admin, could we change the title of this strand to something like just "Forest Hill Library" or something like that?

It's great you're posting here, FHLibraryManager

Done!

No worries! People may also be interested in the following author events we have coming up over the next few weeks -

Monday 14th January, 6.00-7.30pm (B)
David Hewson, acclaimed author of the popular Nic Costa crime novels will be talking about the background to the novels and launching his new one ?The Garden of Evil?.

Thursday 17th January, 6.00-7.30pm (B)
Duncan Reekie, local filmmaker, performer and author of the acclaimed Subversion: The Definitive History of Underground Cinema will give a talk

Monday 21st January, 4.30-6.45pm (B)
TokyoPop ReCon: Popular Manga publishers TokyoPop present an evening of quizzes, games, prizes and loads of other fun Manga and Anime stuff!

Wednesday 23rd January, 3.30-430pm
Robin Price, author of the childrens Spartapuss series, will give a talk and sign copies of his books.

Thursday 24th January, 6.00-7.30pm (B)
Jonathan Oates, author of ?Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Lewisham and Deptford? and ?Unsolved Murders in Victorian and Edwardian London?, talks about his writing.

Thursday 7th February, 6.00-7.30pm (B)
Alex Wheatle, Black British novelist, author of ?Brixton Rock? and ?East of Acre Lane? will give a talk about his writing.

Thursday 21st February, 6.00-7.30pm (B)
Chrissie Gittins, poet and local author of ?Family Connections? will give a talk and readings from her poetry

Thursday 28th February, 6.30-7.30pm
Steve Grindlay, local historian, will take a look back at Forest Hill, in particular the history of our newly restored Library.

Call 020 8699 2065 to book a place.

Library is fantastic in so many ways FHLibraryManager. And wonderful that you contribute to the site. Can I take advantage of the fact though to ask about the enormous screen showing non-stop muted cbeebies in the kiddies' section. It struck me as opposite in every way to what a resource like this should be providing. It was distracting the children in there on Saturday away from the books.

Hi, I second what Vipes has said. Its a fabulous resource, and one we've all been waiting for, but I am not keen on the TV as my child will gravitate towards it, sound off or not!

Would you also please post more on the childrens activities that are scheduled for the coming weeks? The events before Xmas were excellent particularly so given the fact they happened only a few days after the official opening.

Can I add my bit about the big screen in the childrens section too. I was in there with m son a few weeks back, only to be completely dominated by The Invincibles (great film, by the way). It seems to be the worst of both worlds....the film totally distracts from looking at all the lovely books - and the books distract from concentrating on the film! Children are subject from a more or less constant onslaught of 'multimedia' these days and dont need to be bomarded with surround sound in the library! call me old fashioned, but arent libraries for the quiet pastimes of reading, studying etc?
Otherwise, the new library is great.

Film group tomorrow will be discussion on Stanley Kubrick, 6pm onwards. All are welcome - spread the word!!

I noticed today that they do have one classical music CD:

"The Only Classical Album You Will Ever Need", so that's all right then.

They should have bought "The Only Book You Will Ever Need" and they could have cleared out the rest of the clutter.

I suppose all the books about films have gone. Made way for the real thing.

Don't know if it's worth mentioning, but there are lots more books available to borrow than are actually on the shelves. You can search all of Lewisham's libraries online, then get your chosen book sent to FH library for pickup. I think it costs 50p. Is that correct, FHLibrarymanager?

Incidentally, the library at the Horniman albeit reading only is also good for botany, ethnography etc and isn't that well advertised. The other excellent library in FH !

I'm all for the new services at the library especially their upgraded i.t centre but it struck me that half the books have been moved to accomadate the the i.t. has anyone else noticed this?

I also thought there are less books. Very disappointed - a pity because the refurbished building looks great.

Dear Library Manager,
I need a place to study. Is there a traditional quiet area of the library for that purpose?

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I think I have a junior libary card and I am 13. Am I supposed to have a different one?[/font]

1) There are tables available around the Library, but not a dedicated quiet study room 2) The Library card should still be valid but speak to a member of staff when you come in as your status may need updating 3) We are looking into when the TV in the Childrens Library should be on and when it should be off -when they are fully installed they will be used more for educational purposes and also presentations advertising what has happened in the Library and what is coming up, so there is a lot of potential there but I agree they can be distracting when you want to read with children. We are addressing this 4) re: classical CDs: It was felt that with the smaller amount of space for audio, we would be better having a good collection of rock & pop and reggae, soul and dance and world music rather than having inferior small sections of all genres. We can always order you a selection of a genre from another branch for you to borrow, please see a member of staff. Hope this answers some of your questions at least!

Dear Library Manager,
thanks for your prompt reply to my question. I don't expect a dedicated study room but was hopeful that the library would offer enough peace and quiet for study as I get the impression there will be a bit of noise at various times with the TV screen etc. Would it be possible for me to find a quiet corner?

I don't get this! Why has it suddenly become that libraries - LIBRARIES - don't have a quiet AREA? Am I going mad or has the world flipped upside down? Libraries used to be the one place where even talking was discouraged. Can they not stay that way? Just one place where people can go and have some peace to study/read? I've been in three or four times now and it's not just me that has noticed this place is a free-for-all for general chatter. It's great that FH library is child-friendly, but keep them in the children's area, and they can watch DVDs at home or films in the cinema, not in the blummin library! Also put up a general 'Quiet please' sign to discourage those people I've heard reading aloud to each other/testing each other/waffling in general. There are plenty of places to go and socialise, a library is for browsing/studying or just being alone with your thoughts. Where else can this be done these days??
Phew.
Thought I had something on my mind about this and this was it.

Hi Jon, I agree.
I've not yet been to the new library so was reserving judgement but your experience is making me feel I'm better off finding somewhere else to study.
I'm unable to study at home at the moment as there is a great deal of DIY noise going on and was really looking forward to the library reopening as an answer to my problems. Anyone know if the Horniman Library is open to the public, and if so - what's it like?

I don't want to put people off FH, but I do hope this can be rectified. Both Catford and Lewisham (oh how the names trip off the tongue like silver pearls) libraries have loads of nooks and crannies for quiet study though.