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August 21, 2006
Liverpool again
Thanks to Bill Neve for this
Just to confirm the accuracy of the Private Eye story here is the transcript of an online enquiry session with Liverpool library:
Chat Transcript: I have just read in The Good library Blog that" Private Eye that the Liverpool Library has 'invested ?12,000 in five 'muscle toning' stations to be installed next to the computing area and used by people queuing for internet access'. Fitness instructors will be on hand (at further cost presumably) to demonstrate the equipment. Also 'the city plans to roll-out the idea into branch libraries next' Please tell me this is not true!
Librarian: Hi welcome to Enquire yes what you've heard is true I'll check it out and get back to you
Librarian: It is all part of their refurbishment for Capital of Culture. We will checj details for you. It may take a few minutes.
Librarian: They will be mini gymns and at the moment are only confined to the Central Library in William Brown Street. It was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post a few weeks ago. Would you like us to find you the exact reference?
Bill Neve: Thank you for confirming that. I had hoped it was a Private Eye spoof story.
Librarian: The article can be found in the Liverpool Daily Post August 4th 2006 Page 19 and also £rd August Page 9. They want to encourage their library borrowers to "build fit bodies as well as fit minds" and if successful will be extended to branch libraries at the end of the year. They open in the Central library on 4th September this year
Those of us with a slightly longer memory will recall the story that Liverpool libraries disposed a few years ago of incredibly valuable collections of music. There is an air of whimsy even about the answers from the librarian above.
Posted by Tim Coates at August 21, 2006 4:19 PM
Comments
I was hoping that this was a joke.
If it is a permanent set-up I doubt that staff and regular library users will be too happy about it. Who wants someone sweating away on an exercise machine metres away from where they are trying to study? I hope they are providing somewhere for people to “freshen up” before using the Internet terminals!
On a more serious note, how much shelving or study space has been taken up by this ridiculous scheme?
Posted by: Miriam Palfrey at August 22, 2006 9:41 AM