Libraries

[Chris]

What do you all think of the library service in Newcastle? It is a long time since I went to a library. Are the shelves well stocked with recent titles? What are the opening times like nowadays?

[Leon Fox]

Personally a think libraries o gonna lose out wi so much information online, shame. Divant understand anyone that doesn't read, it's a thrill! 

[Chris]

Good point Leon. Practically any information you need is now only a Google away.

So what are they going to turn all the libraries into

[Leon Fox]

Eva read th book Fahrentheit 175 (not sure if that's th right temp), but it's basically a story abowt books bein banned
n the fire brigades job is not t put owt fires but burn books
found in anyone's possesion. Th title is th tempareture that
paper burns at.   

[trini]

Hello everyone,

I work in a library and we still get over 145,000 books taken out in a month, and that's only fiction!  You're right though, that's not as many as five or ten years ago.

What do you think libraries should do to try to attract people in?

Trini.

[trini]

Chris,

In answer to your quesstion, Newcastle City Library is open 9-8 on Monday to Thursday, 9-5 on Fri and Sat, and 12-4 on Sunday.

Trini.

[Leon Fox]

A no it all boils down to money really but most library buildings need modernising. A really gud national advertising campaign. Something Seven Stories style wi events n readings and maybe goin round schools. Most basic of all it's down t parent t get the bairns into books from th moment th open tha eyes. Unfornately nee ideas that won't cost th already cash strapped libraries, tho possibly if they could get bairns telly t do something along th lines of Oprah Winfrey's readin club, picking a list of books for th audience t read then come t the show and discuss them.   

[trini]

Hmmmmm

Good point.  How about teenagers 

Trini.

[Leon Fox]

Am nee expert on teenagers tho I've an apprentice 10 year old! Probably been done but wot about screening films o well known books/plays in the library, Romeo and Juliet, War Of The Worlds, Clockwork Orange.... free if pos but if not a small charge, n maybe a Q & A afta, might get thm in the place if nowt else. There wos somit else I remember seeing, not sure wot on, but people wud read a book n leave it on a bench or some where fo othas t pick up n read. Probably be ripped to shreads by charvas but wot about askin people t donate their read books t the library fo othas t take, free books, might get thm in and hooked. Probably nota  great help but if a wos a one fo great ideas ad be rich! 

[Christopher]

Hello Folks,

Libraries, like all other businesses, deserve publicity. I think libraries provide a great service. It is brilliant. In the north of Ireland I find them exceptionally useful from a genealogy (family history) point of view. If people are searching for a particular piece of information I recommend that they send an email to the library in the locality where their ancestors may have lived. Sometimes it can be difficult to find things on the internet. It is not all that good for a lot of things and there are loads of sites where you have to pay for information which is where the library system comes into its own. I use reference books a lot. Some you have to read in the library but there are others that you are allowed to borrow. The internet allows you to look at the catalogue of books in the library as well as renew your books.

Do you work for the North Tyneside Libraries, trini, or the South Tyneside Libraries ? You omitted to tell us about the Newcastle City Library. I live in the north of Ireland and only had to look at the website of Newcastle University Library to learn the following ... Newcastle City is building a completely new City Library in Princess Square. This will involve closure of the existing Library on that site while demolition and building takes place. The Library closed on 1st September 2006. Local Studies and Family History Centre has been moved to the Civic Centre Exhibition Hall, while other stock is being moved to branches within the City. The new Library will open in early 2009