Monday, February 21, 2011

LIBRARY THREAT

The government is threatening to close libraries. This is a terrible idea and John "Bad Machinery" Allison agrees with me...

5 comments:

  1. Looks like the same is happening everywhere.

    In the US, we're about to have major class war led by the public sector unions. That's what's happening in Wisconsin, but it will likely spread everywhere, as state governors go for the austerity and union-busting button.

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  2. What a great idea closing down the public libraries. It will be one of the few good ideas any British government has had in decades.

    Those who cannot read, (regrettably a seemingly ever increasing proportion of Britain's population) do not require books and thus have no need for libraries.

    Those with modest reading skills, should start buying their own books, rather than being reliant on libraries to provide the latest comics / Mills & Boon / Virginia Andrews and other fictional type trash. Doing so may possibly increase their desire to better themselves.

    The more intelligent people (such as CFZ members) who can read real books, will no doubt have quite extensive personal book collections of their own, along with access to private research / reference facilities, so do not need to use public libraries.

    Disposing of the public libraries, could also be of help to the hard pressed community of book sellers, both in the new and second hand sectors.

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  3. You can join your local library online and reserve books there too. Not only that but you don't even need any ID these days. I mention this because apparently not a lot of people know this as when I turned up at Barnstaple library the other day to get my card I was somewhat of a novelty. It's so easy you don't have any excuse and you can try out new authors for free.

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  4. Love it Jon!
    But don't love the news that they're looking to shut libraries :/
    Libraries, like post offices, pubs and corner shops, are the lifeblood of small towns and villages.
    And they're often the first place young children learn about so much of the world around them.
    Save our libraries!

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  5. Syd's comment:

    "The more intelligent people (such as CFZ members) who can read real books, will no doubt have quite extensive personal book collections of their own, along with access to private research / reference facilities, so do not need to use public libraries."

    Is likely true. I think one of the reasons I became a book collector at such an early age is because I'm so passionate about reading (and the subjects which grab my interest) and always feared the unavailability of books.

    But I realise not everyone can afford to have their own library - either because of finances or physical space. So we should save our libraries, they're a valuable resource for so many reasons.

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