Library
In the centre of Birmingham, I overheard this exchange between a mother and her 5 or six year old daughter:
Mum: …and then we’ll go to the Library. Daughter (bouncing up and down with excitement): Yay! I love going to the library! Yippee!
Talk about the perfect kid.
On the subject of libraries, we now have a library literally four doors down from our house. It’s pretty tiny, and has somewhat eccentric opening hours, but… a library! Practically on our doorstep! Better still, you can reserve any book in the entire Birmingham library system online, and have it delivered to your local library.
Mmmm. Books.
1
Here in North Finchley we have a reasonable library, but it is filled with Chick-lit and books written by, and for, women; the rest is, or was, for school children and a few men. I spent years complaining that search though I might I could find none of the greats; no Eliot, no Bronte, no Jane Austen, no Zola; so, in my best Victor Meldrew manner, I complained every time I went in there. After a few years, I walked in and the Librarian beckoned me over and led me to a whole section of Classics; Conrad, Camus, Wilkie Collins, though personally, I could have managed without Dickens. Dickens wrote serials for weekly magazines, and was paid by the word - it explains a lot.......
by Jonathan Briggs @ 23/08/2006 5:09 pm • Permalink •
2
Libraries are indeed wonderful institutions and represent so many things we love: literacy, calm, public space, and an effective example of government providing wonderful services which the private sector never would. (In short, pretty much everything George W. would disapprove of-making them all the more delicious and necessary.)
Alas, at the risk of being alarmist, the physical library appears to be in some danger. With the web et al, libraries increasingly view themselves as purveyors/keepers and organizers of data. Increasing amounts of their budget go into purchasing electronic databases etc. They boast of being accessible from home via web services. Services like Google or Safari store books on-line. Graduate programs which used to be called "library science" are now "information studies". A favorite joke among librarians is to call libraries "The L-Word". Librarians speak increasingly of "the virtual library". There is also the world-wide decrease in public funding for worthwhile goals.
On the other hand, people still love going to libraries, and still love books. My local libraries are always crowded, even though this area might not be considered prime library country. While there are zillions of worthy causes these days, the public library is definitley one worth supporting.
by Tim @ 23/08/2006 10:08 pm • Permalink •
3
I love it when kids are enthusiastic about libraries. So many parents don't like libraries and teach their kids not to like them. But I remember when I was younger, a library was like the greatest wonder in the worldânow it's a tie between libraries and the internet.
by allgood2 @ 23/08/2006 10:09 pm • Permalink •
4
Our local (village) library is also busy, opens a couple of days a week and started Saturday mornings as well.There are changes with DVDs and CDs being available, not many classics on the shelves, but that's what the locals want and why they keep going. They cycle the stock well and will get whatever (within reason) you want. Are the changes forced on them by demand for more digital services and education policies?
by Julian @ 25/08/2006 6:08 am • Permalink •
5
When I was nobbut a lad, and living near The Portobello Road (of "Notting Hill" fame), "Boots the Chemist" used to have a library at the back of the shop, where we could borrow books for 1d each (1/240 th of a Pound). A lot of money for a 10 year old in 1955, apart from letting us understand that books have a value apart from their literary merit, it also engendered a sense of responsibility with regard to the care of the book.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 25/08/2006 7:09 am • Permalink •
6
Cor! A free Nanny!
We used to watch "The Man in Black", Valantine Dyall, who on Saturday nights would have a spooky half hour in "Saturdy Club" IIRC, We would then read his book of tales of "The Mad Monk of Capratino" (Rasputin), and "The wizard of the Quantock Hills" with stories of perpetuaul motion, and new life forms in Bell Jars, leery stuff for a 7 year old. But I really ducked behind the sofa during the original "Quatermass Experiment" on television!
by Jonathan Briggs @ 25/08/2006 11:09 am • Permalink •
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A few years back, day out with 4 year old daughter....."and now, were're going to visit a castle" Daughter: "Oh goody!!!" Mystified, drove on. "We're here now!" Daughter: "That's not a bouncy castle"
Do you get bouncy libraries?
Even more years back, aged about 9, having devoured the childrens library and got into other stuff. Reserved a book by an author I'd been told about - E.A.Poe. The librarian phoned my dad to ask if I could have it. He said yes - I kindof wish he'd said no, gave me nighmares for weeks.
by Ham @ 25/08/2006 11:09 am • Permalink •
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