Libraries.

[yello]

Sadly, not for years.... the books are all in French

Used to go irregularly when I lived in the UK. Shame really as the Marylebone library was (is still, I hope!) superb. More often than not though my visit was for videos or dvds. I used to read a great deal (fiction) right up until I went to university then I reckon academic texts killed my desire to read. I probably read maybe only 3 or 4 books a year now.

 

[mark barker]

We often pop in on a Saturday if we're in town, my daughter gets a stack of books out - she reads books so fast it's a waste buying them for her unless it's a 10p car boot bargain. We get DVDs from our too!

Exactly the same! My eldest daughter gets through books at an alarming rate, so we're at the library every saturday morning.

 

[pepecat]

I work in one!
But it's a University library......

 

[philipbh]

...noted for the seaserpents and dragons and the portions marked 'here be beasties'.

One thing. The library in Brixton is always full of young people studying. It's sometimes difficult to get a seat.

Britsih Library map section - quietist place on earth IME

 

[beanzontoast]

I loved the library at Uni - found it far easier to work there than in my lodge where there were always interruptions and distractions. Plus it had a gorgeous smell to it - all polished wood tables, carpets and of course the books. A wonderfully peaceful place for reflection too.

Our local library is a very airy modern multi-use building with internet access. The only downside is, being bigger then the old one, the bookshelves are so much further apart it gives the impression (rightly or wrongly) of there being not enough books!

 

[rich p]

We have a very fine new library which is a visual delight but the books in it are a pretty ropey selection. I hire CDs though as a try before you buy option but rarely take books out.
Last visit was several months ago so this thread has inspired me to pop in soon. Thanks Longers!

As Dell says, it seems to be less of a silent and sacrosanct book repositiry and more of an internet learning centre. Fine by me.

 

[Vidor06]

I am the same as Mark Barber and 3BM. My eldest daughter reads huge amounts of books and has quickly exhausted all the likely books in our local library. Luckily instead of individual library boards in NI we now have Libraries NI and you can borrow and return at any library in the country so we just go to the next one and it is still within walking distance of our house. My wife takes her every week and I go fairly regularly.

 

[taxing]

It's rare that I go to the public library because I don't like their filing system, they have less books than the university library, and I can only keep books out for 2 weeks. Uni library I go to every fortnight or so I reckon, I can have a max of 40 books out for 14 weeks!

 

[marinyork]

I go to central library and a couple of branch libraries every couple of weeks. I would actually call in quite a more bit often but there are no sheffield stands at quite a few of the cities libraries (the ones I use). I use the reference library in splurges. I'll probably use the university library over the winter. Book stock has declined massively and I don't mean that as the rather pompous people who walk into libraries and demand it have their book in and get upset when it isn't and say well I'm never using this library. I feel very sad as I feel that in the current climate we're about to go through another massive binge of library closures like in the 1990s.

 

[Dayvo]

I love libraries!

If I lived in the UK I could happily spend days on end in them.

Some have a small coffee area, but I don't like the ones with a kiddies' bloody creche in them!

 

[biggs682]

about 1 every couple of weeks , 1 book at a time

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

My local library seems to have lost an awful lot of space to computers and things including the council's front office for the public. I've been there to see the duty planner but the book selection really is a shadow of what used to be available. I miss a decent library.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Manchester libraries are great, can do all sorts of things online - including lately downloading audio books and e books!! Can reserve, browse, renew etc etc all online. Also useful if planning an overseas trip as the travel guides etc come in very handy. My recreational reading has taken a bit of a nosedive since commuting to work on my bike (no more 1hr + a day on public transport to read) but I was using my library often enough back then to be upgraded on my book allowance I think I can have 12 out at once now rather than 8.

Also forgot to say that you can drop off books at any Manchester branch, which makes life easier.

[edit, anyone know why I've lost my linebreaks when editing my post?]

 

[marinyork]

What e-books can you download? That is fascinating. Classics and other out of copywrite books or more than that?

 

[SavageHoutkop]

What e-books can you download? That is fascinating. Classics and other out of copywrite books or more than that?

Nope, they've made it DRM'd so you get it for two weeks (or alternate period with some flexibility but not much) and then it 'expires' - see here

Only recently started up but seems very popular; and they are increasing the titles.
I've read about four ebooks (we got them for our train trip round Europe) and Mr SHK had the audiobook of the Ghost to keep him entertained. Both worked flawlessly on Win 7 using the required software.