What's the point of ...
13 February 2013, 08:31 PM
#1
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What's the point of ...
... Libraries?
I'm an old fart, have enjoyed using Libraries for many, many, decades.
They had their uses before the Internet, but now? Really?
They cost us £millions and serve little, if no, purpose in this day and age I would argue.
Some use them for free internet access - well, they can get their own and pay their way - tight 4rses!
Children use them for storytelling, this is an admirable thing - but can be done in the Church Hall.
They lend books, some e-books, DVD's and CD's ...... but these are so cheap these days that anyone can fund their own.
Therefore, I would advocate the closing of all Libraies and the saving of £millions which can be used more wisely.
A vote winner?
I'm an old fart, have enjoyed using Libraries for many, many, decades.
They had their uses before the Internet, but now? Really?
They cost us £millions and serve little, if no, purpose in this day and age I would argue.
Some use them for free internet access - well, they can get their own and pay their way - tight 4rses!
Children use them for storytelling, this is an admirable thing - but can be done in the Church Hall.
They lend books, some e-books, DVD's and CD's ...... but these are so cheap these days that anyone can fund their own.
Therefore, I would advocate the closing of all Libraies and the saving of £millions which can be used more wisely.
A vote winner?
13 February 2013, 10:17 PM
#7
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Hardly Trolling as I'm guessing that no-one on here uses Libraries any more than I do.
It's simply an opinion I hold and I throw it out there.
It's simply an opinion I hold and I throw it out there.
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14 February 2013, 06:46 AM
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I can think of a couple of reasons
- Not every book is available electronically, particularly older/out-of-print
- The libary service also store local archives and important historical documents
- They still provide a local education resource that is free to use
- All local planning applications are displayed in local libraries and are available during opening hours
- Other council related materials and contacts are available in libraries.
They may be seen as less relevant now given the easy access to information available over the internet, but I'd hate to see an important, free, local resource closed to save what is a relatively small amount of money in terms of council budgets. It's penny-pinching at it's worse, advocated by people who know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
- Not every book is available electronically, particularly older/out-of-print
- The libary service also store local archives and important historical documents
- They still provide a local education resource that is free to use
- All local planning applications are displayed in local libraries and are available during opening hours
- Other council related materials and contacts are available in libraries.
They may be seen as less relevant now given the easy access to information available over the internet, but I'd hate to see an important, free, local resource closed to save what is a relatively small amount of money in terms of council budgets. It's penny-pinching at it's worse, advocated by people who know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
14 February 2013, 10:52 AM
#11
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OK Pete - I'll bite, even though I said last night I wouldn't.
My family & I actually spent well over an hour in our Town Library last Saturday.
The library was actually very busy, something I commented on to the Librarian, she said that it was always this busy on a weekend.
I took out a book on 'The Great Escape' real story by Jimmy James.
The kids each had a book to read, and my 9yr old daughter also ordered a book she wanted that they didn't have at our local library, so they are getting it in from County.
We all then had lovely Tea & Cakes with the WI ladies who were in there promoting Book Week. The WI were also holding a 'ex library book' sale, and I ended up buying about 20 books for 20p each
, mixture of informative, novels & kids.
SO Yes - we do use our Library a lot....
The kids LOVE going there, and actually pester us to go sometimes
STILL a BLATANT troll post though hey Pete
My family & I actually spent well over an hour in our Town Library last Saturday.
The library was actually very busy, something I commented on to the Librarian, she said that it was always this busy on a weekend.
I took out a book on 'The Great Escape' real story by Jimmy James.
The kids each had a book to read, and my 9yr old daughter also ordered a book she wanted that they didn't have at our local library, so they are getting it in from County.
We all then had lovely Tea & Cakes with the WI ladies who were in there promoting Book Week. The WI were also holding a 'ex library book' sale, and I ended up buying about 20 books for 20p each
, mixture of informative, novels & kids.SO Yes - we do use our Library a lot....
The kids LOVE going there, and actually pester us to go sometimes
STILL a BLATANT troll post though hey Pete
Last edited by Dr Hu; 14 February 2013 at 10:54 AM.
14 February 2013, 11:19 AM
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Anything which acts as a focal point to encourage people to read is in my opinion a good thing.
