National Libraries Day NLD12

Saturday 4th February was National Libraries Day which is part of a campaign to raise awareness of libraries and the threats to their existence. It is mainly to encourage people to use libraries and to celebrate how wonderful libraries are.
I decided to visit quite a few libraries if possible and mainly in County Durham as this includes my local library in Sedgefield. I went to Sedgefield library first - it is a nice library and usually fairly busy with a wide range of ages. We used to visit more often when the boys were younger and they do get lots of children and families in. Lots of fiction books and general reading. The librarian / library assistant mentioned to some other people that the opening hours of the library were going to be reduced from 39 to 20 something. When I went to the desk to get my book issued I asked if they were doing anything for Nat Lib Day. No, she said, didn't really know about it, not sure whether interested or not .....it is difficult when people's jobs are at risk.









Next I went to Cornforth which is a village on the way to Durham. It's a bit off the beaten track and so I had to hunt out the library. It is a standard small local library and the librarian / library assistant was friendly. There were a few people in including some children who were enthusiastically looking at books. I chose a book and asked at the desk if they were doing anything for Nat Lib Day - but no. The library was much more appealing than I expected and was obviously used by local people regularly.









After Cornforth I went to Bowburn which is again a village south of Durham, an ex-mining community. I have been to this library a few times and there are always children in there and bikes or scooters on the doorstep. It's just ordinary but has a good feel to it of usefulness. (seed potatoes available from community centre next door)






I then to Belmont which is the other side of Durham and found the library fairly easily. A good selection of books fiction and non fiction and plenty of people coming and going.





Next stop was Newton Hall library which took me a while to find. I knew where it was approximately as my son used to go to orchestra practice at a school near there but had to use google maps on my phone to find it.






I took a book out from each library I visited. I enjoyed visiting them and there were people using them. The people using them were mainly children or older people. The people who I saw who were working age tended to come in and return and borrow books rather than staying to use the facilities but that might be a generalization on my part. I was disappointed that they was no evidence of support for National Libraries Day - I'm not sure why - maybe got other things to worry about or don't know about it.
These are the books that I borrowed


Finally I went to Durham
University Library. I do like an academic library - I appreciate the peace and purpose and often the fustiness and scholarly order and history. I like public libraries but I'm not a 'wheels on the bus' person nor a jolly activity person but I'm prepared to support them as I think they are valuable to others and the community.