Day Of Action To Save London’s Libraries

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 96 months ago
Day Of Action To Save London’s Libraries

Saturday was a day of action for the Save our Libraries campaign. Read ins, sit ins, storytelling sessions and a rush on lending characterised protests demonstrating local communities' love and need for these services. Here's a taste of what went on:

Darryl at 853 links up this video on the New Cross library overnight sit in, which also hit BBC news. Local blog SE13ure gives the inside story from the perspective of one who popped by to show support and ended up staying the night. Thanks to Transpontine for tipping us off to that excellent story.

The Bugle was at Blackheath library to hear talks from Blake Morrison, Lucy Mangan and local historian Neil Rhind and to find out what "the most stolen book... after the bible" is.

East London Lines reports on the Sydenham Library protest where storytelling, dub, balloons and cake reinforced passionate local feeling. The Itinerant Poetry Librarian was also at Sydenham, following this great guest blog post, commenting how "communities understand the amazing value of a public library service – a service that makes no distinction around who you are or where you come from, how much money you do or don’t have to give."

Crofton Park Library read-in reports on its Facebook page with photos and Brockley Central was there to show support.

Diamond Geezer went all around London to visit Bethnal Green, Chalk Farm, Kensal Rise, Brixton and Blackheath libraries.

We're sure there will be more reports from around London as the week goes on, not least from Kensal Rise Library, who have the support of Phillip Pullman

You lot were out and about borrowing books too. Some of you told us about it on our Facebook page.

The Map of London's threatened libraries shows the extent of the threat to the capital's services. The Guardian mapped the UK library protests and liveblogged #savelibraries activity as it happened Saturday.

Get involved, get borrowing books and attend your library's events to show your support before it's too late. Please share your local library love in the comments.

Image by dusty sevens via the Londonist Flickrpool. You can follow Westminster Libraries on Twitter.

Last Updated 10 March 2016