Too many books, so little space.
Written on Saturday 16th May 2009 at 05:33pm with 7 Comments
Today I acheived something I've been threatening to do for the last few months - run out of bookshelf space! (And possibly money too...)
So I did what any desperate reader would do - I joined the local library. I admit it's been a few years since I've been a member of one. The last time was when I was still at secondary school; I even think I still owe them a book... anyway.
I joined. Eventually. Their "fangled" online joining system - which basically requires you to print off the completed application form after filling it in online and THEN take it down to the library. Quite why it's called an ONLINE application I have no idea considering you have to take it down there.
So after showing them more I.D than perhaps is probably necessary (the last time I had such a severe security check was when I applied for an airport security pass...) I was finally free to peruse those coveted books.
It seems the last time the library updated their stock of books was when my Grandma last visted - and she's been dead for the last 15 years! I finally found the fiction section (it was labelled FICTION - obviously) but wait. What's that? The books weren't in English. I went through Tamil, Chinese, Hindi, French... and then finally English. There were more gaps between books than there are on the Underground system. Seriously, have the local council never heard of putting back into the local community - i.e. the library?
In the end I settled on a classic, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontė and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood - the latter which I recently wrote a review on for work despite having never read it! That's the downside to working for this new bookshop company, they don't allow you to take the books home to read. How am I supposed to understand and ultimately sell the "products" if I don't know what they are?
I'm tempted to do some local fundraising for the library just so they can get decent books in. Or just books in. I'm not fussy.
End note: I had to resist the urge to properly sort the books on the shelves. Working in a bookshop automatically trains you to spot an incorrectly filed book. There were a lot of them. I almost cried.
The comments
*if not is! Too much cider!
Sounds just like my local library. The most frustrating thing there is that they have a variety of fantasy and sci-fi books but with certain volumes missing, never to return. I've given up all hope of reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series. And they won't let you check books in and out the old fashioned way - ie, taking them to the counter where a human being will stamp them - you have to do it at the computer terminals next to the counter, with the staff all standing around watching you 
Asda do sell abysmally cheap books - £3.86 for new paperbacks last time I checked. They can't make much of a profit on them.
If most new paperbacks are sold at RRP @ £6.99 and are being bought at around £3.50 by the retailer - with Asda selling them at £3.86, their profits are really shite.
I used to love visiting the library when I was younger - it's ashame they've been in decline for the past few years.
Ahh - yes I was looking at a few Sci-Fi series myself earlier but like you, couldn't seem to find the entire series, or even the first book. Very frustrating.
I think my library is that old, they still have the old fashioned human with scanner and stamp to check the books out. It's quite sweet really - I felt about 10 again!
Yes all this new fangled technology in Libraries is lost on me having not entered one for the last 10 years!
It's so easy now to look things up on t'internet if you need to know anything, and find books so cheaply to read, and now with these new 'digital book' things no one need ever waste any more paper with a book! lol.
Oh wow, I'll have to check out my library again (after years). I'd never thought they might offer fiction in different languages. Though my local library was never too good at stocking popular books.
I didn't know the cheap book offer at Asda was permanent.
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I've not been a member of the library since I was at Secondary School, I think my membership ended when my mum had her handbag stolen, as she used to keep all the library cards in her purse!
must admit I'm very bad with books & DVDS I'll buy them if I want to see them/read them no matter is I end up liking them or not. *whispers* Thank god for Asda for cheap books!