Local community comes out in support of their library!

[bagfish]

This is a very heartwarming tale.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/14/stony-stratford-library-shelves-protest

"The library at Stony Stratford, on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, looks like the aftermath of a crime, its shell-

Comments

[teacupdiaries]

That is awesome. :) I love my local library (here and in the UK), and it pisses me off when local gov tries to shut them down. In some areas, it's the best access to new books many families have.

[bagfish]

It's not so much local government that is shutting libraries in the UK at the moment, but national government imposing 25% cuts in local government funding that is absolutely gutting services right across the country. It's a complete nightmare.

In Cumbria for example, all 300 social services staff have been made redundant and are having to reapply for 100 jobs, so a 2/3rds cut in service in this department. This government is killing local government and local services.

Interestingly even tory councils are beginning to cry foul. About time too...

This comment piece pretty much sums it up
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/14/savage-local-cuts-unite-tories-labour

Honestly Gemma, it's a nightmare here at the moment.

[teacupdiaries]

Thanks for the link!

Yeah, I've been hearing some stuff through my mum and dad but have to filter that a bit since they're both extremely conservative. My brother is more interested in US politics so I'm out of touch (for both the UK and US; we don't watch TV and I have fallen out of the habit of reading news sites so I am just totally ignorant on pretty much everything right now).

I was shocked when I visited last year how run down everything in my hometown looked, and how miserable everyone was. I know things are only getting worse and it's one of the big reasons Henry and I aren't interested in returning to England anytime soon. I strongly suspect I'll be in the US my whole life; even retirement in Blighty doesn't seem so appealing anymore.

I really hope things improve. :/

[master_cobweb]

Aww, that's really cool! Thanks for posting this! It warms the cockles of my librarian heart. :)

[tyopsqueene]

I facebooked this as soon as I saw it :D