The UK's public libraries are in crisis. With hundreds of libraries under threat of closure, we need to take action. Voices for the Library is a campaign group dedicated to promoting the value of libraries and giving library users a voice.

1. and the campaign for public libraries Simon Barron @SimonXIX [email_address] http://undaimonia.blogspot.com

2. Map courtesy of Ian Anstice www.publiclibrariesnews.com As of 22 nd November: 423 libraries under threat 333 library buildings 90 mobile libraries

3. Libraries are directly and immediately involved in the conflict which divides our world, and for two reasons: first, because they are essential to the functioning of a democratic society; second, because the contemporary conflict touches the integrity of scholarship, the freedom of mind, and even survival of culture, and libraries are the great tools of scholarship, the great repositories of culture, and the great symbols of the freedom of mind. - Franklin D. Roosevelt I love the public library service for what it did for me as a child and as a student and as an adult. I love it because its presence in a town or a city reminds us that there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about, things that have the power to baffle the greedy ghost of market fundamentalism, things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight. - Philip Pullman Reasons to love libraries The public library is a practical demonstration of democracy’s faith in universal education as a continuing and lifelong process, in the appreciation of the achievement of humanity in knowledge and culture. - IFLA Section of Public Libraries, 1973, pp. 13-14.

4. From AlexHughesCartoons.co.uk The Big Society ethos

5. “ duty of the Secretary of State to superintend, and promote the improvement of, the public library service” “ duty of every library authority to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof” “ encouraging both adults and children to make full use of the library service” The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964

6. Time to panic?

7. Serious irreverence

8. www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk @UKpling [email_address]

9. Abigail Barker @abbybarker Adrienne Cooper @sphericalfruit Gary Green @ggnewed Ian Anstice @publiclibnews Ian Clark @ijclark Johanna Anderson @Jo_Bo_Anderson Lauren Smith @walkyouhome Mick Fortune @mickfortune Sarah Lewis-Newton Tom Roper @tomroper Jo Richardson Simon Barron @SimonXIX @sarahln The team

10. Storytelling

11. Technology FTW

12. @LibraryCampaign @Fight4Libraries @CILIPinfo We’re not alone

13. This meeting urges H.M. Government to maintain support for local libraries, as an essential local educational and information resource. “ The Women’s Institute has a special kind of power. You have influence. You can make change happen. You campaign for the things you believe in. Whether it is the environment, food labelling or women’s rights, the root of your campaigning is always the same, driving out ignorance and changing people’s minds through education, information and better understanding.” - Annie Mauger, CILIP Chief Executive The wrath of the WI

14. Poster courtesy of Phil Bradley. We are delighted to launch National Libraries Day, a week of events in early February leading to a day of celebration of reading, libraries and librarians around the United Kingdom… We see National Libraries as a positive day of celebration to promote the whole culture of reading for pleasure, information and engagement whether you read your traditional books or on your laptop or e-reader. It is time to make reading a universal culture. We want people to go to their local school or public library and use their School Library Service. Use it. Join it. Love it. - Alan Gibbons The Big Day

15. Poster courtesy of Ned Potter

16. C: Responsibilities to Colleagues and the Information Community The personal conduct of information professionals at work should promote the profession in the best possible manner at all times. Members should therefore: 1. Act in ways that promote the profession positively, both to their colleagues and to the public at large. From the CILIP Code of Professional Practice

18. Black, A., The public library in Britain 1914-2000 . London: The British Library. Voices for the Library: http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/ Public Libraries News: http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/ The Public Library and Museums Act 1964: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/75 The Women’s Institute Love Libraries Campaign: http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=24427 Libraries and the WI by Lauren Smith: http://laurensmith.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/libraries-and-the-wi/ National Libraries Day: http://www.cilip.org.uk/news-media/pages/news110526.aspx http://www.thebookseller.com/news/somerset-and-gloucs-library-closures-unlawful.html CPD23: Thing 16 – Advocacy: http://cpd23.blogspot.com/2011/08/thing-16-advocacy-speaking-up-for.html References and resources