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Kensal Rise library on your laptop
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From the local blog Park-Life
Remember those paper page things called books? Get with the programme, storytime’s gone virtual… Kensal Rise library may be over a century old, but it’s fully embraced the 21st century. Our historic Kensal Rise branch looks as charming as it did when it opened in 1900 – by none other than Mark Twain, (nobody was available for comment on his appearance fee, sadly) – but brace yourself for its cyber credentials.
Almost 2,000 e-titles (are you still with me here, Luddites?), can be downloaded five at a time from K-Rize’s library. Laptops, iPods, iPhones and are all compatible with their downloads, so get ready to transplant your favourite reads straight onto your modern gadget of choice. Benefits? Your rat-racey PCs combined with commuting now equal a convenient literary route to escapism. As for those big hard-backed holiday reads – consider luggage weight and space restrictions zapped with these electronic alternatives. Libraries, for me, used to conjure memories of tiled carpeting, musty smelling attendants and a clientele gripped with a variety of throat ailments, intent on an orchestral phlegm clearance. A couple of decades after my first forays to these bookaterias though, and I’m thrilled to say they’ve seriously moved on(line).
Your only commitment is to register at the library. Even this one-fingered typing novice took a measly 2 min 37 secs when helped by one of the patient librarians at your service. I’m still more of a traditionalist, but the touch-screen login and book and DVD borrowing was easy. Even the ‘managing your account’ part is a doddle. (If I keep this up, I’m sure I’ll soon be Skyping William Boyd and be chatting in a forum with PD James and Steig Larsson).
And all this library loving isn’t just for grown-ups. Our beloved local library caters to the junior bibliophile too with gusto. As well as having a fantastically welcoming kids’ reading area and vast array of books for all ages, there’s even n under-fives Bookstart Story and Rhyme Time. Tuesdays 11.15am–11.45am (during term time), maybe see you there? I’ll be the one being shown how to log in by their toddler.
Kensal Rise library Bathurst Gardens, Kensal Rise, London NW10 5JA
To renew an item, ring 0115 929 3388. To speak to library staff, ring 020 8969 0942.
From the local blog park-life for the areas of Kensal Rise and Queens Park where this article was first published.
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