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

Public services are just that. Public services. We DO pay for these services - through our council taxes. In the same way that we pay for rubbish collection and for the streets to be mended when pot holes appear. Many of the councils who are proposing to close libraries have LARGE cash reserves which they could be dipping into right not (their rainy day funds) but are choosing not to. Please do not underestimate the absolute life line that libraries are to many many many people. My local library (which is under threat) is the only place where MOST children in the local area (and MANY adults) can access computers, to do homework, do qualification, search for jobs. Not something that many on MN can comprehend perhaps. There's a homework club where children who have no one at home to help and often no personal space to study go for a quiet hour to get things done. There's so so so much that libraries do and it is a basic public service that provides genuine benefit to the entire community - including all of those who never step through the door.

"right now" (not "right not"!).

I agree that we need libraries but "This is horrific" in the title thread is a bit overkill and melodramatic. It isn't THAT bad.

I wonder what the basis for comparison is when calling it "horrific." Compared to the holocaust or the world trade centre perhaps?!

curlymama Mon 24-Jan-11 21:45:59
If people were happy to have their council tax go up to fund libraries, surely they would be equally happy to pay as and when they used the library?

I think we shouldn't get confused between what we personally would be prepared to pay and what we think should be charged to everyone.
So, I would be happy to pay but I wouldn't be happy for charging to be made mandatory as that would - I think - stop the poorest from using the resource.
The defence of libraries is not just about what we personally use but about what the community and EVERYONE in it needs.
I think it's important also to remember that the shutting of libraries saves a relatively tiny amount - in Oxfordshire, will save £2m over 4 years i.e. £500k a year. It's not like taking that amount out of another budget, where it could be recovered when times are better (as of course they will be soon in the 'safe hands' of this government, who are making these cuts to help the country recover quickly ). Once these libraries close, it's hard to imagine that the money would possibly be found to fund the building/stock/staffing cost of opening new libraries. They will in all likelihood be gone forever.

A1980 - is there a comparative scale you'd like us to use?

After I had dd2, the local library was what gave us shelter, warmth and companionship whilst waiting to pick dd1 up from Nursery (would have had to travel 20 miles on public transport home and back otherwise).

We need a full on, united, targeted response to all these cuts.

Its no longer ok to say 'well i don't use the NHS/ Woodland/ Libraries' so it doesn't bother me. If you care about any public services at all, you have to defend them all. United we stand. Divided we fall (and are ruled)

Let's backtrack...

The Petitions Website has been taken down? WTF?

Those tory bastards, what will they think of next?

A day of action in support of public library services is planned for the 5th Feb.

Many public library services in this country are under threat as Councils have to cut budgets. Often library services are seen as a soft option and are facing disproportionate cuts.

At the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals we?re looking for as many people as possible to get involved and support their public libraries.

What you can do on the 5th:

• Join the library and encouraging everyone you know to join and use their local library.

• Borrow as many books as you can and ask everyone you know to do the same.

-Visit your local library, having a browse and find out what?s happening in your community.

-Go to the library website, download some ebooks and use online reference resources.

-Tweet why you love libraries using the hashtag #savelibraries. Guardian article

A list of local library campaigns is available through Voices for the Library

Save Our Libraries Day was originally proposed by library campaigner and author Alan Gibbons. The day is not centrally organised, but provides national focus for local campaigning.

More details

They are moving it to directgov (the petitions site) when they have finished destroying public services at some point this year.

I haven't read the whole thread but if it hasn't been mentioned yet there is also a Facebook campaign by The Bookseller

www.facebook.com/pages/Fight-For-Libraries-campaign-from-The-Bookseller/134767896588119

I live in Islington and the libraries here are always packed, sometimes its a struggle to book a computer session if you don't get there in time. Every type of person uses the local libraries here including myself and my partner. Actually, I have about five library cards as until recently I was moving around alot and they have been so useful. Also, my uni library never has enough of a book and the local library is a great resource for many students I know. Library's are also a great place for the elderly or people who feel lonely to get out of the house and do something sociable and constructive.

You don't know what you've got till its gone IMO.

I didn't vote conservative, could see this coming a mile off.

I haven't read the whole of this thread so dunno everything that has been said but to all those saying "where will the money come from", how bout the government stop allowing company's like Nestle to evade rediculous amounts in tax and then expecting us to pay more. Billions are evaded in taxes by large company's and the government does nothing about it.

The Govt does not directly fund libraries LDNmummy. These are local decisions.

The government have required that local authorities reduce their funding. Many councils have chosen to apply cuts to libraries.
The chain of causation is not exactly long, is it? So it is rather disingenuous to suggest that these decisions are nothing to do with the government

But they are cutting libraries among many other things. It's not a direct assault on libraries by central Govt as some are implying. And I think if the Govt were to backtrack on their LA funding decision, most LAs would choose to firstly offset cuts in things like social work.

Don't know if this has been posted yet. It really explains what is happening to public libraries.

Surrey are cutting library provision. Local paper has given a rather stark headline stating that if we, the residents want libraries to come and run them. Hmm.

There is a national day of action on 5th February. You may well find that your local library is hosting an event.

Mine is: if you live in South West London please come along:

York Gardens Library (5 minutes from Clapham Junction). Read-in starts at 12.30 (with noisy rhyme time for kids) and will run til 3pm. Authors and others will read from their work and local people will talk about what the library means to them.

Come along!

This local library supports children who do not have computer access, do not have books at home, need the help they get at the library to do their homework and helps other local people gain qualifications and find jobs. It is vital and the only community space in a very deprived area.

Please support your local library.

p.s. I think someone has already posted this Philip Pullman piece. It's amazing and really explains things well. The library above is a classic example of his scenario 2. It also explains why volunteers are not going to solve this issue!
falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/save-oxfordshire-libraries-speech-philip-pullman

falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/save-oxfordshire-libraries-speech-philip-pullman

hello