Libraries I Have Loved

Today hundreds of people are attending a lobby of Parliament to express their outrage at the threat of cuts and closures to libraries across the country. Sadly I couldn’t make the rally but I wanted to share my support for this important issue and blog about the libraries I have loved over the years and that have helped inspire my passion for reading.

The refurbished library in Carrickfergus

Some of my earliest memories involve the library. We lived in a small town called Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland and in the late 70s/early 80s there wasn’t much to do there, particularly if you didn’t have much money. So my mum took us to the library every week.  I can still remember the children’s section of that library and the joy of choosing my own books. I also remember the frustration of only being allowed to take out four books at a time!  Carrick Library was recently refurbished and seems to be thriving so I’m delighted that the first library I loved is still there to inspire more children with a love of reading.  



Rathcoole Library

 We moved from Carrick to Newtownabbey when I was seven years old and my new home spoilt me with its proximity to not one but two libraries! By joining both I was able to double my weekly lending limit and devoured up to eight books each week.  I was also old enough to visit these libraries on my own, so I could spend hours browsing the shelves. The first was in a large housing estate called Rathcoole and it provided a vital resource to the local community. It is still open but looks like it has reduced opening hours and services.  The second was in a portacabin in the grounds of my primary school and it looks like it has closed down.

When I moved to London one of the first things I did was join the local library and then had to keep changing libraries as I moved around the city! When we had our first daughter we were living in Walthamstow in north east London and the library there has a fantastic children’s section. There is lots of bright colourful seating so children are encouraged to sit and look at books. Every week there was a wonderful Rhyme Time (which I hope is still going) where the librarian sang songs and read a story.  It was always packed and we would never miss it.  

We moved from Walthamstow a few years ago and now live in the borough of Redbridge. Again we are close to two libraries – South Woodford and Wanstead – but thankfully lending limits have increased in the intervening years since I was a child! Both run wonderful Rhyme Time sessions which my girls love and have a fantastic choice of books.  S loves to choose her books each week and although B is more interested in pulling the books off the shelves  I am glad she is experiencing the delights of the library environment! I had been pleased that my local libraries seemed to be escaping the cuts but this week I received communication from the Council that there will be cuts to opening hours. I’m not happy and will be getting in touch with my MP to protest.

If you love your library then please support the Speak Up For Libraries campaign