Just discovered BorrowBox

Calendargirl

Am I the only one who still prefers a proper book?

I can only speak for myself, but since my early/mid fifties, I really struggle to focus my eyes on a book for long, especially in the evening.
Audio books have been a godsend for me!

I like reading, so am not bothered whether it's from a paper book or an e-book. As Molly says, Kindles are great for portability, and I like reading novels on them, whereas I don't like them for cookbooks or poetry - I think there is definitely room for both.

I used to enjoy audiobooks when I commuted every day; but now that I don't use public transport so much I find it difficult to concentrate on them, as there is always something else I could be doing. I prefer to read, all things being equal, as audiobooks give the narrator's interpretation of what's going on, and I like to decide that for myself. Like Luckygirl, I have a dyslexic daughter who gets a lot of pleasure from them, though. She started with Stephen Fry reading the Harry Potter books when she was a child, and has listened to audiobooks ever since.

Our libraries have OverDrive - good too.

No Calendargirl. I read books too and gave a clip on light so I can read in bed. But when I’m going away, books weigh more than my e-reader, so I like BorrowBox.

Calendar girl. No you are not alone. I am a proper book lover. Though the fact that I actually work in a library does help.

I use Libby and have done for some time. I download books to read on holiday. I like that you can be sat up in bed late at night and can just download something you like. You can’t beat a proper book but if you are travelling it is inconvenient dragging them around. I read very quickly so in a fortnight I would need 5 or 6 books.

We used this a lot during lockdown and still do. Excellent .

I think they must be different Luckygirl3 I've only just started using Libby and found a book there that wasn't on Borrowbox.

And my DD is dyslexic and audiobooks have opened up the whole world of literature to her - she is loving them!

Libraries began closing when local authorities could not find a way to monetize then. - makes my heart sink. As I have said so many times we are ruled by a government that does not know what service means.

Proper books are great Calendargirl but the beauty of the audiobooks is that I can cook, paint etc. at the same time, so I get to read more books!

Am I the only one who still prefers a proper book?

It's brilliant, I listen to books a night when I can't sleep, pop in my ear buds and put the timer on for 45 minutes,
There's also Libby for magazines

I began work back in the early 1960s in a city with abut 30 branch libraries and worked in most of them in my time. Libraries began closing when local authorities could not find a way to monetize then. So along with museums and art galleries they were seen as non productive. I qualified as a librarian in the 1960s but by the late 1970s the profession had begun to change and decline. I stepped off the ladder to go to uni as a mature student and am glad that I had the courage to do so. I looked back a few years later at what happend to some of my contemporaties who were made redundant. I went on to do higher degrees and became an academic.

The few libraries in that system which are now open are mostly staffed by volunteers who, with the best will in the world, are not qualified. I agree that branch libraries have become all things to all people. To study now you need to go to the central reference library which is not always within easy reach if you live outside an urban center.

I would not like to be a librarian in todays employment market.

Doodledog

They may have to adopt an approach similar to the one used by the library at the college where I teach.

Our library has three different types of zones, designated by traffic light signs. A green zone is an area for group work. Noise is permissible here. A yellow zone is an area for small group work (1-2 people; talk in low tones and keep the noise down). A red area is for individual work and there's to be as little noise as possible. (Back when I was a student the universities I attended used to use the term "Quiet Study Area" for what my college would now classify as a red zone.)

NotSpaghetti

Our library also gives access to "Libby" and "uLIBRARY".
Great magazine selections too - much more choice of those than in the actual library.

Has anyone found a way to request the e-book equivalent of inter-library loans?
I keep meaning to ask the staff but am always sidetracked if in the actual library building!

Are there advantages to the different apps? Do they all give access to the same books in each library?

Our library also gives access to "Libby" and "uLIBRARY".
Great magazine selections too - much more choice of those than in the actual library.

Has anyone found a way to request the e-book equivalent of inter-library loans?
I keep meaning to ask the staff but am always sidetracked if in the actual library building!

The trouble with branch libraries is that they are trying too hard to be all things to all people, and IMO it just doesn't work. They have children in making a noise, knitting groups doing likewise, older people wanting somewhere to chat, others coming in to keep warm or to learn IT skills, so that those wanting a quiet space to research something or prepare for an interview have no chance of doing so in a small space with no separate rooms to separate people out.

I don't know what the answer is - all of the above are useful resources - but none is what libraries are supposed to be for, and it seems to me to be a loss.

Wow agnurse, that is seriously impressive. I fear that what will be lost will be the small branch libraries. At which point everyone will be up in arms with their " in my childhood", " I remember when", " when I my children were little" memories. But memories and recollections won't keep an underused library open.

I can’t believe it’s free either Luckygirl both BB and the PressReader app for newspapers and magazines. I find them much easier to read being able to enlarge the print and also to hold especially the larger papers having short arms 🤣
I’ve recommended it to lots of friends.

Lizbethann55

Actually, I don't think libraries will close completely due to the number of services they provide to the community. In the city near where I live, for example, their main library branch has computers (free printing is available if you're printing a resume or other employment search documents), a recording studio, I believe a MakerSpace (space where people can access resources such as a 3D printer, sewing machine, coding equipment, electronics equipment, etc.), and even a kitchen where they offer cooking courses.

Thanks for the information. I've now downloaded it too.

Ah good point Lizbeth. I use both. The librarian actually recommended BB to me on one of my visits. We have a lovely newly built library here.

I couldn’t believe how good Borrowbox was when I first discovered it too. I keep thinking someone will take it away. I love reading all the magazines and newspapers from all over the world. The knitting and crochet patterns are brilliant too.

Except, urmstongran, if everyone uses Borrowbox , the libraries will close. I get so angry when I see how many Ebooks are on our catalogue compared to paper books.

Signed up yesterday and today my membership has expired 😡