Literacy news
Industry-wide appeal to protect public libraries published
19 Oct 2010
An industry-wide statement supporting the public library service has been published; stressing the sector is "a significant contributor to the quality of people's lives".
The letter, aimed at local authority leaders, comes a day ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the opening of the CILIP Public Libraries Authorities Conference in Leeds.
The letter said: "Libraries matter to people! Even those who don't use them regularly care about what happens to them because they recognise what they stand for; that they exist to ensure that everyone has access to the knowledge, scholarship, books and information they need to help them make a success of their lives."
The statement will be published on the website of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
The letter quotes Department of Culture, Media and Sport figures stating public library services are used by almost 40% of the adult population in England. It also noted 75% of children aged 5-15 use the services.
It continued: "Literacy is the key driver for social mobility. Libraries can help people to re-engage with learning and improve their literacy skills. Children’s borrowing from libraries has risen for the last five years. The library can be vital in helping people become fluent and engaged readers, improving young people’s chances of success at school and adults’ employability."
Library campaigner Desmond Clarke and MLA chief Roy Clare have worked for over five weeks to co-ordinate the statement, aimed at bolstering support for the library service ahead of austere cuts anticipated in tomorrow’s spending review.
Read more at The Bookseller.
