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.
A couple of today's photos of the library/post office/community hub.
The strange thing is that although the library has been renamed as a community hub, everyone still calls it the library. Even the notice on the old post office states that they have moved to the library.
I call our town centre’s shopping arcade, the arndale centre, and it hasn’t been called that for years. I can’t even remember what they call it now! I guess I just like the old name
I hope our libraries don’t change into hubs or change too much, I kind of like them as they are.