Booking Through Thursday: On the subject of libraries
April 2, 2009 by Rob
Filed under Uncategorized
It’s Thursday already so time for another Booking Through Thursday meme and this week, with National Library Week coming up in the US this month, Debs is exploring the subject of libraries, and how often we use them. Here’s the question(s):
How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? Did you go to the library as a child? Do you have any particular memories of the library? Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?
I’ll begin by saying that I do use my library a fair bit (that’s a pic of it on the right – click to enlarge). Sadly not as much as I used to but still once or twice every couple of weeks depending on my bookish needs. While studying for my last degree I used to use my local library a lot more, mainly for ‘quiet time’, although increasingly I found that ‘quiet time’ was a hard thing to find in my local library – people on mobiles phones, couples having conversations, kids climbing on bookshelves, heck even librarians shouting across the floor to one another. I’ve got to admit that noise in libraries is one of my pet hates! I mean what’s wrong with people today? What happened to treating libraries as sacrosanct? Is this an early sign of societal breakdown? I truly think so!! 
)
Thankfully my university library (University of St. Andrews) was a different story with regards to peace ‘n’ quiet. As I discussed in a recent Bookshelf of the Week feature I used THIS centuries-old library for study and it was an absolute delight, a place where one really could hear a pin drop.
As to whether the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? I think many libraries are trying to turn themselves into coffeehouses/bookstores, and although I can see why they are trying to do this i.e. in order to raise visitor numbers, I’m a complete traditionalist and I strongly believe they are separate entities and should remain that way (not a very open attitude for promoting growth I know, but I’m an ‘old’ fuddy-duddy! )).
Childhood memories of libraries? Absolutely! I loved, I mean LOVED going to the library as a youngster (from around age 6). They were always magical places of mystery and promise to me; places where I had an infinite choice of books to read, and all for free. I always remember getting butterflies when it was ‘library day’ with my dad (usually a Thursday evening), and I always remember coming home with an armful of books and a big smile on my face.
Final question – modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries? If you’ve read this far then I don’t think I even need to answer this )
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Rob, a self-confessed bibliophile, is without any hope of rehabilitation. He gets unnaturally excited over anything book-shaped, and if book sniffing were a crime then he would have been locked up years ago (which wouldn't bother him in the slightest provided his cell were lined with books)
That looks like a really lovely library, I do prefer the older ones! I used to use the library a lot at uni as well, the only way for me to get some work done was to deposit myself in the silent section and get on with it. I too have very fond memories of libraries when I was a child, I think it was exciting as there was so much choice and you knew that you could come back again next week! Happy BTT!
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Love you post too
I sure know about the butterflies when it came to be library day.
Very lovely entrance to your library
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What a beautiful library! Thanks for sharing
And it really nice to remember your childhood library as it should be. I use to love my school library and contantly visit it daily. I sit down on table and start reading during my lunch break *grin*
I wish you a Happy BTTs, have a good Thursday!
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That’s a lovely entrance to the library! Sadly, I don’t frequent the library as much as I do a few years back. I blame it on time constraint… however, I might want to bring my young daughter to one one day soon. It’s always good to cultivate good reading habits from young, isn’t it?
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I don’t like nosy libraries either. But y mum’s a librarian and It was instilled in me from a young age that librares should be quiet!
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I made use of libraries in my UG/PG years but that was to study course books, not fiction. I think I read fiction in my school library.
And I too hate noisy libraries.
Booking through libraries
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What a great picture! The library looks lovely.
I use my library mainly for DVDs and audio books, although sometimes I’ll get some hardcovers from them.
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Nice post. I love old libraries.
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wow…thats a library almost out of a fairy tale.
I agree what you say about libraries introducing coffee houses and all, it gets in people who are not interested in reading too. Glad you have such nice childhood memories.
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I love a quiet library as well. The library I work in has a quiet floor, because on the other floors they like to keep the environment light and fun. I am a big fan of the quiet floor.
http://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/booking-through-thursday-42.html
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Great post! Happy BTT!
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I so agree about libraries and quiet time. Thankfully mine has a sign on the door that says you cannot use cell phones. But if you are around the computers people are talking to each other. I know when I go in there I whisper – even when talking with the staff
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I agree with you. I had a little rant in my answer about how libraries are so disgustingly noisy now. Apparently, quiet libraries went out of fashion…except that I never knew it was part of a fashion trend! My uni library was slightly better but one couldn’t hear a pin drop. Peace and quiet in a library is such a luxury now.
St Andrews sounds marvellous. I’ve been investigating potential uni’s for a potential Masters/PhD..
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Your love for libraries as a child sounds like mine — and I think I am rediscovering it through this question!
I would love to go to a quiet historic library. I think you’re right that the library and the coffeehouse/bookstore should remain separate entities.
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I was such a magnet to libraries when I was young. I still remembered that sensation of getting my library card—that felt so privileged and special!
I would really hate to see libraries being taken over by coffeeshops and bookstores because libraries are to me the last resort where I can sit and read quietly.
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Awesome post. Surprised that the noise in the library though. I didn’t think it would’ve been possible. I agree that many libraries are trying to go for the coffeeshop atmosphere to lure more people. Haven’t seen it happen around here yet though. Here is my answer. Cheers!
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Libraries are simply wonderful. I’d be lost without mine. Although, I don’t browse as much as I used to do. I reserve my books online and pick them up. My boys love the library though and have their favorite shelves and sections!
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