Forum Topic

Acton Library - use it or lose it

Since the Acton Library has found a new home in the newly refurbished Town Hall the number of visitors went up but the number of books taken out went down. This is one of the KPIs for libraries. From a personal experience, the selection of books at the library beats any book shop, it is unbelievably good (badly arranged though). Who needs Waterstones - particularly for children's books? They have everything!!! If we don't use our library it will be gone, and we won't even know what we lost until we do. Come to the library and help save it.

Tatiana Collins ● 3970d11 Comments

Yes I agree, the staff are lovely

Chris Hurley ● 3954d

I agree that the computer stations are too near the bookshelves and the layout of books very random but the staff are more than happy to help.  Access is easy as there is  an automatic front door and two lifts to the library.  Nowhere near as nice as the Passmore Edwards building but at least we do have a library and we must all use it as much as possible.

Kathleen Chapple ● 3954d

I found the internet option of ordering books much more difficult to use when the library changed hands.  I also used to collect books in the evenings, but found it closed much earlier.  Don't know if this has changed.

Gail Peters ● 3966d

I've been to the new library twice since it opened and found it most uninspiring, yes, lot's of children's books and foreign language books, but they are no use to me.I don't think it fulfills the basic requirements of what a library should or can be, there is no study areas that I could see, lot's of unsupervised children running about, hardly any staff, in fact it reminded me of a school library except there was more order in my school library.It seems to be the way lot's of "services" are going, and will eventually be closed like the Passmore Edwards building, and in time people will forget that there used to be such places, where anyone could read, learn and study almost any subject under the Sun (not the so - called newspaper)I would prefer they just close it and be done with it, instead of this pretence of a library in swimming pools clothing

John Pollastrini ● 3966d

Yes they do have computers, but since they moved from the Passmore Edwards building where the computers were upstairs, it's all a bit small and cramped. I was in there today and I felt a bit awkward looking at books with a load of people sitting close by the shelves on the computers. On a brighter note, they were advertising a new knitting group ...

Chris Hurley ● 3968d

Do they have computers?

Philippa Bond ● 3968d

Libraries need to do more. They should be centres of reading groups (with enough copies of the chosen book available for all), should offer additional study for school kids (volunteers could help), authors should be brought in to speak, they should promote different themes on a seasonal basis, etc. These things may be going on in Acton, but if they are then I don't know about them...

Julian Smith ● 3970d

used to use the old library, but the new one is more difficult for someone like me, with some mobility problems to get to now that the bus stops have been moved and/or closed.  Also found the stock of books was not very exciting - although by reserving on line and then collecting in person perfectly successful.

Nina Battleday ● 3970d

They may be trying this as a tactic to get more people through the door. It does need a bit of help. Anyone with marketing skills to help?

Tatiana Collins ● 3970d

Interesting that the number of visitors went up. I think its quite hidden away and hard to find, unless you know where it is. I agree that the selection of books is very good, although I don't understand why they stopped charging for reservations - welcome though that is, surely another revenue stream - we are living in times of austerity after all.

Chris Hurley ● 3970d

If they did booze and porn as well I doubt I'd ever leave the building.

Bob Little ● 3970d