The unusual September heatwave is breaking up, and we had a bit of rain on and off today. After lunch (and the rain just then more off than on), I went to explore the interior of the new district library (cf. previous post for photos of the exterior).
Indoors it turned out to be a bit like a labyrinth on first impression, with several small rooms opening into one another in various directions - but turning out to lead round more or less in a circle, ending up back at the reception desk facing the entrance. I only snapped a couple of photos where there were no people at the moment.
I spent about half an hour trying to get aquainted with how they have organised the books (by genre etc). I also picked one book to borrow, as I also wanted to update my library card and get (re)acquainted with the current registration system they're using. As I also told the librarian at the desk, it's been a while since I last borrowed a physical book - my loans lately have all been e-books and audio books online. I knew I had updated my online data not too long ago, but (as I suspected) it turned out that I also needed a new physical card.
Even at this small library one can now also borrow and return books by "self scanning"; and as the librarian at the desk happened to have some temporary trouble with her own machine there, I also got an instruction in that. Either way, the procedure at this small library felt a lot less daunting than all the machinery one has to face at the main library these days. (Cf my post from 2012 that I also linked to in my previous post.) Because of the premises, it also has quite a cosy old-fashioned feel about it. I will probably continue to drop in now and then just for that, even if the bulk of my actual reading is likely to continue to be by digital downloads... ;-)
Nice! Do you know how long till they move?
ReplyDeleteGinny, I think they'll probably be here for a couple of years at least.
DeleteI never did learn how my library was set up, I just wandered until I found a book I liked and then they came up with large print and I loved that one sections, small that it was, had all the books I liked in one place. now the books are to heavy for me to hold and I can't read a regular print book. I can read it but only for a few minutes and I read for hours a day
ReplyDeleteSandra, I can't read much at a time now of a regular print book either. I think I'll probably mostly be appreciating the library for the possibility to physically "browse" (and then perhaps order those I find interesting as ebook or audio instead). I noted they have one shelf with large print as well; but like you I find those too heavy. (The book I borrowed today is normal print but it's not a novel, and more the kind to read a bit from now and then...)
DeleteI tend to spend a whole day reading and searching what to read in library
ReplyDeleteRo, I tend to prefer shorter visits... But perhaps more frequently again for a while now, with a library within easy walking distance.
DeleteAs a trained Librarian myself, I am of course interested in what system they use at this library. I can't make out any markings on the shelves as to what genre(s) we're looking at, and the labels on the books' spines are too small for me to make out what they say. What amazes me most, though, is that some of the top shelves are empty, and that the shelves seem to leave generous space - the libraries I have worked at and/or visited are usually very short of space and cram their shelves as full as possible :-)
ReplyDeleteIn any case, it looks like a good place to spend an hour or so when you feel "bookish".
Meike, we have a national Swedish library classification system called SAB (link to English Wikipedia article) A small branch library like this will mostly have a rather limited selection of mostly rather recent and popular books, and primarily fiction and popular science (and mostly in Swedish) - but other books can of course be ordered from the main library or other branch libraries, to be picked up at one's local branch. All the public libraries in the area cooperate and it's also possible to for example borrow a book at the main library but return it at one's neighbourhood branch etc.
DeleteI imagine that moving to new premises is also a good time for clearouts and reorganisation and trying out the best way to display things. Those book shelves you see in my photo with empty top shelves held categories where this branch library probably does not have all that much to offer. I think one was for books with extra large print and one for fiction in in English. The third I don't remember now but also some "minor" category. And the one with empty bottom shelf has books on local history. The main part of fiction was in another room nearby, and there I noted that they had also sorted a lot of books into sub-categories like detective novels and science fiction.
Thank you for this additional information, Monica. I quite enjoyed that.
DeleteHere, most libraries (both public ones and those addressing the scientific community) participate in a network of exchange; it even was so when I worked there in the 1980s and early 90s. Now with digitalisation, many things are a lot easier (but not necessarily quicker or better...).
Learning how to classify/categorise books, add them to the catalogue (back then it was all on little cards in rows and rows of long, narrow wooden drawers) and create the correct label for each volume was something I very much enjoyed. It fed my inner nerd really well!
Meike, we too have the possiblity of ordering books from libraries in other parts of the country if needed, but the primary cooperation is between libraries in the local region. - I was thinking of becoming a librarian myself in my lower/mid teens. But was discouraged from pursuing that career by a counsellor in highschool (the job market for librarians not looking good just then) and ended up going to secretary school instead.
DeleteThat is what I'd call a user friendly library!
ReplyDeleteMy memory of my local and "big city" library when we lived in the UK was one of crammed shelves and books in wrong places - due not to staff misfiling, but people taking a book to read then putting it back somewhere else! It's so long since I've been in a library that I'd need instructions on how to use it! However I'm happy with my Kindle and the ease buying a book.
Carol, I've mostly been using Kindle + Audible myself for over a decade now. The downside is that Swedish publishers (or libraries) don't use the same system, and one result of that is that I've not been keeping up much with contemporary Swedish literature. I can borrow certain Swedish audio books and e-books online via the library, but then one kind of needs to know what one is looking for (it's hard to get an overview). I think one thing I've been missing about not having a physical library nearby is "random browsing", as in being able to pick down a book and flicker through it. (Not just reading a blurb or short intro.)
DeleteI like the look of this library, it looks welcoming. I am a retired librarian and care about libraries. Your postcards arrived today, many thanks.
ReplyDeleteTerra, although I mostly use their online services now I think it will be nice to have one nearby again for a while.
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