Yesterday was Book Club Friday and it reminded me of how my parents and I would go to our local Library every Saturday afternoon and get our books for the week.  We had books at home which we owned and I always had books for my Birthdays and Christmas but when I was growing up if you wanted to read a lot being a member of the local library was the best way.  (Unfortunately I cannot show you a picture of the Library as all the pictures have copyright on them!!!!).

(Image from : https://marketlavingtonmuseum.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/library-ticket-old-style/)

Above is the old style of reader’s library ticket which you had and when you wanted to check a book out they would take the slip out of the book and put it into your ticket and then stamp the book with the return date. They had really large metal date stamps which made a huge clunk!!!!!!

When you borrowed books from the children’s library you could only check out four books, which by the time I was eight was just not enough!!!!  You had to be ten to borrow books from the main library and I could not wait!  We also had a library at my school and was ten when I read “The Hobbit” by JRR Tolkien which got me into fantasy books!  In fact there was a larger school library at my senior school and spent most lunchtimes in there.

When I did eventually get into the main library I devoured all of the Agatha Christie books but you will not be surprised after yesterday’s post!!  I also read a lot of historical fiction and as I got older the romantic novels.  However over the years I now tend to read more mystery novels, crime thrillers but still love historical fiction.

When I was in Primary School I had a very good friend, Judith, she and I used to swap books.  Our favourites were the Boarding School books:

When I was eight for my Birthday I had the Narnia Set, below,  which at the time was quite expensive, however the books themselves to buy individually were only 20 pence!!!

I still think books are one of the best buys in this day and age and although they now cost for a large paperback between £6.99 and £8.99, it really is only the cost of two large fancy coffees!!!! 

I do have to admit now though that if I want a book I do tend to buy it rather than go to the Library and borrow it.  I am in the fortunate position to be able to do that and also our local libraries have reduced the amount of books they have to borrow and also have reduced the amount of genres! 

This is my local bookstore which is a chain in the UK, Waterstones, which do stock a lot of books.  Of course I use Amazon as well but I do try and support independent book stores when I can.

This is the new Library near to us, which opened in August this year.  I have not had chance to go and have a look yet but am hoping to soon.  I may even join!

Going to the library with my parents was the highlight of my week, especially at this time of year with the weather being often bad we would spend a lot of our leisure time reading. 

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you get to spend some time with a good book.

Hugs & Love, Susie xx