by Tange

Created on: April 13, 2008

Those of you who have read a few of my bookreviews will probably know I work in a library. Libraries are important to me ~ not just because they pay my wages but because I love books and also like to share this love with others. I don't claim to know everything about Library Services but I think, after over ten years in the business, I have some knowledge to impart about this very important public service.

From being a little girl I apparently always wanted to work in a library. My mum likes to tell people (don't they just LOVE to tell others such things) how I had a little ink pad, stamps and library cards. I played libraries and all my books were in alphabetical order ~ sad but true! When Work Experience time came around at school I asked to work in the Library Service rather than in a bank or a shop. I went off to University and then I started applying for jobs. I got one in my town's main library and the rest is history (I even met my husband there).

So, for the uninitiated, what does a library have to offer? Well, each authority is different so I can only tell you about MY library. I am not going to reel off any facts, figures and prices about libraries. Aside from being a bit boring, this will mean nothing to you and probably won't apply to your local library either. This is an opinion about the library I spend most of my time in.

I get annoyed when people say there is no reason for them to come into the library because they don't borrow books. We have SO much more than that! At the library I work at we have books, magazines, free internet access, a Local History department, CDs, DVDs, videos, Play Station and X-Box Games and we also run Reading and Listening Groups, a Children's Book Group and hold events and author visits. We also sell books about the local area and at Christmas we have Christmas cards with local views. We also have a Lecture Theatre and Meeting Rooms which groups can hire out for a small fee (the Open University and a couple of Writer's Groups meet there for example).

Part of my job at the moment involves promoting the library to busy people. I have been out and about in the community visiting Staff canteens telling people about libraries and promoting a new area we have called TO GO. This is a quick choice area for people who want to whizz through the library and quickly choose an item ~ if they are on lunch hour or simply don't have time to wade through three floors of stock looking for that perfect read. This project has been a big

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