Further to my earlier post on this thread, I was given some further reminders about my library experiences during discussions with a friend this morning.
First, I had forgotten the extent to which library services have diminished over the last decade. For example, our local libraries no longer stock music cds to borrow. In addition, whilst in my local library this morning, I was appalled to see that they no longer lend dvds.
Also, our so-called librarians are no longer librarians. Of course they are always very helpful and do their best to help the borrower but they simply do not have the knowledge of, or perhaps even the liking for, books that "proper" librarians have. So, if a requested author is not in stock, a librarian could suggest an alternative author, which the non-librarians cannot. Most of the time the women (mostly women) who sit behind the library counter are also sitting behind computers. Their job includes a lot of council admin work e.g. dealing with council tax, arranging for replacement wheelie bins and that sort of thing.
In addition, libraries used to display community information e.g. lists of tradespeople, local events etc. Since the library was refurbished, these have all gone. So, another source of local information is lost to people. When I first moved into the area, I used these information boards a lot.
blessmycottonsocks mentioned a few posts ago that s/he saved £100 on Stephen King books by borrowing them from the library. Well, of course poor folks such as I was cannot afford £100 on books so they must use libraries to get reading material. In addition, our libraries stock audio books. These were way out of my financial league to buy when I had little money. In addition, if you happen to be poor AND to have problems with your vision, then one needs audio books. Libraries also stock Large Print books which assist those with sight problems and little money. Our library also stocks local newspapers and telephone directories and other reference material of that nature. These are all things that poor folks need to access because they cannot do so at home.
In fact, when I was poor and visiting my library several times weekly, I got to know other regulars and we would frequently have a chat. So another function of libraries is to keep communities on the go. Without libraries, without High St. shops, without bank branches etc, etc, town centres are turning into deserts. Under these circumstances communities die with the result that people become terribly isolated and therefore become frightened.