rhymetime

Uxbridge Library

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My first visit to another library for two years!

As I was in Windsor for a talk, I managed a visit to Uxbridge Library which, for the purposes of this blog, is representing the libraries for the London Borough of Hillingdon. The library is nestled amongst the shops – I initially walked past.

Large children’s library with an impressive tree structure which has lights hanging down giving the impression of hanging fruit.

Uxbridge Library is a large library on five floors. As well as the large entrance area and children’s library, the ground floor has a wide open space where events can be held. There were some Remembrance Day exhibitions in place but parents and babies were appearing for the regular Tiny Tales (rhymetime and storytime combined for the under 5s), which was nice to see.

The building is quite modern with an atrium letting in light in the middle. There are several computer areas, a lift and toilets. Levels 2 and 3 have fiction, whilst 4 and 5 have non-fiction. A guide is pasted onto the pillars making it easy to find your way around. Everything looked in good condition,e.g. the carpet and bookcases. There were further banners, display cases and exhibitions on other floors.

I have not seen “Playaways” before. I get the impression they are little devices with one audio book loaded so you borrow the entire device. I quite like the idea but, obviously because of my age, it just makes me think of walkmans.

Exeter Library

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The outside approach to Exeter Library, one of Devon’s largest libraries, is lovely. It is a 1960s buildings that was refurbished between 2013 and 2014 at a cost of £4 million. Now you enter into a welcoming cafe area. The colour scheme is quite grey, white and turquoise.

The library building was on three floors but most of the library activity was on the ground floor.  There were lots of staff around.

There was an interesting listening booth in the left photo that my daughters tried out. Lovely view from the seating area on the right.

Bustling children’s library. They run FabLab Maker Spaces, Bounce and Rhymes and story clubs,  they have code clubs, raspberry jams, and computer clubs and gadget days for people who need help with their devices.

There were little exhibition cabinets dotted around. I loved the old dummy waiter style book lift still on display – no idea if it still in use. There was also a Business and Information Skills and IP Centre.

The opening hours are good, open until 6pm or 7pm on weekdays and even open four hours on a Sunday.

Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library

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One of the most dramatic things to happen in the world of public libraries was in 1994 when Norwich Central library was destroyed by fire (BBC News, Eastern Daily Press). In 2001 The Forum was opened.

The library is within the Forum so there is a gallery, café, restaurants, tourist information centre and proper well maintained loos. The website claims around 5,000 people visit every day. The library is the most well used public library in the country according to the stats.

I’m not usually impressed by signs but these ones were perfect in height, clarity and appearance.

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There were a lot of trolleys waiting for reshelving and bookcases of material waiting to be shelved sorted into sections which I found quite shocking but I suppose that is a casualty of success. Most of the old battered trolleys looked a little out of place.

The separate children’s library with doors, provided a contained area to keep the children safe, deter lone adults (I felt like I shouldn’t go in) and meant you didn’t have to worry about your kids disturbing other readers. Baby rhymetime was taking place and was well attended.

There was a series of eye catching display cases with recommended books. I really liked this one:

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I’ve never seen such a vast Mills and Boon (and equivalent) section before and an entire section on walking.

There is also a 2nd Air Division memorial library to American serviceman who lost their lives in World War II is in a separate room off the main library.

All in all a very busy and well stocked library.

 

Bedford Central Library

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Before I set off for Bedford Central Library, whilst I was checking the address and map, I came across Google reviews of the Library. I have never bothered to read reviews of a library before as they are always a mixed bag and I believe people are more likely to write a review when they have something to complain about. The first reviewer had been complaining about the fact that there were mothers and babies singing nursery rhymes all the time. So I thought it hilarious that I turned up at exactly the moment baby rhymetime started!

Bedford Central Library is in a pedestrian area and looks very inviting and colourful from the outside. The ground floor has an information desk and a book drop-off point but then you need to get on the rather grubby and drab escalator (or take the lift or stairs). However when you get to the first floor you enter a very big library space with another wraparound mezzanine (or gallery) above. As it is open plan, it is true that you could hear the nursery rhymes throughout. But, as a past frequenter of baby rhymetimes I don’t have a problem with half an hour of singing in a library and I could hear other readers subconsciously singing along to Wheels on the Bus as well.

It was a Thursday morning (on Thursdays the library closes at 1). It was very busy and bustly and felt like a genuine hub of the community. The stock was easy to navigate because it was open plan with clear sections and signs and I saw plenty of helpful looking staff around.

There was a silent study area on the mezzanine which was partially screened off with glass but perhaps it could do with doors too. There were, what looked like, noise reducing panels on the ceiling so I’m presuming noise has been recurring issue for the library. But better a noisy well-used library than an empty quiet one!

I had brought my father along on this visit and as he is an ex-local studies librarian. We spent most of our time in that corner. He found exactly the book he wanted and we had no problem locating and using the photocopier. He grumbled that the local studies material wasn’t very secure but did note that the filing cabinets were at least locked. I noticed lots of helpful leaflets, guides and posters and this one which I thought was a great use of librarian talent:

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We sampled the tea and cake in the small café and admired the view which we thought was a church but have now learnt is a shopping centre. We finished off with a short walk along the river and a look around The Higgins – Bedford’s Museum and Art Gallery.