Wha are libraries like where you live?

Posted by Inevitable-Name-9285@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 42 comments

I’ve lived in London for 13 years and I’ve found council libraries here have a completely different vibe from the library in my hometown (northern, about 90k population, impoverished town). That library was large, well-stocked and usually almost silent. In London, I find libraries so loud. There are children’s events, kids screaming, teenagers hanging around, and general noise even in adult quiet study areas and it’s all tolerated. Even people playing music. I understand libraries are now more of a community hub, which is a good thing for the local area, but it does make them a bit stressful if you need somewhere quiet to read or study. The actual book selection in some London council libraries is limited compared with what I expected which is strange for me because I’d expect a much grander supply than my small town. I tried to find books on Biology for studying and it was really poorly stocked and mainly just Biology for Dummies etc. I was wondering if this is now a common thing and I’m just remembering different days

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42 Comments

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SnowLeopard349@reddit

I don’t even know where my nearest library is 😭

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FunkyYoghurt@reddit

Limited book/reading space. Just full of events all the time. Music groups etc for adults with learning disabilities during the day and clubs for kids after school time. I don't see the issue. I think it's great there are still community spaces, but I think the idea of checking a book out and sitting in the library to read it are long gone. As for your biology books, wouldn't you use your college/university library over a public one?

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Specialist-Mud-6650@reddit

I'm not sure I ever remember public community libraries ever being a place of quiet study. Many of the bigs ones have always had study and quiet areas, but it was never the main focus of any library I remember (outside of unis and specialised reading rooms).

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Hopefulmum@reddit

I feel like this is exactly how a library space is expected to be used! People quietly finding resources, with help if needed, and then using them within the space quietly

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Specialist-Mud-6650@reddit

It's not how public libraries have operated in my memory.

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StrainHappy1367@reddit

I think one of the issues with libraries being a community space is that kids from less well to do backgrounds don't have access to a quiet place with WiFi to study. I think it'd be better for councils to increase spaces for the community, rather than repurpose libraries.

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Inevitable-Name-9285@reddit (OP)

Yeah I like to see them as community spaces and it’s nice, but I also sometimes just want somewhere quiet to sit and read that’s not home. That’s the plan! I am going back to uni as a mature student in September and I can’t wait to use the academic library but I was hoping to do some learning before the course begins

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Specialist-Mud-6650@reddit

You'll be pleased to note you are entirely mistaken about the range of books in London libraries! London libraries have the largest catalogue in the country, significantly larger than any other town. If you want books, you need to be using the inter library catalogue. For free, your local London library will get any books you need from within their network. They have a very, very large network. You request it in app, usually, and it turns up a week later. No wonder your tiny community doesn't have biology books... Yeah, obviously. But they'll have it in the network. The whole point is to avoid redundancy and save space (local libraries are small, and they obviously cater to the most popular books in the local area). Public libraries are community spaces. That's always been the intent of them. They're not study centres. That's what university libraries and reading rooms are for. There's a great set of reading rooms at the British Library if you're not a student.

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B0-Katan@reddit

I don't think it's free. Enfield libraries charge to order books in, even from the network. My local library has an awful selection sadly

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Specialist-Mud-6650@reddit

Ah, is that so? I believe that differs a lot. I live on the Herts/Essex/Cambs border and inter library loans are free in Essex, 50p in Herts and no idea in Cambs.

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B0-Katan@reddit

I'm originally from Herts and I remember it being free! Even the late fees were much, much lower. I loved my old library. I haven't really used mine here, because they never have any books that I want

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Inevitable-Name-9285@reddit (OP)

I’m in Southwark and their academia section isn’t great. There’s a lot on social sciences but I put requests in for university-level biology and chemistry books and they were all turned down. Even in their interloaning network it was just very low level stuff, I know I’ll find more in university libraries but I was a bit annoyed when I couldn’t even find level 3/4 science stuff even from exam boards

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Sad-Peace@reddit

Looks like Southwark isn't in the massive London libraries group (which allows you to borrow between branches) but maybe you could join one in a borough that is? [https://thelibrariesconsortium.org.uk/](https://thelibrariesconsortium.org.uk/)

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liseusester@reddit

It's just not a type of resource that the library is going to find useful to use space on because most people wanting that type of text are going to be university students and have access via their university library. I would recommend looking at the library websites of local universities because most will have some form of non-student membership available. I know London Southbank does (https://library.lsbu.ac.uk/ld.php?content_id=32485570).

