Even if Southampton libraries are currently safe from the axe,
we should show our support for the many under threat nationally next
Saturday by joining in with a "gentle protest" - writes Angela Chicken.Pic: Isle of Wight News site, VentnorBlog Anyone watching the news will have heard the story of Stony Stratford library, Milton Keynes, which was destined for closure in a recent round of cuts. The locals got my respect and the notice of the press around the world when they decided to show their support by going to the library on an agreed day and each taking out their maximum allocation of books. It was in many respects a typically British protest: gentle, but to the point - and they made their point beautifully.
By the end of the day the library was empty.
Nine of the 11 Isle of Wight libraries are faced with the threat of closure, and so are many small libraries around the country. Last week video footage was released (see it at the foot of this article) of no howling rent-a-mob, but a lovely, orderly queue of pensioners, mums and others, each making their point about what libraries mean to them at Newport Library on the Island. Together they also left the shelves bare. And their commonsense ordinary protest hit home, too.
Creative protests
Next week on February 5th (a Saturday) there is a proposal that we could all turn out at our various local libraries to show our support for them, whether they are facing cuts or not, and to show our solidarity with libraries in other parts of the country who have not been so lucky. There are some wonderfully creative protests happening at the moment. For more check out the Facebook page, VOICES FOR THE LIBRARY and the great article by writer Philip Pullman in the Guardian, which explains why the issue is so important
See also this great blog which shares a few ideas for protests:
Some libraries will have read-ins and others mass withdrawals next Saturday. If libraries are important to you, this is one way you can show your concern. If the idea appeals, why not invite your family, friends and neighbours. In fact, tell anyone who cares about reading. Who knows, someone might actually listen.
Angela Chicken