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i'm a big fan of the local library
i've been using my local library [lowestoft central] a lot this past month as I have no desk at home and need somewhere to sit and revise, read etc. they really are great. here are a few points about libraries:
- they're kind of like the taverns of the 1800s these days, aren't they? full of the destitute, miserable and impoverished brought together to take part in training courses, borrow books, read facebook, dress up as emos and hang out in gangs etc. if people think that "everyone is middle class these days" they should go to their local library and see the range of cultures that exist on very little money
- it's really interesting seeing how different ages use the library. the old people will come in and go straight to the desk to ask where to find e.g. norse literature or books about stamps or local history, the middle ages will look around for a bit before giving up and asking for help. people under 25 though will go straight to the computer, search for what they want then look for it on the shelf and complete the whole thing in about 1 minute tops.
- if you go in the library regularly enough you will end up cycling through the same group of eccentrics + misfits. for me this holiday it has been - two middle aged women who bitch loudly about their writing club; a bald, crazy looking man who only ever says 'hi' to people; a 20 or so year old boy who makes up science he has read on the internet to impress people; a teenage girl + her counsellor who discuss how to treat anorexia in the library about twice a week.
- library sales are a great place to increase your bookshelf. in the past few weeks i've got 'the corrections' by franzen, a book on dada/surrealism and another about human beings' relationship with mars for a grand total of about £2. great stuff.
- the best people to fancy are librarians
Do you use the local library?
What is the best library you have been to?
Do you have any good stories about libraries?
Any librarians post on here?
etc etc etc