McNeil Street Library

[Granny911]

Remember when I was about nine my Dad taking me for my first visit to the library. Wasn't looking forward to it and thought it would be boring, but once I got in there and saw the amount of books I could borrow, I thought it was brilliant. So we got me all signed up for my first library card and I felt all important. First few times my dad went with me, after that I was nearly living in the place.
I remember one day this miserable faced Librarian saying to me in a very stern and nasty tone "Why are you in here again?" Well she thought I was in by myself as usual but got a shock when my Dad appeared from an aisle of books and asked her what was her problem with me being in there as often as I wanted to be? She didn't know where to look and he let her know in no uncertain terms what he thought of her tone and her bullying tactics. Think she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. I was scared to go back after my Dad had told her off, but he insisted I go back and then tell him how it went. Well I wondered if it might be her twin sister I saw next time because she couldn't have been any nicer and even let me take out more books than I was supposed to be allowed. Stood me in good steed, as I'm still an avid reader to this day. Cheers, Sheila

[amelia]

Hi Sheila good on your dad, it's a lot different now in libraries some of them you would think you were outside. Our library was the one on Norfolk St at South Portland St. it still stands to this day it was a beautiful building. The last I heard it was being used for the deaf and dumb people but that could be changed by now.
It was a lovely spring day here in Glasgow but cold but the sun was shining and that makes a great difference you feel a bit better when the sun is shining.
Have had the cold/flu since last Sunday but I am over it now, that's the first for a few years I stopped taking the flu jab as when I was getting it I seemed to take the flu a lot.
Hope you are well I wonder if anyone tried to make the caramel shortbread?
Amelia

[DannyGill]

Hi Shelia+Amelia,
Oh McNeil st library was my first library too Shelia, I think you got a wee card about the size of an old bus ticket [but it was stiffbacked and had a little "pouch" in to put your little card telling you when the book was due back]. I remember the library , well the childrens library was at the top of the stairs and the very first book I took out was about "Biggles" the 2nd world war pilot and I would have been about 8 or 9 years old too Shelia. Also Amelia I'm just like you having remained an avid reader all my life . Yes the library's of today are a different kettle of fish from years ago "ssshhhh" ha ha, you can get a cup of tea or coffee and something to eat and there are computers everywhere , very noisy too if you want to sit and read a book for a while but there you go girls that's progress as they say. On the point of the flu jab, last October I had mine and 2 weeks later I felt awful and was in bed for almost a week !!! so I know what you mean Amelia about thinking twice about getting it again. Will speak to you both later Shelia and Amelia, take care and God Bless.
Regards.
Danny

[margaretmcgettigan]

Hey Gang...I, too, got my love of reading from the McNeil Street Library...Yes, Danny, you had to go up this huge staircase and in the double doors...The librarian would check your hands to make sure they were clean before you entered the space of books...I remember we used to go to the Green and sometimes we were kinda "clatty" on the way home and I would go in the doors and start to lick my hands to get the dirt off of them...and she checked out both sides of them, too...The first book I got there was Black Beauty and I have read it again and again...I am still an avid reader but I do not go to the library at all now...I either buy from a Local Book Store here in our town as it is the only family owned book store in our county or exchange books withs some of my friends....All the big Barnes and Noble stores around but I just love my own wee shop...The owner knows what I like and always has great suggestions...As I said, I do not go to the library now as I read in bed at night and the thought of the book I am reading was in someone else's bed kinda grosses me out...Some of my favourite books are: A Treee Grows in Brooklyn, Watership Down, To Kill and Mocking Bird and some of Ken Follet's books also all the Dickens books...Love, Love, Love them..

Nothing like a good book on a rainy or snowy day to pass the time.

Support your local books stores.
Margaret
gbya

[DannyGill]

Hi Marg,
Yes good old McNeil st Library, it's still standing but derelict it's such a lovely looking building and I think there's a preservation order on it Mag [how do you like to be called= Marg, Marj , Margaret or ?]. Funny enough I was watching an old "TAGGART" Glasgow police show last night on TV and low and behold lots of the scenes were filmed in the soo-side and McNeil st Library was shown lots of times. I sometimes buy books from Amazon online and like to keep them as my own to be read and re-read. I'm going up for a Gorbals reunion this August the 8th there were 350 tickets on sale for it and they were all snapped up in two days , will be a great night lots of people from the facebook site "Old Gorbals Pictures" of which I'm on are going and some people have asked me to bring some copies of my autobiography which I will sell and sign on the night . Well I will finish for now Mag so happy reading with all your books, take care and God Bless.
Regards.
Danny

