Grand Final Day @ the Library

Last Saturday I enjoyed a quiet day working at my library. It was quite unusual to have time to shelve books, complete online ordering and rip through the outstanding Inter-Library Loan work. The other staff were quietly shelf-reading, returning collections and doing other necessary work. The customers were quiet with only an occasional remark on  the progress of the AFL Grand Final. When I got home there was a short period of rowdiness (from my menfolk!) before all hell broke out following the last minute goal resulting in a drawn game.

Of course it was the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who jinxed the game. Not only is she presiding over a hung parliament but she also expressly mentioned a drawn game earlier in the day.

So this Saturday am I looking forward to another quiet day at the library? Yes, I am working, but at a different place. The Grand Final Replay will be shown on the large screen TV set hanging from the ceiling. Something placed only in the last couple of years. Now our customers can stand/sit in the library and follow the game (quietly or not so quietly in some cases) and the staff can "enjoy" this as well. This library is buzzing on a Saturday. Queues are long, borrowing is brisk and tidying-up several times a day in the children's section a necessity as books get left lying around.

This library is not going to disappear in the next few years as RFID, eBooks and downloadable information make further inroads to traditional library services. This library serves as a community hub, a place of lively discussion and use by adults, teens, elderlies and children.

May it remain this vibrant. I for one will need the work for a fair few years yet!!

My Book Life

One of the joys of working in a library is that I am surrounded by so many books as well as having an endless supply of readers to talk to about the books they read, liked and disliked. I can keep up to date with the new publications as well as hear about old favourites and past best sellers which may no longer be published.

One of the frustrations of course of working in a library is that you never have time to do any reading while working. It is a busy, fast moving environment with lots of kids, teenagers, senior readers, computer and database queries, plus the odd technology problem or three.

To relax at home though with a book is one of the great pleasures of life. One can transform into the princess, the intrepid adventurer in Lord of the Rings, the great crime sleuth or spy as you try to guess the outcome in any Minette Walters, Agatha Christie and John Le Carre.

So here to the humble book. May it not be replaced by a computer screen anytime soon.

As this photo of the Cardiff Library shows - books are art, architecture and soul food.