FOR me, it’s the ultimate scam. And trust me, I’ve never viewed libraries as ‘educational’ or ‘cultural’. I’m just not that high-minded.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the benefits of having them, especially when they’re as good as our Central Library, which sits next to the entrance of the Westgate Centre, in the heart of the city.

Particularly when it’s a record breaker. For instance – and I hope all you library geeks are paying attention – it actually happens to be the fourth-busiest in the UK, boasting 41,000 books already out, 80,000 on the shelves and a further 80,000 in store.

In addition, there’s its 4,000 DVDs, 4,000 CDs, 1,500 audio books and a 47,000-strong membership, with more than 2,000 people per day using its facilities. So it’s impressive, right?

And I’m always there – at lunchtimes and after work (it stays open until 7pm on weekdays), browsing and generally enjoying its peace and quiet.

Thankfully libraries are never completely silent (that’s a fantasy that exists only in TV and film comedies).

However, they do ‘purr’, and while there are morons who still insist on using their mobile phones, they’re few and far between (the introduction of cattle prods for use by librarians is, regrettably, long overdue).

So why is it as a scam?

Well, clearly I don’t see the service as a scam. I mean, it’s a charity, if it’s anything.

But what I do constantly marvel at is the fact that it’s free for books (DVDs and CDs cost a quid upwards).

I mean you can’t just walk into Waterstones or Borders and say: “I’d like to borrow this brand new book for a couple of weeks to see if I like it”, because chances are you’ll take a free ride in a police car (they’re very strong on civil recovery, these literary types).

But in the Central Library, you can; and not just one book either. In fact, you can borrow up to 20 at a time.

And for someone who’s ‘cheap’, that’s practically manna from heaven.

As modus operandi go, I’ll admit it’s no Great Train Robbery.

But, for what’s its worth, this is how it works – I go into the city’s major book stores, pick out the new books I want, write down their ISBN numbers (this automatically identifies their title and author) and then casually wander over to the library where, if they’re not already in, I order them.

And thus I save a fortune.

Naturally I do buy books, but only when I’ve borrowed, read and liked them.

In fact, I can’t actually think of anything more stupid than buying a book I haven’t read, especially since most of those I do read I hate.

This way my bookcase at home (okay, I don’t have a bookcase, but I do have a bathroom, a mantelpiece and space under my bed) is stuffed full of reads I love and which have cost me nowt.

And as we’re all having to watch the pennies right now, it’d be a fool – or a Sir Fred Goodwin – who didn’t give it a closer look.

After all, the worst that can happen is that you’ll look intelligent ...