It’s been years since I had membership of a physical library. Some of my earliest formative memories are of living in Romford, Essex and walking to the library for books with my mother and brother.
Libraries have always played an important part in my life, up until the time I was no longer inclined to go out. However, in 2015, in a run of positive actions I renewed my passport and driving license allowing me to apply for a library membership.
Birmingham has a number of libraries other than the rather extensive and ornate central library that has come to be identified as a symbol of the city. My husband has a library card and up until recently he took out books for me to read. However, I found my local library in Kings Heath quite overwhelming and also unsatisfactory when it came to finding books I wanted to read.
With my own membership this year, which I completed weeks ago online, I also discovered the online facilities that as me to reserve books from across the city and pick them up from my local library.
Rather excitedly I got straight onto making sure my online login worked and started reserving books straightaway. My first haul of four library books were a mixture of new books I really wanted to read by favourite authors and books I would have purchased and never read again.
I’m halfway through reading the four books I borrowed and will be returning the two I have read and reviewed. I will be waiting in great anticipation for any of the ten I have currently reserved to become available for collection locally, thus making good use of a valuable local resource.
Ajoobacats Blog 
Perhaps your library, like mine, has e-books that can be borrowed as well. From your submission guidelines, I know you prefer e-book for reviewing.Just a thought…
By the way, check out Drinian Press’ website…they have some titles you might be interested in. ~nan
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They do have e-books but I can only download them to iPad or Fire tablet not my ereader. I definitely don’t get on reading on a tablet. Will check out Drinian Press, thank you.
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Yeah my library also haven’t tried them; maybe I should give them a go!
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The library where I used to live was dreadful. Like Ajoobacats, I mainly use library services for books – mainly non-fiction – that I want to read but would not read again and so do not want to buy. Old library used to charge 70p (it’s probably gone up now) to reserve a book – and seldom had one I wanted anyway. Their book budget seemed to be miniscule. I have a better collection of poetry than they did!
But the two local libraries where I now live are wonderful – reservations are free, they haven’t yet been unable to fettle a book I have wanted, the two libraries are supportive of writers (they give free space in their buildings to writing workshops, occasionally run a ‘meet the local author’ event and will accept books from authors for loaning out). What a difference!
I had thought libraries were dying out. Perhaps local councils starve their libraries of funds and then complain that nobody uses them, so as to be able to close them? The ones here are thriving. Yay!
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I think libraries have had to adapt or die, but I am finding this new convenience very useful. I hope they continue to adapt and enrich our communities.
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Cul
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