well served on all fronts but how many use the services? Many of our buses in the smaller towns and villages are hourly and stop at 7-7.30.
With all the devices in most (if not all) households, knowledge is there for the taking so we must burst the bubble of solitary online entertainment/information in all it's forms, for there to be any uptake in library or cultural services by the 14-60 yr old demographic, according to SCC.

I re-joined our local library recently and had a chat with the lady in charge. I had belonged to this library ages ago, and they now have new premises with lots of other facilities.
I asked if they were worried about libraries closing, she said yes they are, but fingers crossed just got nice new funding from the council. It's a strong Labour council btw.
There were many people there, sitting around reading, or using the computer section.I must make an effort to go there more often.

Our village library is run by volunteers, but I don't know how it is funded. It opens two half weekdays and Saturday morning. They have a wide range of reading material plus newspapers and magazines. DVDs and jigsaws can also be borrowed. They provide a plethora of information on local issues and it's very much a meeting place for local people of all ages. On Saturdays it's always busy with children. They also hold reading groups, poetry readings, children's story time and craft events there. There is also a mobile library for the more remote areas that are not served by buses.