voices for the library and the campaign for public libraries
DESCRIPTION
The UK's public libraries are in crisis. With hundreds of libraries under threat of closure, we need to take action. Voices for the Library is a campaign group dedicated to promoting the value of libraries and giving library users a voice.TRANSCRIPT
and the campaign for public libraries
Simon Barron@SimonX
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
The teamAbigail Barker
@ab
byb
ark
er
Adrienne Cooper
@sp
herica
lfru
it
Gary Green
@g
gn
ew
ed
Ian Anstice@
pu
blic
libn
ew
sIan Clark
@ijc
lark
Johanna Anderson
@Jo
_Bo_A
nd
erso
n
Lauren Smith
@w
alk
you
hom
e
Mick Fortune
@m
ickfo
rtu
ne Sarah Lewis-
Newton
Tom Roper @to
mro
per
Jo Richardson
Simon Barron
@S
imon
XIX
@sa
rah
ln
Storytelling
Technology FTW
We’re not alone@
Lib
rary
Cam
paig
n@
Fig
ht4
Lib
rari
es
@C
ILIP
info
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