WHEN, ONE THURSDAY MORNING last winter, I arrived at Battle library in west Reading, the library manager, Terry Curran, was sitting at the front desk writing a quiz. "It's not a hard quiz," said Curran, who was worried about attendance. "Often just the same two ladies turn up, and they don't pay attention." Still, he hadn't lost hope. He'd even put posters up in the Tesco round the corner. The phone rang. "Yes, we have a children's craft session at two," said Curran's colleague Amanda Giles, her voice warm and encouraging. "Just come along." They'd already received an urgent request from the housing team at a nearby council, about someone who had to scan a form by 2pm if he was going to be housed before Christmas. Could the library help? They didn't usually offer scans, but Battle would make an exception - and they wouldn't charge.
A man carrying a plastic bag rustled up to the front desk. He twitched as he spoke. "Do you have a magnifying glass?" he asked. Curran disappeared into the office and returned with a small purple magnifying glass from a children's game. The man thanked him and made for the computers. An elderly gentleman with a courtly air had a question about the library's irregular opening hours. "They're difficult for me to understand," he said. "They're hard for me as well," answered Curran. "This library is a very friendly type of place," added the man, unprompted. "I've written a letter about it."
Another man, in late middle age, took a seat at the quiz table and started reading a Mick Herron novel. Curran turned to me and stagewhispered: "Yes! There's going to be one other person!" In the event there were five: the Herron-reading man, the elderly gentleman and three women, who seemed to be friends, taking a break from errands. Curran began to panic that his questions were too easy. But it was too late to change anything, and at 11am they were off.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Life in motion
After the Oscar success of a little-known Latvian animation called Flow, are the artform's budget film-makers on the brink of new recognition?
'Ceasefire' is a hollow word - the killings and denial of aid continue
It has been nearly two months since a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza, and it's clear that it would more accurately be called a \"reduce\" fire, rather than a cessation.
Policy jolts Businesses blindsided by Trump tariff uncertainty
Donald Trump declared there to be \"no room left\" for a deal with Canada and Mexico last week, launching a trade war against his nation's closest allies that he presented as a bid to protect America's soul. Then he pulled back.
Crap jobs, toxic politics: no wonder happiness evades young people
So there are two studies, one commissioned by Weetabix, one by the UN, but we don't need to decide which one is likely to be the more reliable because, praise be, they both say the same thing: 45 is now the age of peak happiness.
Keeping their distance Populists in a tight spot over support for Trump
Europe's rightwing populist parties are split over how far to distance themselves from Donald Trump's pressure on Ukraine, with some fearing solidarity with the US president's brand of nationalism will damage their efforts to widen their domestic support.
Evidence of beatings, torture and starvation at RSF base
Lying between the makeshift graves is a mattress, a large bloodstain visible in the midday sun. A name is scrawled in Arabic on its ragged fabric: Mohammed Adam.
New surgery restores smell for long Covid sufferers
Doctors in London have successfully restored a sense of smell and taste in patients who lost it due to long Covid with pioneering surgery that expands their nasal airways to kickstart their recovery.
Dark secrets Stargazing heaven put at risk by energy plant
In the Atacama desert, the driest non-polar region on Earth, the sky shines when the sun sets. Up in the arid hills 130km south of the Chilean city of Antofagasta, comets burn brightly and flawless trails of stars and nebulae streak the night sky.
Find the whey: tempting ideas to make the most of cottage cheese
Why is everyone talking about cottage cheese, and can you make anything that's actually good with it?
Recasting India's electoral map risks deepening its north-south divide
When Narendra Modi's alliance won a narrow majority in last year's Indian election, it signalled his waning popularity after a decade in power.
