Book Club Update

Last month we read Catch 22 and Pigeon English for our book club reads. Well actually I didn't get round to reading all of Catch 22 but have brought it home from work to read over the holidays. Most people in Book Club didn't read it all because it didn't appeal as much as we thought it would, and interestingly people who had read it before e.g. as teenagers or in 20s didn't find it as appealing now. We have found this with some books and I think it is because our expectations are higher as we get older i.e. more fussy, less time and also because there is a great choice of books available so reluctant to spend time on non enjoyable reads. We all read Pigeon English and enjoyed it although didn't think it was absolutely fantastic. There is a difficulty with an adult writing as a child as sometimes it doesn't ring true. I wish it hadn't been so closely related to the real life happening as that made it difficult to consider. I really liked the relationship between the main character and his sisters and with his friends - that was the best and most interesting part. I wanted to read more about them and how they interacted. The more I've thought about the book the more I've liked it - the characters have stayed with me but I would have liked those characters in a different story line......



This month we are reading The Flamboya Tree: Memories of a Family's War Time Courage by
Clara Olink Kelly. I haven't started it yet but have a copy to read over the holidays and am looking forward to it.



We are also reading The Warden by Anthony Trollope. This was my suggestion as I have been meaning to read Barchester Towers for ages and didn't know that The Warden was the prologue to it so we are reading that. I've started to read it on my Kindle and it is a little dull. I'm hoping it will improve otherwise there will be complaints at the next meeting :))



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Newnham College Cambridge Library

A quick look round the library at Newnham College.
It is a really beautiful library, a brilliant mixture of new and old buildings that works perfectly. It would be an ideal place to study and while a way the hours. It didn't feel fusty like some academic libraries but was quiet and peaceful and very nice indeed.

More Cambridge Libraries - Central Library

Yet another visit to Cambridge -to pick up Joe (and all his stuff) for the Easter holidays. The nice part was that my friend Kate was going to Cambridge too to pick up her daughter Charlotte so we decided to have an extra day there.
Kate is not keen on visiting libraries which is fine so it meant that I had to use some shopping time for a quick visit to Cambridge Central Library. It is in the main shopping centre, conveniently between John Lewis and the Apple Store.

It was very busy even for a Saturday afternoon in a busy city. The children's library was packed out with lots of conscientious dads reading stories out loud to their kids.
There were many DVDs.

There were many people on task - working on computers or sat at tables doing work or reading. The book collection was excellent and I wish that I had had longer to look round. It is obviously a very vibrant and successful library - but so it should be - the environment and users are all conducive to it being so.

I noticed a sign above the enquiry desk - it said 'Help' rather than 'Enquiries'. I asked if I could take a photo of it and whether it deliberately said Help. The two library assistants said they hadn't really noticed but assumed it was to be more appealing and more approachable.
They were helpful and approachable. As I went I heard them say it could be Help with a ! as in a plea for help - witty library assistants too.

Churchill College Cambridge.....

Last weekend Ben & I visited Joe at Churchill.
I suggested visiting the library but was out voted - unsurprisingly.
This was the closest I got.

Although Joe did send me a photos when it was National Libraries Day (long-sufferingly)

We did go into a Book Fair at the Guildhall - mainly because it was raining lots - it was very fusty and most of the books were really expensive (which I don't approve of as elitist etc.)

Edinburgh Libraries

At half term I went to Edinburgh for the day with my son. He has applied to the University and has an offer for Sept. He's a bit bored with sixth form college and A levels so he claims so I thought a visit to the Uni might inspire him.
We looked round George Square at the University buildings and went inside some and then came to the Library. He was quite keen to look in the library which was a nice surprise. We were both really impressed with it - Ben liked the fact that there were different areas, some quiet some more social with food & drink but definitely separate. He liked the fact that the main desk was easily accessible without being overpowering in the main entrance hall. The staff were friendly and helpful. He seemed reassured that the library was there and it would be a place that he would want to use for finding books and studying.












Later in the day after we had looked round the Uni and walked to the halls of residence we headed back to the station.
We passed the National Library of Scotland.









I dashed in to have a quick look but Ben wasn't keen and I had already spotted the Central Library across the road so thought he might be more amenable to looking in there.












It was very busy with lots of people. The staff were extremely helpful and, from what I could overhear, were dealing with a wide range of enquiries. There was a great collection of books - I could have spent a long time in there. Ben wandered around and found some history and language books that he was interested in. He is definitely one of those people that likes to browse and search on his own using the signage and system rather than ask (me too). We walked back to the station 'You could blog about these libraries we've been to today' he suggested 'Good idea' I said.

Teesside University Darlington Campus Library

Last Wednesday I attended the Higher Education Business Partnership Librarians meeting which was held at Teesside University's new campus at Darlington. It was a good meeting with representatives from the University and from the partner Colleges. The HEBP groups are very useful and I also participate in the Technology Enhanced Learning Group.
After the meeting we had a tour of the building and of the library. One of the interesting things is that the main desk is an integrated service desk i.e. it serves other functions than purely the library. This is something that I want to know more about and how it works including staff roles and line management responsibilities etc. From what I can gather, it works very well and is effective. The library is small with a limited book collection as there is an emphasis on electronic resources which suit the courses on offer and the profile of the students. It is an appealing space with different seating areas and some small computer areas.












While we were looking round the rest of the building there were some features which might work in our LRC for future changes.



The computer rooms were good with two monitors for each PC. Also some seating and benching with power and data sockets which would be good for Bring Your Own Device areas.

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.