Are we happy with our library service?

What annoys me about the ACT public libraries is the missing books – it’s bad enough that a useful title comes up on a search and it turns out to be unavailable due to theft or loss, but it’s pretty poor that a title you’re waiting for can be returned to the library system, move to “in transit” then never be seen again, it happens a couple of times a year.

The problem I have with the ACT Library Service is that the libraries are just so small. It’s like they exists just to show that they exists rather than fulfilling a need. The need I am talking about is a comprehensive repository of information available to the public. To me this is the primary purpose of a library, not a political brownie point or a social gathering point.

In my humble opinion the ACT Library Service should at least provide one decent library somewhere in Canberra that is the size of a university library.

it’s not actually negotiable Vic.

Bubzie was intelligible, on topic, and informative.

You two have not been.

We’re going to have more of her and less grammar nazi’ing and abuse of other posters.

And that isn’t negotiable.

Disagree JB re: “play the ball”. I totally agree with SOS.

Some posters like bubziegirl hop on their high horses, yet in their own backyard don’t have a saddle, bridle etc. And so deservedly need to be put in their place.

bubzie said :

geez, who gave grandma the internet, anyway??

Never you worry about that you young whippersnapper! Why I’ve been roaming the internet since before you were even a grasshopper disguised as a spring chicken …

*consumptive hacking cough*

Now where’s that blessed spittoon?

Play the ball, not the girl SOS.

Damn, bubzie. You’d better keep studying for a while, learn how to spell and how to construct sentences – particularly before slinging misspelled mud at kids, bogans and grandma’s. Chances are you’ve either been or will be all of these at some stage.

Hopefully you can aspire to something more.

Ok. So, my school libary, IS a public libary, so i’ve had plent of experience with them.

1. Opening times! ARRGH!
Take monday’s for example, the libary doesnt open till 11.
Which is wonderful, i cant even go into my own school libary, for the first three lessons..which is hopeless!
(And, on every other day, they do open at the same time as our first lessons start, which kinda annoys me, there has been some times when i’ve needed to read/borrow something from there, before first lesson.

2. WEIRDOS!!
I know its not just mine. Other libaries have their share of them as well.
I found out from a friend, that a friend of mine, was going to the toilets there, and got approached by an older man, and was asked for a root.
GAHH! GET OUT OF MY SCHOOL LIBRARY, YOU FREAK!

3. Lack of stuff you need.
I am so sick of some bogan from ..kippax hogging the book that I need.

4. Obnoctious bogans, who dont realize that a library is a quiet place.
I love, when i’m studying, to suddenly be interupted by some bogan a table away with their phone. Who talk at the top of their lungs.

5. Small children who run around, and act like our school’s study area, is some playpen.
seriously, fuck off. Kids section is downstairs, all the way to the left.
And arrgh! stop playing with the lifts! they’re not for you!!

*steps off soapbox*

geez, who gave grandma the internet, anyway??

I love our libraries, but one small bugbear of mine is that they are not open on the days between Xmas and NY – just when you finish your holiday reading stash and need some more! Erindale seems a tad understaffed on weekends, also.

It seems daft that they are often closed when many people (dare I say ‘working families’???) have time to browse the shelves!

ACT Libraries… why bother?