libraries and librarians

i have also noticed that most librarians look like tramps and sometimes act like them. I offered my librarian some crisps which he accepted and he dropped a few on the floor which picked up and ate in front of me!!! However the librarians are lovely in my library and very friendly and helpful, even though they look like tramps. They also devote energy to waking up tramps who have fallen asleep in the library. I have also noticed that they are good at cryptic crosswords, notably the chap who ate crisps from the floor and his colleague, the latter who comes to work on an ancient Claud Butler racing bike with worn out wheels, whom I offered a ride on my superior Trek mountain bike, but he graciously refused. So I do love my librarians but wish they weren't tramps. Their clothes are also terrible and they seem to wear the same ones everyday.

Some of my favourite conversations have been with my librarians. They are great people. Thank you librarians.

As for the youth today, they are seduced by the internet and technology which holds out false hopes for them. There is nothing as great and healthy as reading and loving books. Beware: when the youth of a society hates books, then that society is in great danger.

I remember in the London riots last summer, a whole row of shops was damaged in my area and lots of electrical stuff etc was nicked but a branch of waterstones was untouched and the evening standard reported that it was because those youths (mainly black youths) could not read and hated books. This is why they are dysfunctional and derailed and don't do well in life.

I therefore applaud and praise the Evening Standard newspaper for its initiative to get people to love books and to get reading again. Spend more time in your libraries and get talking to your librarians!!! Remember, the best things in life are free.
 
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I was a library assistant for 2 years; I am not a tramp.

I would say they should open later in the morning, I could have had more sleep.
 
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Hrmm physical books being replaced by digitised versions meaning libraries become defunct....uh thats not really accurate. It just means they have to adapt. Digitize their works, organise some kind of digital lending system where you can download your ebook for a limited time using ur ipad via the library service. Everyone's job role has to adapt to the march of technology - doesnt mean it becomes extinct just means the traditional model is no longer suitable.

Of course when the power goes off kinda buggered then ehh.....we best keep a couple of physical books around in case of emergencies :D
 
Evoss said:
Libraries aren't needed now that we live in the age of the Internet, more books online then in any library.
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1) A significant proportion of the population, particularly older and poorer people, are not on line, and many of them may never be. Just because you are, and the rest of your middle-class young friends are, does not mean everyone is.

2) Libraries are free. Even if someone does hack Kindle etc and illegal sharing of books becomes widespread, many people who want to read are not willing to do anything like that. So libraries remain the only places that you can read for nothing.

3) Well managed libraries at least remain an important local resource for information, with the librarians a lot better than Google at finding local info (librarians aren't trying to sell you anything either). They also frequently act as a social venue.



M
 
I used to provide IT support for libraries, you wouldn't believe the change in the last 2 years! The amount of staff that have left, the opening hours are now shorter but the amount of customers is still the same.

The popularity of the library depends on the location its in, the most popular libraries were located in popular areas e.g. city centre, within a leisure centre and in a multicultural/poor area. With ebooks now why would you want to go out of your way to borrow a book when you can get it free or for a couple of quid.

Our library offer ebooks to borrow, language subscriptions with an app that you download, audio books etc... Which are useful but people don't really know about them or how to access them.
 
Meridian said:
1) A significant proportion of the population, particularly older and poorer people, are not on line, and many of them may never be. Just because you are, and the rest of your middle-class young friends are, does not mean everyone is.

2) Libraries are free. Even if someone does hack Kindle etc and illegal sharing of books becomes widespread, many people who want to read are not willing to do anything like that. So libraries remain the only places that you can read for nothing.

3) Well managed libraries at least remain an important local resource for information, with the librarians a lot better than Google at finding local info (librarians aren't trying to sell you anything either). They also frequently act as a social venue.



M
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Some good points here, especially no. 3, our libraries used to do an ask us a question service. People also don't know that libraries can offer free access to subscription services where reliable correct information can be accessed.
 
They never have the books you want, it's out dated. However there is some hope for the future. I read about a library having digital copies you could download. I assume it must be drm and only give out so many "books" at the same time.

