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Why joining the local library is the best thing you can do in 2026 (www.independent.co.uk)
submitted 10 months ago by to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
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[–] 3 points 10 months ago

@okwithmydecay NB you can also often join libraries in neighbouring counties too. Useful if you like ebooks and audiobooks as it expands the catalogue you can access if you have more than one library card. They often also give you free access to online newspapers and magazines, and sometimes streaming platforms too. But please also go in! Ours does free coffee, has desks and free WiFi, and you can use their scanner and pay to use their printer if you don't have your own.

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    [–] 2 points 10 months ago

    Part of our library has an access barrier that you need a library card to get in. I scanned my card but it had been deactivated because I hadn't been in like 10 years :(

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    [–] 2 points 10 months ago (3 children)

    I am curious now, how do they count library usage? I have been in our local one a few times and looked at some books but haven't registered there or taken any out because I haven't needed to. Makes sense for fiction but informational books I can just take notes or pictures and put the book back when I am done.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

    They count those. My wife is a librarian and they track all sorts of metrics. Circulation of books is a big one but they count visitors too.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    So is that just number of times someone walks in then? The article said under a third use one but visitor count wouldn't tell you the difference of 100 people visiting once or 1 person visiting 100 times.

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago*

    Yes. Everyone who walks in the door, even to use the bathroom. "The bathroom is an important library resource" she says. Everytime a person connects to wifi it gets noted regardless if you're in the building or not. If you pick up a book and put it down it gets counted as used/not checked out. She says some libraries track who borrows a pen. Librarians really like logging information.

    A good way to help your library is the next time you're there check out a bunch of books even if you don't read them. You can even just but them in the return bin on the way out. All this data makes its way back to the politicians who decide on the budget and higher library use and circulation helps them maintain their funding. And they don't really care if it's just the same guy, 100 library visits looks good for the library.

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