One of several buildings in the area built between the wars, Thimblemill Library has an almost art-deco charm about it from the outside but inside is a thoroughly modern library. Regrettably, 'thoroughly modern' in this context isn't exactly a term of endearment. Like most libraries, Thimblemill is currently suffering from self-service syndrome and cutbacks. I can't help but wonder if the reason they sold off all of their small selection of CDs is because to hire one, you had to ask the staff for the CD? That's not a criticism of the staff, who have always been pleasant, friendly and helpful; more of a system which is dehumanising libraries as much as possible in order to well...I don't know? Bookwise, Thimblemill's got a fair few although when I looked under the poetry section, I found no poetry to speak of except maybe one or two Betjeman anthologies. One thing I do have to thank Thimblemill Library for is inducing me to buy a printer. Having previously used libraries to print off documents, I did the same when I moved to a Sandwell Libraries area only to find that they charge 15p per black and white sheet! As I was writing a short-story at the time, I didn't fancy paying £1.50 per draft and so invested in a cheap printer. So I suppose, Thimblemill Library gave me the tools to print for myself but lost itself a customer in the process. No wonder they flogged all them CDs... read more