Published on 12, July, 2020
When I was young I used to enjoy visits to libraries, they were a place of refuge. Peaceful, quiet, a nice atmosphere, the smell of books. And I enjoyed reading.
Now .it's all changed.
My local library ( as have most of the libraries in the city) has been refurbished and renamed a community hub.
Now there are few books, .lots of computers, uniformed security guards, meeting rooms, help and advice experts on council services, jobs & benefits. And finally the local post office has closed down and moved into this library itself.
On one side of the room there is a bookcase and next to it a queue of people using the post office.
I miss the old traditional libraries. With wooden bookshelves, books, a librarian and cardboard library tickets in books with dated stamps.
I love libraries too. We have three - one is walking distance and two are a short drive. They are all of the book-filled variety. I remember the one down the road when I lived 'oop north' - I spent hours in there as a four year old hoovering up knowledge and data. I loved the non-fiction area - loads of things about planes, cars, trains, animals, buildings and some were filled with colourful pictures (this was the late 60s)
I could never see the point of story books - I'd have to read hundreds of pages with no technical data - why? I think I've only read a small number because it seemed to be a lot of effort with little return.