tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3285367827446194139.post8811861427092144885..comments2024-02-23T03:58:51.747+00:00Comments on Theaker's Quarterly Fiction: Theakerly thoughts #7: Library of Birmingham, impromptu interview, Goodreads battle-shelvingStephen Theakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11394493689032839157noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3285367827446194139.post-78914268180233056232013-09-24T16:51:09.878+01:002013-09-24T16:51:09.878+01:00Not sure about the bar. I think there's one in...Not sure about the bar. I think there's one in The Rep, which is part of the same building. Thanks for that link! I'm told by an inside source that the libraries get a lot of their furnishings from Ikea so I should look there.<br /><br />John, I had exactly the same issue with the issuing points. My card needed to be renewed, so I went to queue, and was then told twice in the queue that I had to go to the issuing point instead. Did you see anywhere in the building that might be as lovely for writing as the old reference library? I'm definitely going to do NaNoWriMo again this year, and since the library is open on Sundays (which is fantastic - and long overdue) I may well be heading there.Stephen Theakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11394493689032839157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3285367827446194139.post-25025602515563170542013-09-24T16:06:07.258+01:002013-09-24T16:06:07.258+01:00Oh, and I found this:
http://cmablog.org/2012/04/Oh, and I found this:<br />http://cmablog.org/2012/04/Howard Stephen Wattshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00605748922732260440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3285367827446194139.post-27362437582328730722013-09-24T15:48:30.264+01:002013-09-24T15:48:30.264+01:00Do they have a bar?Do they have a bar?Howard Stephen Wattshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00605748922732260440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3285367827446194139.post-40146953241448125842013-09-24T15:22:12.778+01:002013-09-24T15:22:12.778+01:00The new library is a wonderful facility for the pe...The new library is a wonderful facility for the people of Birmingham to ride up and down escalators and recharge their mobile phones. Once they have some books in there it will be even better!<br /><br />Actually, it's getting a bit better already - the horror section wasn't as poor when I visited (this morning!), but still many half-empty units.<br /><br />I agree the red chairs are great - they seem to insulate you against background noise. Also agree that it will be very difficult to maintain it in its current condition. The cafe is a big improvement on the one in the old library. But I never liked the automatic book issuing points, and still don't - the system keeps getting its database in a twist, and you have to go and get it sorted out by an (irritated) library assistant. I would prefer to have a quick chat at the issuing desk with a human, even if that means I have to queue for a few minutes.John Greenwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06822288915243293561noreply@blogger.com