Welcome to the reading room

Good morning. Today is Wednesday and it’s time to take a walk down to your local library (if it’s still open, of course) and have a browse. Sit down, put your feet up and dig into a big hefty classic, sit at a desk and investigate the ins and outs of whatever your kids asked you about yesterday, cuddle up with your little ones on the cosy seats and read them story after story after story, or maybe watch and listen as they join in with a story time session. Reserve that new book by your favourite author. Maybe you could join in with a library book group (read more about that later, from Geeky Mummy) or use the library to inspire you (read more about that later, from the Circus Queen, Adele).

I love libraries and I can vividly picture all the libraries I’ve been to, some many years ago.

Painswick library (sadly now closed) was the place I walked down to every Friday after school to get out 12 Mills & Boons (four books on each of mine, my mum’s and my dad’s tickets) to read over the weekend, in the first year. It was the place I did work experience in the fifth year. It was the place I discovered science fiction (after the Mills & Boon period, of course). And it was the place I took my little sister to, so she could borrow Shirley Hughes books and The Jolly Postman (which she later got a copy of, all to herself).

Gloucester library was the place I hung out in my lunch hour when I was on work experience week at a translator’s. I borrowed loads of Women’s Press books. (Just took me ages to remember the publisher, though in the end I just had to go and find one on my bookshelf, of course – but they had black and white stripes and an ironing board logo. I know the first time I read The Color Purple it was published by them.) I ended up with three that I hadn’t finished and paid about £20 in library fines, because it took me ages to go to Gloucester and take them back, only to be told that I could have taken them back to Painswick library.

Stroud library, where I sat and did homework in the reading room in the sixth form. Where I would curl up on one of the cosy chairs and lose myself in a book while waiting for the bus. Where I borrowed lots of French novels. Where I researched the local canal and wool industry for history projects. And where I took both my girls shortly after they were born to become members. Where they run about and jump about and gather piles of books. Where Rosemary insists on sitting on the shelf at the desk, even though I’m sure she’s not allowed to. Where I borrow Fasttrack new books to devour in a week (sometimes more of struggle than others). Where I went through at least one lot of Richard and Judy book recommendations over a summer. Where I go and sit and write for a bit while Rosemary’s at Dramarama.

Oxford library, where I wrote some of my dissertation and borrowed lots of fiction over the years – as well as my very first foray into renting films from a library.

Oxford Brookes library, where I got to know the publishing section and the French literature section very well. The Oxford French Literature library (which was called something else that I can’t recall), where I sat and wrote a number of essays and borrowed a number of books. The Bodleian, probably the most atmospheric library I have known and where I wrote some of my dissertation, though I spent far too long staring up at the ceiling and wondering about all the people who had sat there before me.

Bonneville library, where I read through pretty much every single English book they had and even tried a few French books when I ran out.

Carnoustie library, which is often our first port of call the day after we arrive for a trip – to get out books for us and for the girls. It’s an incredibly well stocked library for a town not dissimilar in size to Stroud.

These are my libraries. I’m sure you have your own. And I really hope you don’t lose them. If you haven’t already read it, look at Philip Pullman’s speech about the coalition’s closure of libraries. He has some excellent points and puts them better than I probably could.

We have a couple of posts today about libraries. Feel free to share your own experiences and thoughts about libraries.