And God knows we need that more than ever these days, before comprehensible English finally disappears down the plughole. Many people on here have probably not been to a library in at least ten years. And it shows.
And God knows we need that more than ever these days, before comprehensible English finally disappears down the plughole. Many people on here have probably not been to a library in at least ten years. And it shows.
14 February 2013, 04:25 PM
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... Libraries?
I'm an old fart, have enjoyed using Libraries for many, many, decades.
They had their uses before the Internet, but now? Really?
They cost us £millions and serve little, if no, purpose in this day and age I would argue.
Some use them for free internet access - well, they can get their own and pay their way - tight 4rses!
Children use them for storytelling, this is an admirable thing - but can be done in the Church Hall.
They lend books, some e-books, DVD's and CD's ...... but these are so cheap these days that anyone can fund their own.
Therefore, I would advocate the closing of all Libraies and the saving of £millions which can be used more wisely.
A vote winner?
I'm an old fart, have enjoyed using Libraries for many, many, decades.
They had their uses before the Internet, but now? Really?
They cost us £millions and serve little, if no, purpose in this day and age I would argue.
Some use them for free internet access - well, they can get their own and pay their way - tight 4rses!
Children use them for storytelling, this is an admirable thing - but can be done in the Church Hall.
They lend books, some e-books, DVD's and CD's ...... but these are so cheap these days that anyone can fund their own.
Therefore, I would advocate the closing of all Libraies and the saving of £millions which can be used more wisely.
A vote winner?
Les
14 February 2013, 05:36 PM
#14
I use mine, to borrow books and talking books when going on a long journey.
Unfortunately, the idea of quiet in a library is now defunct, since they are nice warm meeting places for all our Eastern European cousins who work so hard they have time to be in the libraries on a daily basis, chatting etc.
I did ask the librarian about why they weren't asked to be quiet, her response: "we like to encourage people to use the libraries, not push them away.
great, so the library becomes an Eastern European youth club and people like me who have paid taxes and rates for YEARS are pushed away......
Unfortunately, the idea of quiet in a library is now defunct, since they are nice warm meeting places for all our Eastern European cousins who work so hard they have time to be in the libraries on a daily basis, chatting etc.
I did ask the librarian about why they weren't asked to be quiet, her response: "we like to encourage people to use the libraries, not push them away.
great, so the library becomes an Eastern European youth club and people like me who have paid taxes and rates for YEARS are pushed away......
14 February 2013, 05:42 PM
#15
Who need libraries when we got David Beckham and Jordan to guide our youth.... and lets not forget TOWIE to teach the young about life.....
If you want a topical debate ask why countries like Pakistan which have the world wide lowest investment in education generate the higher amount of fundamentalist terrorists....
Then discus why we need books.....
WHO DUMBED DOWN SN TODAY???
If you want a topical debate ask why countries like Pakistan which have the world wide lowest investment in education generate the higher amount of fundamentalist terrorists....
Then discus why we need books.....
WHO DUMBED DOWN SN TODAY???
14 February 2013, 06:09 PM
#16
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In that case, keep the Libraries - but charge those who use them £5 a visit .... that will show how much people really want to keep them.
And, when they are empty, shut them all.
And, when they are empty, shut them all.
14 February 2013, 06:32 PM
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Me and my family use the local main library all the time. We like to borrow books for our son to continue his learning with. He's bored after a couple weeks so makes sense to borrow, return, borrow others, return etc. Otherwise you spend a fortune, if you can find them.
I also use it for printing off the odd document, voucher etc. when there's no ink in my printer or Alcazar is out so can't use his
They also do clubs for this and that at our library and it's not actually an eyesore to look at.
I'd say your idea is stupid, Pete
I also use it for printing off the odd document, voucher etc. when there's no ink in my printer or Alcazar is out so can't use his
They also do clubs for this and that at our library and it's not actually an eyesore to look at.
I'd say your idea is stupid, Pete
14 February 2013, 09:09 PM
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14 February 2013, 09:16 PM
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By making something more expensive you don't test to see what people want to keep, you just make something more expensive and maybe none affordable.
Echo Tel's points.
15 February 2013, 01:07 PM
#20
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You pair of clowns ..... you stay in the dark ages, I shall continue my quest for knowledge and enlightenment via the modern world offerings!
15 February 2013, 03:18 PM
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16 February 2013, 04:09 PM
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