I’m such a fan of the library and consider them vital public ‘third’ spaces for us all. Here in Australia social workers are just starting to be employed by libraries as they are often safe havens for those need to utilise the facilities beyond book borrowing and librarians aren’t trained or qualified in this area of social care.
I live in a small town in Tasmania and my local library has just started a programme where residents can access the building 7am-9pm 7 days a week so now, instead of writing in the corner of my lounge room (I’ve got 4 kids so it’s often chaotic) I have a publicly funded office. This is such tangible creative arts support and I really hope it rolls out in many more states because it’s been life altering for me x
I also use my local library as an office/space for studying due to the lack of privacy and calm in my home (due to teens and animals!) As a social work student, I am fascinated by Australia employing social workers in libraries! Thank you for sharing 😊
So true. My New Year's Resolution was to obtain a library card. I did it on Jan 2nd. So far this year I have read six novels complements of the local library. (3 physical books, 2 audio, and 1 ebook.) When I use up my stockpile of purchased audiobooks, I will borrrow more of them. Mine is small too, but part of a big city library network, so if I'm patient, I can have almost any book I want within 3 or 4 days.
I can literally see my local library from my apartment window. Luckily for me, it *is* Hogwarts-esque and I can't quite believe it every time I walk past. I hope it stays forever.
Free, accessible books should never, ever be taken for granted. I'm challenging myself to buy no new physical books this year and I'm looking forward to scouring the shelves each month to pick up my next reads 🥰
Thank you for always, always showing us that we don't need to live in an ultra-fast, ultra-consumerism world. It doesn't go unnoticed <3
I LOVE libraries! Curious if the libraries in your region offer additional services besides checking out books? Here in my area of the US, libraries have so much to offer - my village library has a seed library, a "library of things" where you can check out small appliances and other special things you might only need to use once, a maker space, a little coffee area and so much more.
Thank you so much for the kind mention lovely! I love what your library has to offer, mine tends just to be books right now but these are some wonderful ideas!
I adore the library and always have since I was child. A whole room of books and I can have any of them?! For free?! Amazing. Though where I live you have to pay to order books so I tend to choose from what’s there unless I really really want something. As £1.50 to order one seems unnecessary 😊
From a car window I passed the library of my childhood, a victorian building but sadly no longer in use. I still felt the magic that used to be inside those walls.
As a young mum with no spare money, our weekly treat would be a visit to the local library and the joy of arriving home with our loot!
Nowadays I read the samples on KIndle and if I like a book, I'll order it online from the library. What a brilliant service, long may it continue!
My first memory of a library was when I was quite a young child and lived in Chiswick in London , was terrifying, It was huge and it was so quiet, I think I was about 8 at the time, my brothers were 6 and 2 Mum told me I could choose some books but the two librarians were very frightening non smiling and my younger brother kept trying to talk and the kept shooshing him, I didn't want any books from there and we never returned. Later School libraries were my favourite haunts. Then when we moved with my dads job to Bracknell New Town I discovered at the bottom of our road a bungalow amongst other ordinary bungalows for elderly people that turned out to be the library, I was now 10 and on investigating this library discovered the lady librarian so much more friendly than the ones in London, not saying she allowed riotous behaviour but she was warmer in her being and never minded us asking questions. That Library years late moved to a specially built shop in the row of shops at the bottom our road. That bungalow library fired up my imagination with so many books for children, to start with it was the Famous Five and their adventures and then more and more adventure books which continued right through to now. I have never read Swallows and Amazons although I have seen the film many times and even at the great age of 71, my heart loves these stories although with the children's freedom during their school holidays even now I am a bit jealous. I love books but I do not like the energy of the Library where I live now, I tend to buy second hand books online now. My eyesight isn't as good as it was but large print books are a boon. It was really that lovely librarian in the bungalow library which due to her kindness and caring about books and the people who used her library that made my love of books grow and feel very special. I love self help books, and still love detective stories and mysteries. I work with crystals and herbs so buy lots of books to do with these subjects. To be honest I could never not have books but real books not electronic books, I love the smell and the feel of them and am building a library of the books of the classics I haven't read yet so that when books finally disappear from shops and libraries I with any luck will have as many books as I love to have and to hold.
Ohh I love a library! Haven’t been in years, maybe I should make a trip sometime soon x loved going as a child practically every Saturday thanks for evoking great memories of my childhood x
I recently wrote abt visiting a library as a kid too! We had a book bag and everything. You’re so right that I had the shelves all memorized… it was such a special time. Now every book is accessible to us easily with a click
Great Read Molly. I remember when the new library in my hometown was built, and it went from being a conservatory to what felt like an endless labyrinth of books. Both librarians also had kids in my class, so it felt like being at a friend's house to visit the library.
