This week is National Libraries Week in the UK. The theme this year is to promote wellbeing and is being promoted with the tagline “My Time. My Space. My Library”
Being a discerning and intelligent bunch reading this I hope I don’t have to tell you the key thing about libraries is use them or lose them. With local councils continuing to make cutbacks library services continue to be vulnerable. If you haven’t visited your local library for a while this week would be an excellent time to put that right.
Before you go check out your local council’s websites as there may very well be special events going on to celebrate the week. Libraries are no longer just about books and you may discover a whole range of activities which will get you socialising and lift spirits. Here on the Isle of Wight, where, as I’ve mentioned many times before I am employed as a relief library assistant in a number of the libraries , this week we are offering activities such as talks about the history of libraries, art courses, Scrabble Club, initiatives to make poppies to commemorate the fallen of World War I in visual displays, reading , dancing, colouring, music and knitting groups as well as special rhyme times, story times, art activities, Lego and Minecraft challenges for children. We will be running sessions to get people to use library resources online. Many areas now offer an on-line book, magazine and audio books facilities free to use for library card holders (here we have recently moved over to Borrowbox and Press Reader which are proving very popular).
On Saturday at Sandown Library I will be doing something which proved to be very successful last year. I am holding a Readers Advisory Day. Hopefully, people will be coming in for advice as what to read next and I’m planning to introduce them to their next favourite author. I will let you know how I get on. Those near enough to the Isle Of Wight can find information about the events I have just mentioned by following this link.
The rest of you will just have to look up your local council website to find out up-to-date information on events throughout the week. Even if your area is not celebrating National Libraries Week why not visit your nearest library sometime during the week for your own celebration. You might just find what you are looking for.
We have been provided with some fact around the use of libraries from the good people at http://www.librariesweek.org/facts.
Be good to yourself. Visit a library this week. Let me know how you get on………………..
reviewsrevues 
Our library’s website is pitiful and doesn’t work..Though their system for returning books is fab, modernized, you don’t need assistance, only for taking books or audio, dvd out…Sometimes I marvel, as kids have regular sessions there and run riot…In Slovakia for such behavior, they would get thrown out…..by other readers, NOT staff. Part of the learning, one has to be respectful to others’ peace and quiet…Not many places left for silence…
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I think for libraries in the UK to survive most areas have had to really broaden out from what was traditionally going on and that can mean noisier kids events. Working in the libraries one of the thing you do hear now and again from users is “I thought libraries were supposed to be quiet” and most of the time they are, but that is not always the case!
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call me old fashioned, but I have no problem to complain. For me a library is sacrosanct, I don’t do church going. That is precise the reason why I go there, peace and quiet, NOT listening to some SNOTTY MISBEHAVED brat…who was NEVER TOLD OFF to keep it down and have respect to other library users….That’s how I was taught and brought up and wouldn’t expect anyhow else…
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Oh Monika. I’m with you all the way on that.
I use our reference library quite a lot.
Last time a woman was told quite politely, that her child could not come in with the ice cream. Poor librarian was subject to a barrage of abuse.
Downstairs in the lending library there is an area for children and across the road is a children’s library.
Like Monika I don’t go to church, a library for me is a place of worship.
I love the smell of a library, I love (in ours) the old, scarred tables.
I think I’m due a trip.
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