Library supporters raise voices in anger at closure ‘madness’

PROTESTERS have hailed the success of a national day of action against library closures.

More than 100 demonstrations took place across the country including a mass Shhhh! at Sheffield’s central library followed by three cheers of support and applause for the service.

Celebrities were among those backing campaigners including soprano Lesley Garrett, who was at Bawtry library, near Doncaster, where she told local people libraries helped her get involved with classical music. Read-ins were held at 14 of 26 libraries in the borough under threat.

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Hundreds of people took to the streets of Pateley Bridge in what is thought to be the first demonstration in the North Yorkshire market town for more than a century.

About 250 people marched down the town’s High Street on Saturday. More than 500 signatures were collected in less than an hour on a petition against closures which could see 23 of the county’s 42 libraries shut down.

Shirley Gaston, who helped organise the demonstration, said: “The libraries are a focal point for the whole community, but they are so important to children and the elderly, who may not be able to travel that easily. My kids love going to the library and everyone would be devastated if it closed.”

At Leeds City Library, campaigners dressed as their favourite characters from literature. In Methley there was a demonstration against proposals to axe the village library, one of 20 across Leeds under the threat of closure.

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June Fender, of the Methley & Mickletown Residents Association, said it was one of a “very small number of services” the community could enjoy.

“Considering that the library is well used by its clients, the decision by Leeds City Council to close it has awakened anger in people who would not normally complain,” she said.

Protesters at New Cross in London spent the night inside their library on Saturday after staging a 24-hour read-in. James Holland, 38, who takes his three-year-old daughter to the library, said: “There is always a buzz when people cross over a little line and do something for themselves. It makes them feel empowered.

“Shutting libraries is a grave mistake for many local authorities. Libraries are something people hold very close to their hearts – even if they don’t go to them. They are ingrained in our culture.”

More than 350 libraries are under threat of closure.

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Julia Donaldson, author of popular children’s book The Gruffalo, said: “If you close all these branches, get rid of these expert librarians, we’re going to end up with a population of more illiterate people.”

As well as read-ins, some events involved storytelling, writing workshops and music.

Lauren Smith, spokeswoman for Voices for the Library, said yesterday: “Once a library is shut it will never reopen. When councils realise what they have done it will be too late.”

The day of campaigning came after a study revealed children who used their local library were twice as likely to be above average readers.

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