This was a wonderful read and I totally agree with everything you have written. I myself belong to our local library and I have recently started frequenting another one in a nearby town. It is delightful! So cosy, lots happening, friendly staff…I would utterly hate it if libraries closed. They also do super book sales which is so affordable and has filled my shelves in the bedroom with enough reading material to last me a lifetime. Jigsaws can be borrowed, knit and natter meetings, computers free to use, free coffee (machine)… a much needed quiet environment for so many people.
Yesssss! We’re obsessed with our libraries too! 😍 we try a new one in our area at least once a month (it’s a free space to take our kids to explore and play✨)
Plus our libraries allow you to borrow anything- from toys to pots and pans💕 LOVE that you shined a light on this beautiful space Molly! I didn’t really use the library until I started using Libby for reading books and saving money. Now I don’t know what I’d do without it you know?
Great advocacy for libraries :) Yes, it's such a good way to read things you wouldn't otherwise - I am not going to pay 10 or 20 Euros for a book I am not relatively sure I will like... and as you say, some people can hardly afford books at all. These days I mostly use my uni library (after I finally discovered that it has quite a wide range of novels, narrative non-fiction etc.) but I hope one day I will live close to a "normal" library again!
So many of our libraries are closing which is sad. Our Elgin branch is still alive and kicking and upstairs you can study and use the computers for courses etc. They have a huge gallery space for art exhibitions and meetings and the carpets are in good condition. I think there is a small fee to order a book. The books tend to be popular fiction and romantic fiction. I used to use the library a lot in the old days but many of the books could do with replacing.
I’m so curious to know how you plan your reading seasonally and what this looks like?
Our local library is above a co-op; it smells a bit fousty and the worn carpet would give you a rash if you sat on it. But my daughter and I just love it.
I recently moved from a mid-size city in California, where I'd lived all my life, to a small town in New Mexico. Back in California, there was a main branch and three smaller branches in the city, and if you couldn't find what you were looking for on the shelves (books, DVDs, and CDs), you could order from any library in the state for free. The town where I now live has a library, but apparently has a very small budget because you're limited to what is on the shelf and cannot order from other libraries. They don't stock music CDs, and any new DVDs have been donated. The librarian told me that new books are only ordered once a year. Quite a change from what I was used to, but I still go and peruse the shelves.
I’m such a fan of the library and consider them vital public ‘third’ spaces for us all. Here in Australia social workers are just starting to be employed by libraries as they are often safe havens for those need to utilise the facilities beyond book borrowing and librarians aren’t trained or qualified in this area of social care.
I live in a small town in Tasmania and my local library has just started a programme where residents can access the building 7am-9pm 7 days a week so now, instead of writing in the corner of my lounge room (I’ve got 4 kids so it’s often chaotic) I have a publicly funded office. This is such tangible creative arts support and I really hope it rolls out in many more states because it’s been life altering for me x
I love this Jodi!
I also use my local library as an office/space for studying due to the lack of privacy and calm in my home (due to teens and animals!) As a social work student, I am fascinated by Australia employing social workers in libraries! Thank you for sharing 😊
So true. My New Year's Resolution was to obtain a library card. I did it on Jan 2nd. So far this year I have read six novels complements of the local library. (3 physical books, 2 audio, and 1 ebook.) When I use up my stockpile of purchased audiobooks, I will borrrow more of them. Mine is small too, but part of a big city library network, so if I'm patient, I can have almost any book I want within 3 or 4 days.
That's so wonderful to hear Marjorie! :)
Love this, as always, Molly.
I can literally see my local library from my apartment window. Luckily for me, it *is* Hogwarts-esque and I can't quite believe it every time I walk past. I hope it stays forever.
Free, accessible books should never, ever be taken for granted. I'm challenging myself to buy no new physical books this year and I'm looking forward to scouring the shelves each month to pick up my next reads 🥰
Thank you for always, always showing us that we don't need to live in an ultra-fast, ultra-consumerism world. It doesn't go unnoticed <3
Thank you lovely! Your library sounds wonderful and what a inspiring challenge 💚✨
I LOVE libraries! Curious if the libraries in your region offer additional services besides checking out books? Here in my area of the US, libraries have so much to offer - my village library has a seed library, a "library of things" where you can check out small appliances and other special things you might only need to use once, a maker space, a little coffee area and so much more.
Anyway, thanks for this great post - it came through just in time as I was working on a post about cultivating a sense of abundance (from the library) and using the local library was one of my tips! I linked to your post here: https://meaganfrancis.substack.com/i/156961404/what-does-it-mean-to-experience-abundance
Thank you so much for the kind mention lovely! I love what your library has to offer, mine tends just to be books right now but these are some wonderful ideas!
I adore the library and always have since I was child. A whole room of books and I can have any of them?! For free?! Amazing. Though where I live you have to pay to order books so I tend to choose from what’s there unless I really really want something. As £1.50 to order one seems unnecessary 😊
From a car window I passed the library of my childhood, a victorian building but sadly no longer in use. I still felt the magic that used to be inside those walls.
