tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977358285357666248.post4729230653236106178..comments2023-09-23T02:02:26.724-07:00Comments on LIBRARY STUFF: A LIBRARY SCHEME WITH NO LIBRARIES? Barbara Bandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04806135083697903642noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977358285357666248.post-12545352839270747312018-05-01T06:26:34.222-07:002018-05-01T06:26:34.222-07:00We used to have a fantastic mobile library that ca...We used to have a fantastic mobile library that came into our village (a small one in North Yorkshire), parked up by the bungalows that generally housed old people and allowed residents to take out books when they didn't have a way to get to the library in the nearest town. I remember going to the mobile library before I was school age and it was fantastic! Why on earth the council/government/whoever decided to close down such a service in such a rural area is beyond me! One of the reasons we used it was the town the library was situated in was really child unfriendly. It's all cobbled streets and the parking is a nightmare. My mum would have had two children under 5 to contend with and a mobile library made such a difference. When my mum was seriously ill, I had to rely on a neighbour to go to the library for me and pick out books for her as combining working, taking my sister to school and looking after my mum didn't afford me much chance of getting to the library during its restricted opening hours! I know one of the NYCC libraries runs a volunteer programme that allows volunteers to go around to homes of the elderly once a fortnight and take them books, chat with them and return any they've finished with which is a brilliant idea and should be advertised more. It's such a shame that the government are so short-sighted when it comes to public services such as the library - they're so much more than just a place to take out books but they don't seem to be able to see that! We only had one 'proper' librarian left at our local library a few years ago but they made her redundant and to be honest I've barely been in since. She'd been there 25+ years and it's such a shame. Hopefully, one day (before it's too late!) they'll realise that a library is a precious public commodity and should be saved! Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11694866322092495632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977358285357666248.post-84053823976410856942015-01-27T07:38:52.135-08:002015-01-27T07:38:52.135-08:00Exactly! The majority of people with dementia will...Exactly! The majority of people with dementia will be elderly with other health-related problems and will rely on carers, usually their family, to help them access such services. These family members have their own lives that they have to fit in around doing this ... work, young families, their own problems. They may not want or be able to drive miles to the nearest library. They may work, have young children, have to use public transport - all these are barriers - and that's assuming that the library is open when they can get there. That is why a library system, especially if it is going to deliver outreach services, needs to be local and accessible.Barbara Bandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04806135083697903642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977358285357666248.post-75054649085016812002015-01-27T03:56:15.474-08:002015-01-27T03:56:15.474-08:00My mother may be in the early stages of dementia. ...My mother may be in the early stages of dementia. In such circumstances, and given the fact she's also elderly, frail and in considerable pain from scoliosis and osteo-arthritis, I tend (in all cases) to get extremely irritable if any suggestion that she has to travel some distance is made. Therefore, in the case of libraries and everything else, the service MUST be fairly nearby, easily accessible and open regular hours. I'm willing to drive and support her, but I have Asperger syndrome myself, and finding my way around one-way systems and roundabouts fills me with dread. I've been hearing about the word "flexibility" all my life and I f***** hate it. It's largely an excuse for cutting services and telling everyone they have to like it. I don't. Aspergers, pensioners and many other sectors of our ageing society just do not have the "flexibility" to run round the country looking for the nearest service point or whatever only to be told (by a sign, most likely) that it's only open every second Wednesday and three times in a blue moon! The awful truth - most times when Mum wants a book or anything else, I order it from Amazon!<br /><br />And by the way, Ed Vaizey, you're useless!James Christiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10221935786044035336noreply@blogger.com