Saturday 9 February 2013

National Libraries Day!



Today is National Libraries Day (NLD) and whilst some may say it is a shame that it takes the naming of a day for people to speak up about why they love these valuable resources it is a chance to focus on what makes them special and share with others.

My earliest memories of the local library are taking out Asterix & Obelix and Tintin books ON MY OWN CARD which transported me through time and space and took me on new and interesting adventures (until I exhausted the library’s stock and started all over again). This naturally moved my curious mind into the children’s reference section until that wasn’t enough and I ventured beyond the safety of the brightly coloured chairs and wall friezes and into the land of grown-up books! As a child new books were few and far between in our house, but a short walk to the library could entertain me and my younger brother and we could return with armfuls of books to keep us quiet for the rest of the day.

As I grew older my library card was always with me. I later discovered the central library with its archives and THREE FLOORS OF STUFF! It was about this time that I started getting into music and realised that the money I had went a lot further with a library card and a packet of TDK tapes that it ever would in Our Price or Wooly’s! But I won’t dwell on that any longer. With all that had gone before it was no surprise that I went on to become a library prefect and later head to Uni to study books (or English Literature as they called it). It goes without saying that I was in and out of the library for my essays but it was when I went on to do a research masters that things seem to go full circle. I was that wide-eyed child again, opening new worlds as rooms full of books and computers were at my disposal to stretch my mind and ask new questions.

Since leaving uni my relationship with libraries has naturally changed. Long gone are the 8 hour stints surrounded by textbooks but instead I’m now lucky enough to be paid to go to libraries (in the interest of full disclosure!). I get to share my love of libraries with everyone I meet and encounter some real library champions along the way. I still take out books and music but I also take out films for a week at a time and it costs me less than a three night rental from Blockbuster (as it stands libraries may soon be the only places you can rent films and games that aren't online) and I get to use internet-connected computers for free.

It is because of my love for this service that I gave four hours earlier today to volunteer in a library showing people how to access the elibrary and emagazines available free to all library members. Libraries are wonderful spaces and with Post Offices and local pubs closing they are strong community hubs but they are also looking forward and capturing the imaginations of a generation of ereaders and internet-savvy library members. So today I don’t want to desperately hold on to the library of my youth but celebrate the library service that has grown up with me, that has been so many different things for me according to my need and still means so much.