As a young mum with no spare money, our weekly treat would be a visit to the local library and the joy of arriving home with our loot!
Nowadays I read the samples on KIndle and if I like a book, I'll order it online from the library. What a brilliant service, long may it continue!
My first memory of a library was when I was quite a young child and lived in Chiswick in London , was terrifying, It was huge and it was so quiet, I think I was about 8 at the time, my brothers were 6 and 2 Mum told me I could choose some books but the two librarians were very frightening non smiling and my younger brother kept trying to talk and the kept shooshing him, I didn't want any books from there and we never returned. Later School libraries were my favourite haunts. Then when we moved with my dads job to Bracknell New Town I discovered at the bottom of our road a bungalow amongst other ordinary bungalows for elderly people that turned out to be the library, I was now 10 and on investigating this library discovered the lady librarian so much more friendly than the ones in London, not saying she allowed riotous behaviour but she was warmer in her being and never minded us asking questions. That Library years late moved to a specially built shop in the row of shops at the bottom our road. That bungalow library fired up my imagination with so many books for children, to start with it was the Famous Five and their adventures and then more and more adventure books which continued right through to now. I have never read Swallows and Amazons although I have seen the film many times and even at the great age of 71, my heart loves these stories although with the children's freedom during their school holidays even now I am a bit jealous. I love books but I do not like the energy of the Library where I live now, I tend to buy second hand books online now. My eyesight isn't as good as it was but large print books are a boon. It was really that lovely librarian in the bungalow library which due to her kindness and caring about books and the people who used her library that made my love of books grow and feel very special. I love self help books, and still love detective stories and mysteries. I work with crystals and herbs so buy lots of books to do with these subjects. To be honest I could never not have books but real books not electronic books, I love the smell and the feel of them and am building a library of the books of the classics I haven't read yet so that when books finally disappear from shops and libraries I with any luck will have as many books as I love to have and to hold.
Lovely memoires Ann :)
Ohh I love a library! Haven’t been in years, maybe I should make a trip sometime soon x loved going as a child practically every Saturday thanks for evoking great memories of my childhood x
I recently wrote abt visiting a library as a kid too! We had a book bag and everything. You’re so right that I had the shelves all memorized… it was such a special time. Now every book is accessible to us easily with a click
Great Read Molly. I remember when the new library in my hometown was built, and it went from being a conservatory to what felt like an endless labyrinth of books. Both librarians also had kids in my class, so it felt like being at a friend's house to visit the library.
Love this! :)
This was a wonderful read and I totally agree with everything you have written. I myself belong to our local library and I have recently started frequenting another one in a nearby town. It is delightful! So cosy, lots happening, friendly staff…I would utterly hate it if libraries closed. They also do super book sales which is so affordable and has filled my shelves in the bedroom with enough reading material to last me a lifetime. Jigsaws can be borrowed, knit and natter meetings, computers free to use, free coffee (machine)… a much needed quiet environment for so many people.
I love this Laura! It sounds so cosy :)
Yesssss! We’re obsessed with our libraries too! 😍 we try a new one in our area at least once a month (it’s a free space to take our kids to explore and play✨)
Plus our libraries allow you to borrow anything- from toys to pots and pans💕 LOVE that you shined a light on this beautiful space Molly! I didn’t really use the library until I started using Libby for reading books and saving money. Now I don’t know what I’d do without it you know?
Great advocacy for libraries :) Yes, it's such a good way to read things you wouldn't otherwise - I am not going to pay 10 or 20 Euros for a book I am not relatively sure I will like... and as you say, some people can hardly afford books at all. These days I mostly use my uni library (after I finally discovered that it has quite a wide range of novels, narrative non-fiction etc.) but I hope one day I will live close to a "normal" library again!
So many of our libraries are closing which is sad. Our Elgin branch is still alive and kicking and upstairs you can study and use the computers for courses etc. They have a huge gallery space for art exhibitions and meetings and the carpets are in good condition. I think there is a small fee to order a book. The books tend to be popular fiction and romantic fiction. I used to use the library a lot in the old days but many of the books could do with replacing.
I’m so curious to know how you plan your reading seasonally and what this looks like?
Our local library is above a co-op; it smells a bit fousty and the worn carpet would give you a rash if you sat on it. But my daughter and I just love it.
I wrote a bit about my seasonal reading here :) - https://hippyhighlandliving.substack.com/p/a-seasonal-reading-guide
I recently moved from a mid-size city in California, where I'd lived all my life, to a small town in New Mexico. Back in California, there was a main branch and three smaller branches in the city, and if you couldn't find what you were looking for on the shelves (books, DVDs, and CDs), you could order from any library in the state for free. The town where I now live has a library, but apparently has a very small budget because you're limited to what is on the shelf and cannot order from other libraries. They don't stock music CDs, and any new DVDs have been donated. The librarian told me that new books are only ordered once a year. Quite a change from what I was used to, but I still go and peruse the shelves.