Local library service to the rescue

I READ a lot of books, preferring to do so rather than watching television. Indeed, I don’t even have a small screen of my own!

Trouble is, at the start of the first lockdown, shops selling books were shut, including charity stores.

What’s more, all libraries had to close as per Government decree.

So if you weren’t able to buy a title online, it was a case of having to re-read books you already owned. For me this meant being reacquainted with old favourites like Harry Potter, and devouring factual works in my collection.

This included many books devoted to cricket, along with political titles written by the likes of Michael Moore, Austin Mitchell and Tony Benn.

I also discovered that the first two Barchester novels by Anthony Trollope had lost their appeal – these are no longer on my shelves.

When Covid restrictions were eased, I breathed a sigh of relief. I bought the latest Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) crime novel, and others by such diverse talents as Lord Botham, Ken Livingstone, Bill Bryson and David Peace (his The Damned United about Brian Clough’s unsuccessful time as Manager of Leeds United). Mostly second-hand I hasten to add. As for the library, I borrowed titles about Paul McCartney, The Kinks and Emil Zatopek, the famous Czech runner. Christmas saw me being given the new Guinness Book of Records and an informative volume entitled Churchill and Attlee and I did manage to get one volume from a charity shop before lockdown three came along, but wondered what I’d read once that was completed. Thankfully though our local library service is coming to the rescue.

For though they are not allowed to open as normal, they’ve chosen to continue with a click and collect scheme. What’s more, this service isn’t just available through their website, but via a telephone.

So well done to them on behalf of all bibliophiles!

Tim Mickleburgh,

Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.