“Shhhhhh!” For many of us who were born pre-decimalisation, this is an enduring memory of the libraries of our youth, along with those of stuffy buildings filled with dusty, weighty tomes that were seemingly irrelevant to our growing minds. It’s fair to say that the focus of libraries was to provide books, and the reason to use one was to get books. They weren’t necessarily welcoming because a book repository didn’t need to be.

So, flash forward to 2012, the age of the internet and ‘instant’ knowledge, and it’s no surprise that libraries have worked hard to successfully shake off that old-fashioned image, with a transformation as marked as when Scrooge woke on Christmas morning. There are over 4,500 public libraries in the UK, with 73 in Essex, but this is only a part of what the library service provides. Mobile and Home Library Services are provided for people who live rurally or may have difficulties accessing a library, or need specialist support in using the library network. All Essex libraries have computers for internet use (including the Mobile service), and most offer music CD and DVD film rental. There are also facilities that specifically relate to aiding disabilities – these include books in audio, large-print, Braille and Easy Read formats. But that’s not all – many libraries have become hubs for their communities, providing courses and events such as parent and toddler groups, reading groups as well as literary and art showcases. There really is something for everyone – you’re as spoilt for choice as Charlie Bucket was in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!

Now you know what the library service can offer you, why should you use it? There are many well-known advantages to actual reading, but as the library now offers increasingly more for those with disabilities, we’ll focus on the benefits of these services. Social events such as reading groups held in libraries can help to raise self-esteem and confidence, along with all the benefits of being part of a social group. There is a diverse range of courses offered by libraries – from Maths and English to Computer Skills to Job Hunting – and these are often free. For those unable to access libraries, the Home Library Service effectively means the library comes to you, with a dedicated library staff member working with you to provide you with appropriate material in a format that suits you. As the saying goes, “If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain”.

One great advantage of the library service since those “Shhhhhh!” days is that so much information can be found on the internet through the libraries website. So whether it’s practical information you need (“Does X library have level access from the street?” “Is Y library equipped with a hearing assistance system?”) or ideas for what you should read next, you can access it in comfort, and at your own pace. So why not check out what the library service can offer you?