Library on Edge class ships

[Redtravel]

I used to love finding new books to read on ships. The library was my first stop after embarkation. Sadly, finding libraries on ships is rare. Libraries were gone on Celebrity ships before the pandemic.  Last cruise 2019 on Reflection, the shelves in the library were almost empty.  Did find a few Japanese comic books. Libraries take up space. Cost $ to supply with books. On M ships, the library space is now cabins. It’s all about decreasing costs and increasing revenue. Fill your kindle before sailing. 

[Denny01]

Yup, increasing revenue but removing space not being utilized. Before they were removed, I’d see 1 or 2 people siting and enjoying the very nice spaces, but obviously not something any company would support.

 

Its not Celebrity, its us.I volunteer at a local library and we get 10-20 people a day in. Just not utilized. Many public libraries have moved to providing more beyond books. I think one X ship changed the library over to an acupuncture place…..that didn’t last long. Yeah, lets go on cruise and let some guy stick pins in me because some 13th Century drawings show a spot on my foot impacts my gallbladder……lovely idea. 

 

Myself, I use my Kindle and Audio app on my iPad, and do have one or two print books. But I end up socializing and just vegging out that I barely get to them! 

 

Den

[kjwinston2019]

37 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

Yup, increasing revenue but removing space not being utilized. Before they were removed, I’d see 1 or 2 people siting and enjoying the very nice spaces, but obviously not something any company would support.

 

Its not Celebrity, its us.I volunteer at a local library and we get 10-20 people a day in. Just not utilized. Many public libraries have moved to providing more beyond books. I think one X ship changed the library over to an acupuncture place…..that didn’t last long. Yeah, lets go on cruise and let some guy stick pins in me because some 13th Century drawings show a spot on my foot impacts my gallbladder……lovely idea. 

 

Myself, I use my Kindle and Audio app on my iPad, and do have one or two print books. But I end up socializing and just vegging out that I barely get to them! 

 

Den

I agree with you Ben. Has anyone notice going to a doctors office or denist that there are no magizines? the reason is they are to be cleaned and made sure they are ready for the next person. My lady, who os a big reader uses aslo a Kindle. If I was the designer of what to change is where the Library is make it like the summitt class and rent out Kindles to read. We see this on the airlines that we get music, books, or movies to enjoy. I always bring books for me to read (mysteries) and leave them. I am sure in a year there will be pleanty of used books. personally I like count waves. (with a drink) 

[TeeRick]

18 hours ago, Redtravel said:

I used to love finding new books to read on ships. The library was my first stop after embarkation. Sadly, finding libraries on ships is rare. Libraries were gone on Celebrity ships before the pandemic.  Last cruise 2019 on Reflection, the shelves in the library were almost empty.  Did find a few Japanese comic books. Libraries take up space. Cost $ to supply with books. On M ships, the library space is now cabins. It’s all about decreasing costs and increasing revenue. Fill your kindle before sailing. 

All true- but the pandemic was the final nail in the coffin for open reading rooms and libraries for sanitary reasons.  And social distancing reasons.

[phoenix_dream]

15 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

All true- but the pandemic was the final nail in the coffin for open reading rooms and libraries for sanitary reasons.  And social distancing reasons.

Social distancing reasons?  Have you been in one of their bars recently, or the casino at night?  Or in the foyer during Silent Disco?  Or in a two top in Blu with people on each side?  Or in Celebrity Central where people were shoulder to shoulder without wearing the masks that were supposedly required but not enforced?  I have.  No way this was because of social distancing.  It's revenue plain and simple (or lack thereof with library space).  I am just thankful that on most ships there is a small space where passengers can exchange their own books (which also seems to counter the sanitary argument).  

[TeeRick]

26 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

Social distancing reasons?  Have you been in one of their bars recently, or the casino at night?  Or in the foyer during Silent Disco?  Or in a two top in Blu with people on each side?  Or in Celebrity Central where people were shoulder to shoulder without wearing the masks that were supposedly required but not enforced?  I have.  No way this was because of social distancing.  It's revenue plain and simple (or lack thereof with library space).  I am just thankful that on most ships there is a small space where passengers can exchange their own books (which also seems to counter the sanitary argument).  

LOL.  My comment was aimed at the general state of libraries and reading rooms everywhere (land and sea), not necessarily specific to Celebrity.  E-books and E-materials and the ability to research everything online killed the need for dedicated spaces for volumes of bulky books.  The pandemic just accelerated this even more.  And in most communities many public libraries had social distancing requirements and capacity limits - at least in 2020-21.  On ships if there are shelves of open books for exchange, I personally would hesitate to take one unless I could disinfect it as a precaution.  This would maybe apply to norovirus more than Covid.

[Luvcrusn]

I was, for most of my adult life, a hardback book snob love to read. However over about the last 15 years I have converted to loving to read on my Kindle, especially when on vacation. I can load multiple books without the weight. When I am on board ships in recent times I've noted that I'm not alone in this and see many fellow passengers reading on their Kindles, iPads and tablets. I suspect that since many of us no longer take books with us to read while on vacation and then leave them aboard is another reason for the demise  of cruise libraries, along with the cruise companies wanting to maximize their revenue producing spaces.