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Inevitable-Name-9285@reddit (OP)

I’ll be studying at that uni actually so maybe it’s a good shout, I didn’t know you can just apply as non student

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Specialist-Mud-6650@reddit

I seriously doubt whatever texts you're after don't exist in the entire London library network, sorry. Have you even searched the catalogue?

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Inevitable-Name-9285@reddit (OP)

I stay local to my area and I know Southwark just have the inter-Southwark catalogue. Maybe im mistaken but that’s all I found on their library machines

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wintonian1@reddit

Stopped using it since half the battery is still ks disappeared and they haven't invested in new stock for years. Seems to be just a free social space now.

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Inappropriateout@reddit

You have libraries ? Obligated from the map here……..there used to be 3 - now there are 0

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Hopefulmum@reddit

This makes me really sad 😔

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Inevitable-Name-9285@reddit (OP)

I guess that might be why they become community centres now. Must get more funding/use in a world of digital information so councils will let them drag on longer if they’re multi purpose The one near me even has conference rooms you can hire

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jenny_quest@reddit

Small town in Bedfordshire and my library is very good. There's a kid section where activities are held but easily avoided, the staff put out themed displays eg all random genres of books from Eurovision countries. Newspapers and magazines to read but not borrow (including D and D manuals!) and a really decent two floors of books, they keep getting new ones too. My favourite thing is the community jigsaw they put out each week, everyone has a go. On the top floor there's a library/cinema with a bar. It's a lovely place.

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Dazzling_One_4335@reddit

I spend entire Saturdays in my local library (Glasgow) studying sometimes and the main thing I've learned is that the number of people in the city with genuine mental health issues is massive. There isn't a Saturday goes by where at least two or three people are present exhibiting really serious mental health issues. I wouldn't want to work on a library.

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Yorkshire_Roast@reddit

Yep, as a library worker, we do get our (un)fair share of people with complex mental health needs. As sympathetic as we are towards these people, we don't have the training or the capacity to deal with people who are often unpredictable and difficult to manage. Fortunately, it rarely turns violent but I have been threatened and followed once or twice.

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Low-Cauliflower-5686@reddit

Perhaps seeking comfort in the libraries

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

Well, we have a mobile library service which is pretty sparse and basically a van with books. The nearest library to me is fine though. It is many miles away but it's a good quiet environment to work in. They do run some events which are a bit louder but I'm fine with that. I like to see people (adults and children) around books and doing mindful activities.

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Cuznatch@reddit

This sounds like where I am too. Mobile library comes to the village, and the actual libraries are in the town. There's usually families there, and a few kids / baby sessions a week. Not really anyone there too study, sometimes adults there to use a computer.

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Rosekernow@reddit

My local library is now run by volunteers who do a good job but it’s only usable if you are free between nine and five a couple of days a week. I go in once a year to get some holiday reading books, the day before I leave. They have a lot of clubs and groups mostly for toddlers and retired people. It’s a nice community resource but useless if you’re working anywhere near mainstream hours. The town library has had two serious sexual assaults directly outside, has a problem with aggressive drug users inside and has staff constantly asking why no-one goes in there any more. It would be better shut down and the money used elsewhere, it’s unsafe for customers and staff.

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queljest456@reddit

A lot of the libraries in my parents area were consolidated within leisure centres about a decade ago to save costs. It's worked quite well from what I've heard. I've seen parents grab a book from the library to read whilst their child is at their swimming lesson. Means that they have become more of a community hub, with the leisure centre cafe also serving as the library cafe. The choice of books in the amalgamated ones is decent but they don't have everything. There's still some large libraries in some parts of town with larger selections.

