My library

Well, it's finally hit my library! 

The recession that is. Yesterday i walked into my favourite space in the library only to find half of it devoid of books. Stood there with my mouth open probably didn't look a pretty sight, but there i was and that's where a very nice librarian found me. I stammered 'what happened?' and she explained. They have lost 20 members of staff, they have also had to close down two floors so they can be rented out as office space, the non-fiction is going up a floor, which is smaller and the family history research and local history are combining on the floor we were on. I must of looked shocked because she followed with sorry it looks a mess right now, we have to take all the books off the shelves, then the shelves have to be dismantled and taken upstairs and then the books replaced and that it should all be done by Christmas. And then, 'is there anything i can help you with?' And i replied i'll be back in January i can't cope with this. Oh and one floor as now been turned over to the internet so all the teenagers can get on facebook, that's what she told me, honest.

Libraries should have order and BOOKS. Usually when i go to the library, which is at least weekly i like to browse and pick and mix, yeah like sweets. I don't mind reading novels, in fact i quite enjoy a good novel but i also like to extend my feeble mind. In the chaos that is now ensuing i'm not sure i would not be so inspired.

Libraries

Addingham Library

On the 21 February 2011 the Yorkshire Post printed an article about the planned closures of Bradford's smaller libraries; Addingham, Denholme, Heaton, Wilsden and Wrose. It also stated that 1 in 6 libraries with close in Yorkshire alone, that brings the total to 65 libraries, including 20 in Leeds and 14 in Barnsley.

On the 15th March 2011 the Bradford council had a closed meeting about the proposed closures. It stated that because these libraries were only open for 10 a week they could be covered successfully by a mobile library and would be in the future. The other option was for volunteers could operate the effected libraries.  Addingham is the only one that is in the process of taking over their library with volunteers and have a stay of closure until the end of August when there is a proposed review. The Bradford council does say that staff will be re-deployed, to where? or what?

It's rather dire. It reminds me of the saying 'give a man a fish, feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for life.' Let me had my own saying - teach a child to read and you will teach not only themselves but also future generations. 

With all the techno wizardry parents and teachers have a hard enough time just getting their children to read anything. With the state of the economy at the moment parents do not have spare cash to keep buying their children new books or even magazines. With the closure of local libraries parents travelling further to reach a library may not be an option either. 

I cannot stop these closures, i am no one important but i can share how i feel about reading and i hope to do so through my new blog and you never know i may even get brave enough to challenge the system. I don't like really long blogs but there is more and more and more but not all doom and gloom i can assure you.