tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post7326494132457790858..comments2024-03-16T07:27:27.752+00:00Comments on Novel Points of View: LibrariesRae Cowiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213969901991611348noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-47001370197060173182012-01-23T10:39:23.845+00:002012-01-23T10:39:23.845+00:00Thanks, Linda.
Unfortunately Dumfries & Gallo...Thanks, Linda. <br />Unfortunately Dumfries & Galloway seems somehow to have been able to opt out of PLR. I don't know how that's possible but it seems so.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-38132395341581532122012-01-21T11:13:25.316+00:002012-01-21T11:13:25.316+00:00Feel very flattered that my post triggered such a ...Feel very flattered that my post triggered such a brilliant post from you, Mary......and yes, those little cards with our names on - how I remember those. And the smell! I love that fusty, old book smell which all libraries had way back then...:)And the paper in many of the books was so thin! So tactile....leather covers, too....ooh, I must stop - maybe it's writing historical novels that makes me think this way? <br />Libraries are soooooo important....not least for our PLR...must dig out my library card seeing as Paignton has the most wonderful, new (yes NEW!!), swanky library.Linda Mitchelmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10948518126405880012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-1475951487084280572012-01-18T23:23:37.831+00:002012-01-18T23:23:37.831+00:00Thanks for your comment, Gill. I love the idea of ...Thanks for your comment, Gill. I love the idea of you popping into any library to see what they had. There was only one in my vicinty!Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-8673053002617454412012-01-18T08:59:39.162+00:002012-01-18T08:59:39.162+00:00OOO libraries. This post reminded me of how centr...OOO libraries. This post reminded me of how central they were to my own childhood and how many happy memories they evoke. When, a few years ago, I went back to the part of Cheshire where we lived from when I was aged 9 to 15, my mother was amazed at how many of my memories were linked to libraries. I knew where they all were, and once I worked out that as a member I was allowed to take books out of any branch, I used to visit any I happened to be near to see what their selection of books was like. Happy days.Gill Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03139563775181908912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-14155290494469298682012-01-16T23:08:44.537+00:002012-01-16T23:08:44.537+00:00I'm glad you liked the post, Gwen. We are inde...I'm glad you liked the post, Gwen. We are indeed lucky. I was amazed to read that people objected to public money being spent on libraries for everyone to use - did they think poor people didn't deserve to read books?Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-86094273466650728002012-01-16T21:14:49.534+00:002012-01-16T21:14:49.534+00:00Thought provoking post, Mary. I'm sure a lot o...Thought provoking post, Mary. I'm sure a lot of librarians would appreciate it. Our primary school library consisted of three wooden boxes brought from the town library and changed every six weeks. The same ones often reappeared. I remember how much I loved Bambi.<br />I believe there is a Thomas Telford library at Eskdalemuir because he educated himself from books. I think a school master helped him get hold of them. Makes you think how lucky we are.Gwen Kirkwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17201272628774727921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-12309324959914753672012-01-16T20:09:58.396+00:002012-01-16T20:09:58.396+00:00Thanks for your comment, Joan. It's funny, I d...Thanks for your comment, Joan. It's funny, I don't remember the smell of the library - but I did think I could hear the books breathing in the quietness.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-12842989233963151802012-01-16T16:04:31.631+00:002012-01-16T16:04:31.631+00:00Great post, Mary. It's one that so many of us ...Great post, Mary. It's one that so many of us can identify with. I remember so well the smell of the library - I came to associate it with the pleasure of reading the books I chose. Libraries smell different now, but just as invitng.Joan Fleminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09629276914643471249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-38076181379299352232012-01-16T15:53:28.040+00:002012-01-16T15:53:28.040+00:00Rosemary, you are so right about the sense of anti...Rosemary, you are so right about the sense of anticipation - all those books just waiting for me to open them! I usually know what I want to borrow but I've also started to choose an additional book at random which has been interesting.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-67697336044937619352012-01-16T11:41:49.299+00:002012-01-16T11:41:49.299+00:00Great post, Mary - I too remember the delight of b...Great post, Mary - I too remember the delight of being let loose in front of all those wonderful books. So many adventures and mysteries waiting for me! We don't have a library in our small village but I really should make an effort to visit the one in the nearest town - too used to owning books now. But I still love the atmosphere and sense of anticipation.Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-27721850871678292942012-01-16T11:22:12.393+00:002012-01-16T11:22:12.393+00:00Maggie, thanks for your comments. This blog seems ...Maggie, thanks for your comments. This blog seems to have triggered lots of memories for people. Interesting to see that people who write today started out as avid readers and users of their local library. I bet that was when most of us first started writing. My 'books' were written on wallpaper off cuts! <br />My local library is still fairly well stocked and they will get books in from other libraries for a 75p fee - still cheaper than most Kindle editions. I think Kindle is great for holiday reading or when travelling but, like you, I much prefer the feel of a real book in my hand.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-52687493103655935522012-01-16T11:14:30.224+00:002012-01-16T11:14:30.224+00:00Thanks, Michael. I felt a bit of a hypocrite one d...Thanks, Michael. I felt a bit of a hypocrite one day when moaning about the proposed cuts and closures and decided signing a petition was a bit of a cop out.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-57476516629405388892012-01-16T10:55:41.912+00:002012-01-16T10:55:41.912+00:00Oh, what memories your blog brought back, Mary! I ...Oh, what memories your blog brought back, Mary! I remember the little brown folder thing too, and the librarian saying to me, 'You most certainly can NOT take out 'Les Miserables' - you're far too young!' I was eight, I think, and it was the title which grabbed my attention and intrigued me. Suffice to say, my mother appeared instantly at my side, a martial glint in her eye, and I got the book! Like you, my parents were avid readers so it was a once a week trip to the library for my sisters and I, and oh the joy when I was finally allowed to take out as many books at a time as I wanted instead of just four which never saw me through the week. I'm a member of my local library, but it's a sad replica of the libraries I remember as a child. It has so few books, the shelves are only ever half filled, and yet it boasts six state of the art computers. The librarian told me they just don't have enough money to buy more books which is appalling. As a child - and an adult - I derived such pleasure from books. They took me to unknown worlds, made me laugh, made me cry, terrified me witless, and uplifed me when I felt down. It's such a true saying that you are never alone if you have a good book to read, and though Kindles and computers are marvellous pieces of technology this old dinosaur still feels there is nothing better than cuddling up on the sofa with a book in your handMaggie Kingsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12338137535007998534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-76878357214902864352012-01-16T10:49:47.868+00:002012-01-16T10:49:47.868+00:00Loved this post, Mary. Brought back many memories....Loved this post, Mary. Brought back many memories. Like you, I have recently made more of an effort to use my local library. If we don't use it, we will lose it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-84788610865676704752012-01-16T10:45:29.043+00:002012-01-16T10:45:29.043+00:00Thanks, Myra. I was never a member of a Boots libr...Thanks, Myra. I was never a member of a Boots library but years ago when I worked for Oxfam we often received books with the library labels. <br />I had written something about the reading room but took it out because I felt the post was long enough but I keep wondering this morning about all those old (to me as a child) men who read the papers in silence. Did they meet up later to discuss what they'd read?Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-58140905918292266502012-01-16T10:17:25.235+00:002012-01-16T10:17:25.235+00:00Memories indeed,Mary! I even remember when Boots h...Memories indeed,Mary! I even remember when Boots had a lending library though you had to pay a small sum and most of the books were in the romance category.<br />I am a regular member of our local library and it does appal me to see how empty it is is for most of the time, when there are all these books available for free (even cheaper than the 99p charged for so may books on Kindle). Perhaps the recession will encourage people back?myraduffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697152063675260518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-38064780226273160442012-01-15T23:40:07.386+00:002012-01-15T23:40:07.386+00:00Thanks, Sara, glad you enjoyed it. I hope people w...Thanks, Sara, glad you enjoyed it. I hope people will realise the value of what libraries have to offer before it's too late.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855283511538601375.post-70938033560538779072012-01-15T21:53:37.201+00:002012-01-15T21:53:37.201+00:00Let's hope we can keep them for a long time to...Let's hope we can keep them for a long time to come. Wonderful post, Mary.Sara Bainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10297131235907250162noreply@blogger.com