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destria@reddit

My local library is more of a community hub than a quiet work space. There's a large children's section with lots of seating, a cubby hole they can climb into, and they run various events during the week for babies and toddlers. On weekends they do things like Lego or crafting workshops. There are still a few tables with people working on laptops. But there's no expectation of silence or even quiet.

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PingvinPanda@reddit

I'm fortunate to live in a big city (Manchester) with well-resourced libraries. The biggest one in the city centre is incredible - it has a "traditional" lending library, audio and film archive, specialist library on race relations, business and enterprise centre, music library, performance and event space, computers and study areas. The smaller library in my suburb has a massive lending collection, study space and community space. They both host community meet ups (like book clubs, craft clubs) and are open until late into the evening. I can also order in books from any library in the region to pick up from my local one - it's rare I can't find something I want. I feel very lucky to have these spaces and they are an essential for the community. Whilst I was out of work for a while I used the library to get out the house and do job applications - I met so many other people for whom the library is a lifeline as a safe, warm place to be for free, to use the computer (you'd be surprised how many people don't have internet access at home), or study in a suitable environment. In an economy where very little is genuinely free, libraries honestly feel like a revolutionary bastion of true inclusivity.

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gentletonberry@reddit

East Midlands, we have a very good local library that’s large, well stocked with books and also has spaces for kids events, lots of computers. It’s well looked after and used a lot by the local community and generally they have the books I’m looking for, I’ve only occasionally found that their catalogue is missing something I’d like (usually obscure SFF stuff)

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BG3restart@reddit

I'm in the Midlands and recently went to the library with my grandson. It was the first time I'd been in a library in nearly 40 years and was completely different from then. Libraries used to be rows and rows of very tall wooden shelving units full of books, with occasional wider gaps between the rows for a table and chairs. There was a photocopier and a microfiche machine and a lady sat behind a counter to check books out and back in. Everyone was totally silent. On my recent visit, I found a bright, open space with low shelving for books and masses of comfy seating options. There were people chatting, people upstairs on a kind of galleried area using computers, and checking books in and out was done by just piling them on a machine. It was quite refreshing not having to quieten my young grandson down when he got excited about a book or not having to restrict his selection to only three titles. I'll offer to take him again.

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Alternative-Emu2000@reddit

My local library has just been downgraded to a "Reading Room": Just an enquiry desk where you can order books for inter-library loans, and return books you've borrowed. They also replace hearing aid batteries. The only books on display are those that have been returned in the previous week and are waiting to go back to their source libraries. There are a couple of tables for self-study, although I've never actually seen anyone using them.

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Revolutionary_West56@reddit

Agree. When I lived in London my library was run down, busy, hot, I went once and never went back. The library in my home town is lovely, quiet, modern, nice atmosphere and go regularly .

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eeyorethechaotic@reddit

Unfortunately, my local library is now a gym

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SpudFire@reddit

Started using my local one a couple of years ago and whilst it's not huge, I'd say it's about right for the size of my small town. It's generally quiet in there and I know they regularly have events on although I'm not sure what those are like. There is also a much smaller community-run library nearby which falls under the county councils banner and then has a suprisingly well-curated selection of fiction books. And although neither of these libraries will have every book you want, I've used the request service a few times and they've accepted the request and ordered the book in which was a nice surprise. Plus, the online system allows you to request a book to your local library if it's in stock at another of the counties libraries.

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Jenpot@reddit

Affluent suburb, our library is one tiny room with only one librarian, usually very quiet but with a little kids section so sometimes a bit loud. Neighbouring town has a bigger one, it's always quite busy, bit louder because it runs Bookbug (baby/toddler sing-along), reading groups, charity support groups etc. It frequently has school students studying this time of year. There's a silent area for research upstairs.

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Disastrous-Place-846@reddit

I went to the library in my northern very affluent town for the first time this past weekend. Very nice, very quiet, lots of students i guess studying cos it's exam season. But they were all well behaved

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PunimationAnimations@reddit

my local library has a handful of well-aged computers, plenty of kids books, audio books on tape, and a big load of damp destroying a huge chunk of the ceiling... over the top of the kids section. at least, it was like that a year or 2 ago

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Front_Society1353@reddit

Full of homeless people

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