Here's a us based article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/apr/21/kindle-borrow-ebooks-libraries-amazon

I'm sure there's some sort of uk scheme. Here we go
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6417660/E-books-helping-surge-in-library-members.html

Be much lower cost to run and easier to get books you want.

As for not everyone having Internet. That's changing it's basically a right to have Internet and governments pushing it for everyone. Devices are only going to get cheaper and cheaper as well.

Oh sweet, I need to sign up to my library.
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/24-hour-library-free-ebooks
Also that means I'm not getting a kindle.
 
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Well since i became middle class as i bought a kindle, i have started reading so much more. The amount of free book available is amazing. From the all the classics to up and coming writers trying to make there mark in the world.

No wonder the publishing houses are running scared.

Soon authors will be uploading there own work on there own webisite or something like amazon, paying for the bandwidth and taking the profit for themselves :)

The true digital revoultion is nearly upon us. Only now are people realising that these so called "artists" shouldnt actaully be paid more than a nurse for example and get to live the high life :) who does a much more important job than sit infront of a typewriter all day or a guitar. Media execs should all rot in hell :)
 
I don't think I have been in a public library since I was about five. Don't even use it at college because I can just take my tablet anywhere and do everything that I could do in a library on it.
 
It would definitely be a pity if libraries were to cease to exist but I don't think that there will be an absolute demise, I suspect that the pattern of reducing hours and changes to try and adapt will continue however.

I have to admit I don't use my local library as I tend to simply buy/get given books to read and that's enough to satisfy my reading desires for the most part. However even as someone who is reasonably technically competent I find the prospect of reading books in a digital form holds no real appeal for me - there's something about the tactile element to reading that I'd miss if it were an ebook reader. I can appreciate they might be good for travelling but then again I often take a few books when I go on holiday and just leave them behind when I'm done with them for someone else to read - if I lose a book or it gets destroyed then it's a few quid, if I lose an ebook reader then it's the better part of £100.

//edit I think that passing on books and sharing them to allow others to get enjoyment from them is one of the most appealing aspects, that's not something that seems to be easily possible with ebook readers - if you've bought the book then it is tied to your account unless someone would like to correct me?
 
I was in mine last week, but only because I wanted to get out of the rain and had a few hours to kill.
They do free wi-fi which is handy but the book selection was stuff like Windows95 for dummies.

The Sheffield one was great because they had a huge amount of magazines on all sorts of subjects. The mixture of up to date material with reference books was perfect. I'd use libraries a lot more if they stocked all the journals instead of trying to buy books which date quickly - if I need a book I'll buy it, it is the magazines I can't afford.

Some twonk at stoke Uni has binned all the technical journals, nothing older than a few years now, so pretty much useless for research.
God I hate stoke.
 
Id use library more if they had large dedicated areas for study. The ones that ive been in have only had small desks by the magazines section.

If public library's were more like my university library id spend loads of time there.
 
I really don't think ebooks and ebook readers are having a significant effect on public Libraries. People who buy ebook readers do so because they buy a lot of books, the medium they buy these books on surely has no bearing on public Libraries, you may as well claim bookshops are responsible for the downfall of public Libraries.
 
Turambar said:
I really don't think ebooks and ebook readers are having a significant effect on public Libraries. .
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I disagree, I think we are moving format. Just like we have done many times before accross media platforms.
Granted its not affecting library's at the moment that much. But lots now have services or trialing ebooks. There's also huge pressure to reduce costs and library's are an easy target. Ebooks make it far cheaper and far better service.
 
How do you rent out an e-book? Is it possible to recall that data or do you just sort of get to keep it, or does it just disappear once you've read it?
 
mollymoo said:
How do you rent out an e-book? Is it possible to recall that data or do you just sort of get to keep it, or does it just disappear once you've read it?
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Drm, seems you get upto 3 weeks, before it disappears or more likely locks you out.

I hope payday is good. I want a nook simple touch.
 
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