Libraries, public, renaissance of: DDC 020.336

[reohn2]

'You are what you have'
Oh dear. I have a lot of books

What do you want them all for?

I have quite a few books. I like to read them. I especially like to read when I travel or use public transport.

I also have some books that are more interesting for browsing and looking things up, rather than reading cover to cover.

For example the Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names.

I have a few books but if I haven't read one for a while and realise it has little use as a reference it goes to the charity shop or the library.
I don't keep them for the sake of owning them,they just become a burden.

[reohn2]

Good idea, but in my leafy suburb there would not be many customers

Besides, my collection is quite selective

You could write up a catalogue and post it on a local internet forum or Facebook or similar charging a small fee going to a local charity

[Vorpal]

I have a few books but if I haven't read one for a while and realise it has little use as a reference it goes to the charity shop or the library.
I don't keep them for the sake of owning them,they just become a burden.

I really like books. Not just for their contents, but also the way they look & smell. If I could, I would cover all of my walls in books

[Mike Sales]

I really like books. Not just for their contents, but also the way they look & smell. If I could, I would cover all of my walls in books

Books do furnish a room.

[rjb]

'You are what you have'
Oh dear. I have a lot of books

What do you want them all for?

I have quite a few books. I like to read them. I especially like to read when I travel or use public transport.

I also have some books that are more interesting for browsing and looking things up, rather than reading cover to cover.

For example the Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names.

Mick is looking for shops. Can you help him
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=128574&p=1332601&hilit=Shops+Bishop#p1332601

[reohn2]

I have a few books but if I haven't read one for a while and realise it has little use as a reference it goes to the charity shop or the library.
I don't keep them for the sake of owning them,they just become a burden.

I really like books. Not just for their contents, but also the way they look & smell. If I could, I would cover all of my walls in books

IMO books are sources of either entertainment or information or both,some are very useful to keep for future reference some not so.To keep them for the sake of owning them doesn't add up to me.
It's a bit like owning 50 bikes,and I know someone who does,but can't use them all.
Much better IMHO to have a well stocked public library.

[Cyril Haearn]

Better to have both, I do
Someone shall have an interesting task sorting them after my demise

[Vorpal]

IMO books are sources of either entertainment or information or both,some are very useful to keep for future reference some not so.To keep them for the sake of owning them doesn't add up to me.
It's a bit like owning 50 bikes,and I know someone who does,but can't use them all.
Much better IMHO to have a well stocked public library.

Libraries in Norway have limited numbers of books in English, and most of them are either for learning English, genre fiction, or classics.

[reohn2]

IMO books are sources of either entertainment or information or both,some are very useful to keep for future reference some not so.To keep them for the sake of owning them doesn't add up to me.
It's a bit like owning 50 bikes,and I know someone who does,but can't use them all.
Much better IMHO to have a well stocked public library.

Libraries in Norway have limited numbers of books in English, and most of them are either for learning English, genre fiction, or classics.

I can understand your predicament in that case.

[Cyril Haearn]

The Grauniad has a report about the oldest lending library in Scotland, at Innerpefray, it opened in 1680
A lending library, one was (still is) allowed to take books to read at home!
Seems important, interesting, worth preserving. Anyone disagree?

[Mike Sales]

The Grauniad has a report about the oldest lending library in Scotland, at Innerpefray, it opened in 1680
A lending library, one was (still is) allowed to take books to read at home!
Seems import, interesting, worth preserving to me. Anyone disagree?

Well worth preserving and using.
Here is something similar which has survived.

http://www.barsailinst.org.uk/index.html

Barmouth Sailors' Institute is a unique building and is an important part of Barmouth's Maritime history.
The building is a rare survivor of a type of establishment that was once common in coastal communities throughout the British Isles in the late nineteenth century. This was a period when the seagoing trades around the British coasts were changing rapidly. The advancement of the railway into rural areas undermined the once lively coastal trade.

However, seafarers from the remotest coastal areas did not forsake the sea but instead, began to take up berths on deep sea ships sailing from the larger ports such as London, Hull, Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool and Cardiff. The majority of their families remained in their native community where in the past they had been able to observe the seaborne movements of their menfolk on local voyages.

[Cyril Haearn]

Barmouth Sailors Institute, Plus One!
Here is a book for you Mike (I found a free copy at the Book Exchange)
Willard Bascom, Waves & Beaches US 1980
I do love observing water, how it flows, moves, exchanges

[fausto copy]

The Grauniad has a report about the oldest lending library in Scotland, at Innerpefray, it opened in 1680
A lending library, one was (still is) allowed to take books to read at home!
Seems important, interesting, worth preserving. Anyone disagree?

Called in there a couple of years back when staying in Crieff.
Quite an interesting place if you're into that sort of thing.
Apparently it's well-used for doing family/genealogy searches but the charge to go in for a quick peek put us off as we were on a day cycle ride.
The adjacent chapel (free) was worth a look in though.

[Cyril Haearn]

Fausto: so many museums and things are free (especially in Wales), I can thoyle paying occasionally
..
Why I like possessing books:
Studying an author who was successful a few decades ago, visited his home and museum a while ago
Got many of his books at home, a biography, reviews, just need to take them off the shelf, much easier than ordering from the libraries and having to return the books
His first novel is good, I got it for nothing

We were stuffed with literature at school, really put me orf, discovered it for myself at last

[fausto copy]

I don't mind paying for something if I feel it's of value (for them and me).
However, we weren't going to pay £15 for the two of us to just walk around for a couple of minutes to take in the atmosphere of the place.
If we'd have been going there specifically to do some research then fair enough.
Mind you, they did let us use the loo for free on the way out

I've been trying to use the service that Welsh libraries offer, whereby one can (supposedly) download copies of various magazines free.
I've not had any luck yet; perhaps the Welsh Gov have stepped in and diverted all the money to Cardiff airport again.