Libraries for Life

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There are so many things we take for granted in life.
Clean running water.
Having the freedom to make our own decisions in life.
The deliciousness of the skin on KFC chicken!
Very rarely do we actually stop to think about what it would be like without these things.

There is one particular luxury I think we should dedicate more of our attention to: the library.
It's possible that some people may not realise quite how lucky we are to have libraries dotted all over the country for us to make use of at our leisure.
I may come across as slightly biased because I work in a library, but truthfully, spending so much time there has opened my eyes even more to just how special these places are.
They are so much more than just a building full of books - although that is a key aspect!
A library is a haven, it's a space where your imagination can be let loose. I like to see libraries as a kind of limbo, the pathway leading from our world of 'reality', which forks off towards the thousands of new worlds created by incredible writers and safely tucked away in the pages of countless books.

In a library, you are free to wander from the dark rabbit hole of 'Alice in Wonderland', straight into the Tea-On-The-Hill tea shop in 'Billy and Me', just by browsing the shelves.

A wide variety of books can be found in one library branch alone, from adult to children's, fiction to non-fiction, which just allows readers to broaden their horizons just that little bit further.
Want to read about Paddington Bear and his adventures with the Brown family? No problem!
Need help passing your driving test? Right this way!

I am very aware that wandering through a bookstore can also bring this kind of adventure, and that the shops play an important role in providing members of the public with as many books as they desire, although with a cost attached.
So let's call libraries the 'try before you buy' option. 

The fact that it is free to join a library and borrow it's books means that more people can enjoy the services it provides, without worrying about its cost! (As long as the books are returned on time, that is!)

Of course as libraries have evolved, more services have been introduced, with the interest of appealing to a wider range of customers. Not only can you borrow books, but you can rent DVDs, access the internet, read the newspapers - perhaps even collect a supply of recycling sacks!

There have also been some changes to the 'silence in the library' rule, meaning it's a brilliant environment for all ages.
The library I work at runs weekly children's groups, like Storytime, Baby Bounce and Rhyme, Toddler Shake and Boogie, therefore encouraging children and their parents to make use of the other library services.

Not only that, but it is a perfect place for author talks and workshops. Imagine Simon Scarrow or Lesley Pearse talking about their latest novels, with shelves of books as their backdrops... The image almost paints itself!

I realise I might have started sounding like an advert for the libraries, but I really do love them. Being surrounded by books is my ideal working environment - I find so much inspiration from working in the library, and I feel like my imagination has been enhanced by spending time reading the books I come across on a daily basis.

Today is National Libraries Day, 2014. Why not celebrate by joining your local library, and perhaps borrowing a book? If you're struggling to pick one, librarians and library assistants are there to guide you in your choice!
Libraries are a key part of modern society, because of how much they offer to their customers, so I think it's important that we keep using them to prevent them from fading. Partly because it will keep me in a job, but mostly because of the reasons I've talked about.

I'm off back to work now, so Happy National Libraries day to you all, and happy reading! :)

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