Comments on: Deary Day 3 … plus House of Commons on library cuts

By: retired librarian

retired librarian — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 22:17:55 +0000

I am appalled at these closures. I recently visited the library where I worked and could not believe my eyes. The staff are depressed as they do not know if their jobs are safe. This does not lead to a happy working environment.
Libraries perform a valuable social service. I remember one lady saying to me that “she used the heating in the library, it saved hers” and “if she stayed in her house she would never see anyone else, but in the library she could meet others”.
When I first joined the library service we were in a cramped building, and money was scarce, but we tried our best to give a good service and were rewarded by some fantastic readers.
I really do not like the dependence on computers that has arisen. True, authors and titles can be found, but you need to feed in the correct information in the first place. Too often wrong information is given.
It worries me that volunteers will be used more and more as staff lose their jobs. Staff are trained in library work, volunteers are not.
Having said that the job of librarian is the best job there is, and staff are not valued as much as they should be.

By: Shirley Burnham

Shirley Burnham — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 05:37:42 +0000

In reply to Spork – SPoon and FOrk.

Yes – and totally disproportionate compared with far more ghastly things happening in the wider world or on one’s doorstep. Enough!

By: Spork - SPoon and FOrk

Spork - SPoon and FOrk — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:31:38 +0000

Deary Day 3…. Don’t you think this manufactured outrage is beginning to look childish? Certainly the comment above from John Kirriemuir is.

By: John Kirriemuir

John Kirriemuir — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:45:17 +0000

“The others pretty much think he’s Satan.”

Um, as a previously-practicing Satanist, who has several friends and colleagues still active in this particular area of (oft misunderstood) belief, it is somewhat unfair and superficial for anyone to think that Terrence Deary is “Satan”. Satanism does have a variety of positive, interesting and useful aspects, especially from a philosophical perspective, and I invite people to make an open-minded investigation (it’s certainly not just what’s in the bible).

Terrence, on the other hand; not so useful.