to think that we NEED libraries? This is horrific.

[StuckInTheMiddleWithYou]

Would MN like to run a campaign on this?

www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/terence-blacker/terence-blacker-hands-off-our-public-libraries-2057131.html

disgusting, should fight this at all costs, libraries are such an asset to communities

Once they've privatised the libraries they will wonder why children can't read...

This government is so blinkered it's incrediable. Even Thatcher didn't do this.

Privitisation does not work, when will they understand this? Urgh.

They are often the only source of education for many people.

Books are bloody expensive - if the libraries go (and if they are privatised - they will) many poor children, pensioners and others will simply not read anymore.

This proposal is truly grotesque. I'll actually chain myself to ours if they try to sell it off.

This infuriates me. Libraries of all kinds are given such low status in this country: they are the first of most organisation to get cut, communities are closing their libraries down to save money, schools are not required to have a library service for children, and NO qualifications are needed to be a librarian in this country. These are ALL reasons that libraries are doomed to fail!!!

I am a newly qualified librarian in England, and I am disgusted by the attitude about libraries here. This article just proves that even further!!

The axing of the MLA www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/26/jeremy-hunt-to-close-mla which is/was the body for museums, libraries and archives was announced in the summer.. now libraries and museums will have no joint voice, no lobbying body, no network - each will have to fight to survive alone, often against each other.

i work in a museum but the issues are the same for both libraries and museums.

If we are going to be provided with absolutely no services then I would like to pay absolutely no tax. Can't see that happening somehow.

:(

This country is going backwards. My Grandmother paid a subscribtion to use the only local library near her as a young woman.

This is what is going to happen again. How many familes at the bottom of the heap are going to be able to find the extra cash?

We already have far too little social mobility and an unacceptable gap between the rich in poor. Removing educational resources that the poor can use will only make these problems worse.

I have to say, I was in our small town library the other day and there were 3 assistants to deal with me and my 2 dds. We were there for 20 mins or so and no one else came in. It is rarely busy.So if we are talking about libraries giving a value-for-money service, mine, and lots like it, do not.

BUT they are so vital for communities - I would have no objection to a few quid a year on my council tax to keep my local library going. We love our library!

We pay for them already.

This is downright theft by the government.

Ours installed self-checkin/outs recently (I call them robot librarians) - the staff aren't allowed to check books in and out at ALL now but have to train the customers to use the new machines (I try to avoid using these things as they inevitably are the first step toward staff cuts).

No doubt the redundancies will be announced very soon. Add in the fact they've just added parking charges to GET to the library (and the world's most overzealous traffic warden) and I can't see ours staying afloat for many more years.

We used to have a guy who'd come in every Tuesday with the questions from Monday night's pub quiz to fire at the staff - he liked me when I went in on summer cover relief work as a student because I got his cryptic puzzler right!

Libraries are so important, they can't do this :(

hell yeah! I'd support that!

though I am slightly biased as the daughter of a library supervisor :o

So what can we do about this? I really have no idea

Oh yes they can. They are conservatives. they are sorting out the country. Am I the only person who isn't surprised?

The utter bastards. I can't believe I voted for Clegg. The fucker.

Ours is dead whenever we go past, and i dont know anyone who uses one in RL, except for the kids in the school library.

I feel like they should be there, but cant quite see why, internet is much better imo,

I know i wont be popular though

"the internet is much better"