Lynn R

Joining my local library in Spain was easier than it was to join the one in the UK - in Spain I just went in with my passport, filled in a simple form and was given my membership card. In the UK I had to produce my Council tax bill as well as proof of ID, and to join the Central Library in Manchester where I worked I had to provide a letter from my employer as well.

Domino

is it small wonder they are complaining they are under used ??
although they seem more interested in those who come in to use their internet facilities for modest charge or who sit reading a newspaper for 3 hours until it has stopped raining.
my UK local had more people there in the middle of winter because people didnt want to turn the heating on.

but now it has been outsourced they are treating it less like a service, more like an income source - despite having the same level of grant from central funds.

justjo76

haha yes i remember when i joined the library here in the uk about 10years ago, I Felt like an ex con lol. I get refused alcohol in Asdas and i'm 36 lmao (completely different tale i know) every individual will always come across barriers no matter who they are or where they are from i suppose.

Lynn R

Apologies to the OP for going off topic (but it's JLFS' fault, he mentioned libraries - it was him, Miss, honest!).

Are they charging for internet use in UK libraries now? It was still free when I left almost 6 years ago, but it wouldn't surprise me. They did charge for borrowing DVDs and things like reservation fees for books, as well as fines for returning things late.

I guess the invention of e-readers is a real threat to the continuing existence of libraries, even avid readers are switching over to them more and more. Only a few die hard luddites like me are left! One thing that surprised me about our local Spanish library is how few books they have - no fiction at all, just reference books, plays and poetry, in a town with 75,000 inhabitants. We have 2 or 3 bookshops in town, though, which are still going so there must be some people who like reading and are willing to pay for books.

justjo76

Not sure as I never returned the last book. OOps!

Sue

No worries. Moving abroad, the planning, the researching and the action, is a stressful time.

justjo76

bless you thanks xx hey what does anyone reckon to this, LOL http://www.synergyspanish.com/?a=donkeyot if only??

steviedeluxe

To be honest it looks a lot like the Michel Thomas method (but a higher price).

If you're an absolute beginner, may be better to get some Michel Tomas cds (ebay?) or EarWorms - http://www.earwormslearning.com/discover/index.php - and then book yourself onto a language course. You will need feedback and correcting, otherwise you will learn bad habits from the start, and they're a lot harder to overcome when older.

JLFS

Give it a go, why not?

That will be 138 words to be crossed off the "to learn" list....

justjo76

I guess so, when look at it like that. Not so unrealistic really ..... more so than some of my ideas

justjo76

I agree . Since 8 years old my dad taught me to pronounce the V in "por favor" it was only last year I learned not to (from my then 16 year old ha) thankyou!

lynnxa

why wouldn't you say the V?

justjo76

it is pronounced POHR fah-BOHR in some places :-p lol

lynnxa

ahhhhhhhh who taught your 16 year old that?

was s/he taught to say Votella de Bino?

justjo76

Not sure about Votella de Bino but I will ask lol bottle of wine seriously She corrected me on the pronunciations... said it depends. UUrrghh i don't want to move now :-p hmmm really.. something as simple as that could screw me over or can I learn a particular which would at least save my soul

i sense the sarcasm made my 12 year old laugh anyway lol... no, she was taught Vino and FavoR (pronounced faBor in some places