Lonely libraries

I've always loved my local library. When I was in my late teens living in Cessnock working only a couple of days a week, I used to hang out there - it was quiet and clean and the librarians knew me and chatted to me as I breezed in and out, checking out novels and cassettes and copying knitting patterns and calligraphic alphabets at the photocopiers. I once accidentally left a photo of me and a friend in a book that I'd been using as a bookmark, and when I went back in the next time the librarian said "ooh, wait up, I have something for you" and pulled it out from under the desk.

I've recently started using the library here in Canberra on a pretty regular basis, borrowing mostly audio books for the long drives up and down the parkway to see clients.

I dropped one off that was due today. I wandered in, and spotted a librarian sitting at a desk. I caught her eye and asked if I could drop off my books, and she glared at me and said "You have to put them in the chute outside". Um... the library is open! But, she was right - no human contact necessary, stick em in the silver boxes outside the door. She grumpily told me that she'd take them off me today but I had to use the chutes. OK. No problem, I can do that.

Then I get myself a new "book" and wander over to the self-checker (I found a picture of one on the ever-useful google-images). No chit chat with a librarian here, either. Absolutely no eye contact or conversation required at all. It just made me kind of sad, that the experience of a little bit of friendly human interaction, even if it's a quick smile-hullo-*beep*-click-here'syabook, has completely disappeared from the libraries.

I guess the only time the librarians speak to anyone is if there's a problem.

Sheesh. No wonder she was grumpy.

Comments

[Taphophile]

It totally sucks and it's only going to get worse - we've been told to aim for 100% self-service.

[Tinkingbell]

We love our library. The librarian knows us all (the old one even knew my card number and hd jellybeans on the desk) Miss Penny and I have signals about which books the children actually get and which slip quietly under the desk for later re-shelving. She puts holds on new knitting books for me, and in return I request lots of books which live in our libaray until another library requests them. Ours is a little library open 4 afternoons a week. The nearest big library has storytelling for kids, a play corner. All our libraries are breast feeding and child friendly - I love our library and feel so sad that the ACT is trying to ruin them!

[Chanel]

I remember hanging out in the Cessnock library and absolutely adoring it. It was like a home away from home:) *nostalgic moment*