Librarians: 'We Do So Much More Than Shelve Books And Say Shhh'

[I think this keys in to a universal attitude among politicians; libraries are very important to readers, authors and publishers alike - the Guardian piece had over 130 comments when I visited. And, no, John Harris is no relation.]



Librarians: 'We Do So Much More Than Shelve Books And Say Shhh'
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The Tories clearly don't know how much libraries do
http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/31324
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/11/north-yorkshire-libraries-cuts-closures-big-society
The Tories clearly don't know how much libraries do. Cuts will threaten the very social bonds they claim to want to promote

'...what would once have been a mere library has obeyed the modern demand to transform itself into a "hub", and provides what might look to a lot of people like the raw materials of social mobility: internet access, parent and toddler groups, space and resources to help with school homework, meeting rooms and more....'
'... Thus, of 42 libraries, only 18 now have a guaranteed future: the remaining 24 - including Eastfield - will either close or somehow be handed to volunteers. North Yorkshire's fleet of mobile libraries will also be hacked down, from 10 to two....'
'... 
That point was underlined by a post from a librarian who responded to our initial appeal for information, and it's worth quoting at length: "We do so much more than issue books, shelve and say, 'Shhh' to people," he wrote. "We cater to our public from birth to death. We go out to antenatal and postnatal groups to sign up the youngest in our population, thus trying to help those families who do not read . We offer free sessions to under-fives, know all about school curriculums and how best to work with schools.

"We know our looked-after children, our troubled teens, our users who suffer from mental health issues . We know how to help with homework, teach internet skills to all ages, help unskilled people find jobs . We embraced using volunteers, but can they run our libraries without us? No. And in my authority they are losing about 60% of librarians."...'





Joseph Harris is Smile Poet
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