Q&A with Steve Morris discussion
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Playing Havoc
In the library
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Agreed with you!The libraries can also provide better places for readers to study/read good books.
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I'm lucky that my library is super popular. I personally think this is because I live in a 'poor' part of britain and a lot of people go there as it is warm and offers computer services as there are around 25 computers there. Children and teens get free printing when they are printing homework, which for me was such a life saver! And of course the books, there is quite a collection and generally I can find any book I want to read. Around three years ago the library won a lottery grant so the library was done up a bit. Some points I really like, such as the YA section which is so vast. What I don't like is that they got rid of what I would estimate as 30% of the shelves to put seating space, and in my opinion the seating space is way too big and there was plenty as it was. This is a pic http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/librarie... it's pretty ugly from the outside, but that pic looks actually ok. Wonder if I'll see your book Steve!!
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I was pleased to see the one in Shrewsbury is open on Sunday mornings which will help students.
Libraries should receive manadatory funding.
Perhaps the Government will try the same game they play with schools by closing the smaller local libraries in favour of fewer larger urban libraries.
Ordering books through libraries is really useful. I had to get hold of a thin work on Dyscalculia recently which retailed for about 30 pounds. My nearest town library got it through an inter-library loan in about 5 days. Great service.
Opening hours are 9-5.30 monday, thurs, fri, sat.9-12 tuesday, 9-7.30 wed.
I never knew libraries open on sundays!
Ordering books is good, I mean they can get from a loan from any library in Lancashire and if they don't have it there they apply for it in another library in the country (I once got a maths book from Cambridge), if all else fails you can apply for them to purchase it and in most cases they do!
Our library is kind of like a museum of the town too. Loads of census records and things about the titanic as some guy who was on it was from Colne and apparently he played the fiddle or violin whilst it was sinking. I think they have Kate Winslet's dress there if I remember correctly. Also a lot about the cotton mills which basically was the only thing in my town before.
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On the BBC R4 news this morning they spoke of 200 library closures nationwide over the last year and 175 libraries are now being run by volunteer staff. Very sad.
I still see mobile libraries around which is good.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/gov...
Yes I agree mobile libraries are fantastic. I've never used one but can see the benefits.
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I always see one at ASDA in my town for some reason. It just parks in the car parks, though I can't say I've seen anyone go in, but I guess I don't sit there watching it all the while it is there.
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Speaking of public car parks, I know this will appeal to you. I'm always parking at different places during the day and some I know and some I don't. People are always advised to move valuables out of sight if left in an unnatended car. Mine is always piled with maths and chemistry books. As you will well know, some of these tomes are damned expensive these days. I look back at the thick pile on the passenger seat and think,"Who in their right mind would break my window to steal 2 years of algebra textbooks? I'll leave them on view."
Well you should be safe unless you park near a car park full of academic thugs! They are unreasonably expensive in my opinion. Sometimes I wonder how they justify the prices of those kinds of books.
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Some of the prices of higher education texts are ridiculously expensive and especially so to those who are at a time of their life when they can least afford them.
I know. I reckon if they lowered the price they would make the same if not more profit from increased sales.
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I suspect a lot of courses are using "online" resources but for me it couldn't replace a text book.
I expect you had a fairly big undergraduate reading list in mathematics this year.
I prefer to read text book than e-book, tooOtherwise, i'd get a little dizzy like sea-sick when you sit on a ferry. :)
HOwever nowadays, Most people have their own mobile phone or iphone/galaxy Samsung in their bags, they'd keep reading them or read news, watch moves,..etc during their long journey in a train.
It's no doubt that that's a trend ..in such 21th Century.
It's unavoidable..., isnt it?
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However, I suppose that others will argue that we have to move with the times and save the trees, not to mention shelf space.
Perhaps I am old fashioned. Perhaps one day people will accuse us of being Luddites!
There are a lot of online resources. Not much reading really. They gave a few books on the different topics, but they make it so they teach everything you need to know, and you can get the top marks without reading anything but lecture notes. I can't stand going on the internet on a phone. I sometimes do on my dad's iPhone if the computer is being used and I have no other option. I think they are so difficult to use on the internet as everything is so small and you have to keep zooming in. I currently have a Samsung which I bought brand new from Argos for about £16 about 6 months ago, and it is the best phone ever (when it isn't deciding it has had enough for the day and turning itself off).
Nicolle: I do agree with you!.
I really can't stand to read any article thru the small screen, especially reading a book. I'm not used to that, either.
Though Samsung's screener's bigger than iphone's,
I still like traditional one in some aspects,
Like Steve's told : "I'm old fashioned, ..too"
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Sometimes it's quite contraditonary.
Like to protect our the only earth, we should not cut the trees,...but,...no more books to be published .. in the future.
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Mmm, we try to think about another way to protect our earth, starts from the daily life,
like , distribution of rubblish bins, save battery,.
save our electric power in our house, etc..
hopefully it can reduce the destruction of the earth.
I agree, I am a huge eco-warrior. I don't think it is the paper that is killing the earth, more like PLASTIC!! Also all these phones and gadgets are often made in sweat shops in poor countries. (and then sold to us at ludicrous prices!)
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I agree Steve. Though I doubt iPhones cost over £500 to make. Even giving designers, shipping etc a hefty wage (which I doubt they do with the shipping) they are just making so much profit on each individual sale. I think there must be around 8 phones (mostly bricks from the 90s) in various boxes and drawers at home. My last phone is in it's box in my bedroom, it's just hard to know what to do with them.
Nicolle,Could you get such phones to some companies where could collect for re-cycles,,
i dont know such things, either.
In Hong Kong, mightbe gave them to the Secondary Market to re-cycle it , i think.
Or government could do something to collect old electronics, computer, phones,..etc
and encourage citizens to do it by giving rewards , such as, "£1.00 in cash" for their return.
It should be double win for both sides.
It seemed Body shop have had such activity before. ,i.e. collected plastic bottles for re-cycles for their refund £1.00 per bottle to the customers.
It would encourage people to do more whilst reminding them to save the earth.
Wouldnt it be great!
By the way, Nicolle and Steve, I indeedly agreed with you both for the above-mentioned comments.
Thanks a lot!
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I cannot believe how some public libraries are in danger of closing down due to UK government cuts. For me as a young reader Libraries were such a treasure trove of discovery.