[Granny911]

Hi Amelia, Danny & Margaret
That's how I remember the wee card too Danny. Not sure how they do things over there with libraries today but here you can do ordering online, so if you want a book that your local branch doesn't have, you can see who has it and order it to be sent to your branch. Very quick as well 1-2 days. All kinds of computers in ours too, but they still request people be quiet. I haven't used the public library in a long time, because my kids just keep buying me books for birthdays and Christmas's, have several I haven't read yet and God help us have another birthday coming up. lol Margaret that is so weird you saying that about not liking previously read books in your bed, I'm the exact same, even with new books, I spread a wee towel on top of my duvet if I'm reading in bed. Hubby thinks I've lost the plot. lol
Amelia my wee Dad was a very kind and generous soul, but he took crap from nobody, so he had no hesitation on telling that Librarian off. I hope you're over the flu by now. I have had the flu for the past week and not getting any better. I also had the flu jag months ago, so much for that. Anyway Amelia I have not yet made the caramel squares, but have got all the ingredients in to make them so once I feel better and think I'll be able to taste them right I'll make them and let you know how they turned out. Happy reading everyone! Cheers, Sheila

[amelia]

H Sheila, Margaret & Danny talking about other people reading books what about "Dirty Maggies" in Rutherglen Rd. that soul must have got stung many a time when she was exchanging comics. If you asked her for anything she could put her hand on it right away. My brother used to go up to the closes in "Vicky Rd" as I remember they used to have a canvas bag hanging at the bottom of the stairs and we would "Rake the Midgies" or Middens
I used to read the Girls Crystal thought that was great but when my brother brought in the "American comics" I loved them as well. There is a shop over in Parnie St. at Glasgow Cross and they still do the American Comics.
I see you are online Sheila what kind weather are you having today, yesterday it was like a spring day but today it is raining as usual but I keep thinking of all the snow Margaret is getting and the floods down South and I think we lucky here. What about your place Danny has the Thames effected your area?
I'll go for now as it is after 9pm and I want to watch a wee bit of "telly" so goodnight everyone.
Amelia

[DannyGill]

Hi Amelia+gang
Yes Dirty Maggies was a great shop for comics [what great memories we all have of the different shops when the soo-side as we knew it existed] Must say the rain was absolutley dreadful for a while there in the London area but as I live more or less in central London we didn't get flooded Amelia. All those poor people living in other ares beside the river Thames were flooded out, God Love them. Thank God we have the Gorbals Anecdotes [and a few face-book sites] to keep the memory of the old Gorbals and Oatlands alive.

Regards
Danny

[Granny911]

Sorry Amelia never noticed your message earlier when I was on. Our weather is all over the map. Rain, wind, snow in some places and then today lovely sunshine, now back to pouring rain. Mind you compared to the weather the States is getting and the flooding in the south of England, I guess we're well off. Think this weather though is why I can't get rid of the flu. Was reading about a lot of neighbours today from Oatlands got very homesick so went out for a wee walk to cheer myself up. Came back with the tears blinding me. So much for that exercise.
On the topic of books must share a story about my wee 2 year old grand-daughter. She loves books so I gave her a shelf of her own on my book case. Well she's decided she now prefers my books to her wee kids ones. So she gets out this new book of mine that has a heart on the front and the heart is split down the middle in two. She looks at it and comes running shouting "Granny the hearts broken" So I say to her "yes so it is" she says "fix it Granny, get some tape" She ended up taking this book home with her she was fascinated by it, told my daughter I've not read it yet and it better not come back here with a big slab of tape on it. The vocabulary on this wee one is something else. She tried Lorne sausage for the first time and I asked her "how was that?" says she, "spectacular Granny" Two years old! It blows my mind!
Site is very quiet these days, hope it picks up soon. Take care everyone and stay safe. Sheila

[amelia]

Hi Sheila have you tried menthol crystals do you get them over there and do you remember them.
I put a couple in a bowl with hot water and it fairly helped me make sure it isn't boiling and put a cloth or towel over head and it fairly gets rid of all gunk in your nostrils and head. Now in case you have forgotten make sure you only put a couple of the crystals less than a pinch of salt if you put anymore in it or it will blow the head of you
let me know how you got on.
Amelia x