and the campaign for public libraries

Simon Barron@SimonX

IXsimon.barron.19@gmail.comhttp://

undaimonia.blogspot.com

Map courtesy of Ian Ansticewww.publiclibrariesnews.com

As of 22nd November:

423 libraries under threat

333 library buildings90 mobile libraries

Reasons to love librariesLibraries are directly and immediately involved in the conflict which divides our world, and for two reasons: first, because they are essential to the functioning of a democratic society; second, because the contemporary conflict touches the integrity of scholarship, the freedom of mind, and even survival of culture, and libraries are the great tools of scholarship, the great repositories of culture, and the great symbols of the freedom of mind.

- Franklin D. RooseveltThe public library is a practical demonstration of democracy’s faith in universal education as a continuing and lifelong process, in the appreciation of the achievement of humanity in knowledge and culture.

- IFLA Section of Public Libraries, 1973, pp. 13-14.

I love the public library service for what it did for me as a child and as a student and as an adult. I love it because its presence in a town or a city reminds us that there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about, things that have the power to baffle the greedy ghost of market fundamentalism, things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight.

- Philip Pullman

The Big Society ethos

From AlexHughesCartoons.co.uk

“duty of the Secretary of State to superintend, andpromote the improvement of, the public library service”

“duty of every library authority to provide acomprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof”

“encouraging both adults and children to make fulluse of the library service”

The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964

Time to panic?

Serious irreverence

www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk

@UKpling

contact@voicesforthelibrary.org.uk

The teamAbigail Barker

@ab

byb

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Adrienne Cooper

@sp

herica

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Gary Green

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Ian Anstice@

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sIan Clark

@ijc

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Johanna Anderson

@Jo

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Lauren Smith

@w

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Mick Fortune

@m

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ne Sarah Lewis-

Newton

Tom Roper @to

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Jo Richardson

Simon Barron

@S

imon

XIX

@sa

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Storytelling

Technology FTW

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ILIP

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The wrath of the WIThis meeting urges H.M. Government to maintain support for local libraries, as an essential local educational and information resource.

“The Women’s Institute has a special kind of power. You have influence. You can make change happen. You campaign for the things you believe in. Whether it is the environment, food labelling or women’s rights, the root of your campaigning is always the same, driving out ignorance and changing people’s minds through education, information and better understanding.”

- Annie Mauger, CILIP Chief Executive

The Big Day

Poster courtesy of Phil Bradley.

We are delighted to launch National Libraries Day, a week of events in early February leading to a day of celebration of reading, libraries and librarians around the United Kingdom…

We see National Libraries as a positive day of celebration to promote the whole culture of reading for pleasure, information and engagement whether you read your traditional books or on your laptop or e-reader. It is time to make reading a universal culture. We want people to go to their local school or public library and use their School Library Service. Use it. Join it. Love it.

- Alan Gibbons

Poster courtesy of Ned Potter

C:     Responsibilities to Colleagues and the           Information Community

The personal conduct of information professionals at work should promote the profession in the best possible manner at all times. Members should therefore:

1. Act in ways that promote the profession positively, both to their colleagues and to the public at large.From the CILIP Code of Professional

Practice

References and resourcesBlack, A., The public library in Britain 1914-2000. London: The British Library.

Voices for the Library: http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/

Public Libraries News: http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/

The Public Library and Museums Act 1964: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/75

The Women’s Institute Love Libraries Campaign: http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=24427

Libraries and the WI by Lauren Smith: http://laurensmith.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/libraries-and-the-wi/

National Libraries Day: http://www.cilip.org.uk/news-media/pages/news110526.aspx

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/somerset-and-gloucs-library-closures-unlawful.html

CPD23: Thing 16 – Advocacy: http://cpd23.blogspot.com/2011/08/thing-16-advocacy-speaking-up-for.html