Oh happy days! He is now 32 and a junior doctor. Libraries are part of the threads that stitch us together.
Wendy Errington, Whitley Bay
My local library has been invaluable to me. When my marriage broke up I found myself a flat to rent. Whilst I could manage my basic expenses, things like broadband and laptops were a luxury I couldn’t afford. Having access to the internet every day was vital to sort out my bills and apply for new jobs. I’m about to start my new management role, which I applied for and completed assessment for, at my local library.
Anne, Hampshire
They gave me a quiet place and a desk to study at, which I didn’t have at home, and a way to read books that my family couldn’t afford to buy.
Via Twitter, @EledaEdwin
Why save libraries? My children learned to read in one and are still members. I have five loans out at the moment as paperbacks and downloads. I meet the whole spectrum of society when returning a book or getting my compostable bags: from toddlers to the more mature, we all feel at home.
Via Twitter, @FrancescaEmmett
I have depression, reading or pleasure is vital for me – stops my brain going over and over something bad. But there’s no way I could afford to buy enough books to keep me going
E Fitz-Moriaty
I am over 70 and first discovered my local library on my way home from school around age 13. Like most Scottish working-class families, we had very few books in our home. It was the freedom to choose a book – any book – that I think was the making of me. It didn’t matter that I didn’t choose that well (initially) but as I see it now, it was the first time in my life there was nobody monitoring what I did or what I chose.
Diana Dodd, Edinburgh
My local library was crucial to my mental health as a new mother. I have no family locally, library sing-a-longs and story times allowed me to socialise, to meet new mums and talk. I structured my week around these events. They motivated me to get out of the house and this helped my recovery after a caesarean delivery. Most importantly, singing and hearing stories at the library allowed me to be a ‘good mother’. There seemed so many ways of doing it wrong as a new parent (feeding, routines, plastics etc) but singing with my baby and listening to stories helped her development and felt great.
Elaine Walters, via email
Libraries have been a store of books such as I could never have at home. Librarians have helped me find books of the kind I need for a particular task (eg curtain-making).
The mile walk to the library with my mother and brothers as a child was a thrilling time. I could see books displayed which I had never thought of reading; authors strange and unknown to me; illustrations which fascinated me. The library broadened my mind.
Recently I was in a very boring and bleak little town in the far north of Scotland waiting for a ferry. The museum and information centre was closed as it was a Monday, so I sought out the library to spend some time there. There was an interesting art exhibition where I bought a couple of birthday presents for friends, and it provided a light, colourful and extremely pleasant, safe place for me to read and rest until it was time to travel on.
Libraries are a vital part of our society; our culture. We are a more ignorant and impoverished country without them.
Ann Milston, Morayshire
When I was very young, just after the Second World War, we lived near our village library. My mum worked part-time as an assistant and I became an avid reader.
When I was nine, the county librarian – an imposing but friendly figure – visited our school to tell us about Arthur Ransome’s books – Swallows and Amazons and all the others. About half a dozen of our class of 30 were hooked on the spot, and ran to the library after school. In those days there were few paperbacks, and a hardback book typically cost twelve shillings and sixpence in old money, 50 Mars bars or £35 today.
In retirement, I began to read about social issues. Even in these hard times, and now with the aid of technology, a book review in The Big Issue or New Statesman can bring a new book to our local library tagged with my name in response to a reservation.
The social benefits of the library are clear. They have helped to make me the taxpayer, voluntary worker and charity donor that I am today.
Richard Reid, Norfolk
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Image: Royalty-Free/Corbis
