WELL READ?

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at the library is helping people to learn. And I mean learn in the widest sense. It may be that someone wants help with a very general enquiry such as train or coach times from the timetable or who to contact at the Council. Whatever it is, our customers are always so pleased that we have been able to help and of course so are we.

The library contains a vast range of material from which people can learn. And I don’t just mean books. We have language courses on cassette and CD that can be hired free of charge in French German Spanish and Italian. We can obtain the more exotic language courses for you from the Central Library.

If you need books to help you with your DIY project or re-plan your garden don’t forget to visit us, we have all the up to date books and information that you need. Or if maybe you have ambitions to write your own book we have books to guide you. In fact whilst we can’t promise to have in stock a book on your given area of interest we will always endeavour to obtain something on the subject for you. This may mean searching outside the area covered by Poole libraries for which there is a charge of £2.50.

Our study area in the library is always well used. People who wish to read or study on their own are welcome to use this area throughout the day. We have people who use this area whilst looking up information for crosswords or competitions — and we can always tell because we repeatedly get asked for the same information!

In Broadstone we are fortunate enough to have a very active section of the U3A and we always have a supply of their latest brochure available. We also of course have information for Poole Adult Learning, which is based in Oakdale. Staff there will help you if you want to undertake Adult Learning in a more formal way. To cater for our younger customers we have study guides, which are always in demand in the run up to exam time. For the very youngest we have a homework club held at the library on Tuesday afternoons between 3.30-5.00pm. Under the name KNOWZONE the aim is to help children find books or information on line to assist with their homework. During this session any computer printouts or photocopies are free to the children.

The Internet has become a very valuable tool for answering enquiries. There are 5 free terminals available for public use and we use our own terminal at the enquiry desk to answer customer enquiries.

Apart from all our reference stock we must not forget our fiction stock. There is nothing more enjoyable than immersing oneself in a novel set in exotic faraway places peopled by interesting characters. To learn about life in this way is relaxing and fun. The historical novel is back in fashion due to the success of authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Phillippa Gregory, Tracy Chevalier & the like. Reading these novels is a very entertaining way to enlighten oneself of time past. If however you want to keep yourself up to date with current news and information we have newspapers and a range of magazines and periodicals for you to read.

So, do I think that the folk of Broadstone are well read? Yes I do. They read to keep up to date with current affairs and to educate and entertain themselves. And if you have not visited the library for a while you may just be surprised at the range of material available. See you soon.

Felicity Jones, Branch Library Manager

Archive Summer 2004 | next

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