Saturday 9 February is National Libraries Day in the UK. Sadly, recent years have seen a decline in our local libraries and those that survive have had to get creative at re-imagining their uses. I’m all for local communities using their library as a resource for activities and events, but please don’t forget that libraries should primarily be about books!
The children’s author Alan Gibbons has established his own site in order to campaign for libraries as a place for books first and foremost. It’s worth checking out as he has some very well known children’s authors supporting him.
I agree with every principle he outlines, plus he’s a great supporter of school libraries too. I can’t for the life of me understand why my daughter who is in Year 2 doesn’t have access to her school library to borrow books. At least they have a book library, but who is it for exactly? We borrow our books from the public library, but why isn’t there an opportunity for her to use school library books? If there is, I have no knowledge of it….
I digress, please support your local library. Shout about it or just use it, but support it in any way you can!
Image courtesy of National Libraries Day
My Mom used to take me once a week to our local library. I remember it being all made out of wood. Squeaky floors and a certain smell, maybe the polish or the wood. The sun came in through these monstrous windows and gave the place a church-like quality. I loved the old Rev. Awdry books on Thomas the Tank engine.
I suppose t.v. and computers have taken much of the magic away from reading, which is a shame. I still go to the library every week. In Ontario, they are often in community centres, so people go to exercise, they go to the library; they go for a swim or a hockey game, and they visit the library. Maybe that is the key, they need to be in multi-purpose areas?
Yes, I remember going to our little library when I was small and sitting in little plastic chairs to read a book, absolutely loved it!
I think that for local libraries to survive they do need to become part of the local environment more effectively. Just as long as they never lose sight of their reason for being-books.
Absolutely; books first.
Interestingly, our school has cut back funds for its library. It is now very parent-driven, so parents have to volunteer to maintain it and run it. So sad… our public libraries seem to be thriving though. Perhaps that’s just my perspective because I’m there multiple times per week! lol Thanks for linking in the Kid Lit Blog Hop.
Access to books is so vital to our communities. I still have not got to the bottom of why children in Key Stage 1 (5-7) can’t borrow books from the school library-baffles me.
Our local library is being re-decorated so I hope to see a bright clean space next month! Also, we have a fantastic new library complex in our home city due to open on 3 September-can’t wait to see that too!