Saving Libraries: A Writer's Perspective

by Jill Earl

The Bookseller, a site covering every aspect of the publishing industry in the U.K., reported earlier this week that a pair of government officials received a letter that called for the ceasing of library closures in the country after a series of read-ins. Besides signatures from organizations, high-profile authors including Terry Jones and Kate Mosse signed off on the letter. Alan Gibbons of Campaign for the Book wrote in regards to the protesters, “They have put out a positive message: our libraries, our communities, our right to have a say over their future."

The article brought back memories of a situation regarding the library in the neighborhood I lived in during my early teens. It was small but it was there I did homework when I wanted a change of scenery and where I spent Saturdays searching for the latest YA novel, or geology guide. l ignored rumors of its closing until a flyer posted on the entrance door confirmed it. Upset, I wrote to city officials, had my mother take me to community meetings, and wrote to the local paper. In this case, the closing was due to a lack of interest and the general outcry was far less vocal than it should’ve been and wasn’t enough. About a year later, the library shut its doors.

In recalling this incident, the message put out by the community at the time wasn’t positive. An opportunity existed for residents to have a say over their future and those of their children, yet many opted not to. That made me sad. Having moved from the community decades ago, I have no idea whether a new library ever returned there. I know that if a situation arose regarding the library in my present neighborhood, and with the county dealing with budget cuts, it very well could, I’d once again fight for a wonderful community resource. As a writer, I’m on board when it comes to encouraging a love of reading, which led me to writing in the first place.

The rest of the Bookseller article can be found here. I don’t know how things will turn out, but I sure hope closures on both sides of the ocean cease.

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art