National Save Our Libraries Day – 4th February 2012
To mark this day and do my bit to promote the importance of this campaign, I thought I’d write a short post about why I believe the closing of libraries across the country will impact us in more ways than one.
Growing up my parents actively encouraged me to read as much as possible. I have them to thank for my passion and appreciation of books, and this has determined one of my goals in life, to write, and hopefully publish a non-fiction book. Although making money from this would be a dream come true, my main reason for wanting to do so is for personal achievement.
I remember looking forward to my weekly trip to the local library, walking through the doors and being greeted by hundreds of books to choose from. I was like a fat kid in a sweet shop, extremely happy and eager to get what I came for. I took ages to decide, my mum often had to drag me out. I’d get home and devour the lot in a few days, then spend the rest of the week begging my mum to take me back to get some more books. When I started getting pocket money it would be spent on, yes you guessed it, books. I couldn’t get enough of them. Even today I love browsing in a book shop or library; I could spend hours in one. There is something very therapeutic about it. The experience of growing up surrounded by books is something I will definitely encourage when I have my own children one day.
I must admit I have recently converted to the Kindle. Although reluctant at first I soon found myself falling in love with its clever design and technology, and considering I’m someone who never throws a book away I could see the benefits it was going to have for me, especially for travelling to work and going on holiday’s. However, I have promised myself to still buy the odd paperback and visit libraries to do my bit to keep the spirits of these wonderful, underestimated places alive.
Libraries are a place where children can develop their reading skills and become absorbed in magical stories and characters. Old people can make the most of the internet and computer services that most libraries offer, and adults can emerge themselves in the relaxing confides of a good book at the end of a stressful day. All of which are completely free of charge. It sounds like a pretty good service to me.
There’s no doubt that a library is at the heart of every community. It’s a place where people of all ages can gather to socialise and discuss the amazing world of literature. The atmosphere of a library always fascinates me. You feel instantly relaxed as you walk through the doors, and I have never met a librarian who doesn’t enjoy their job, motivated by their own passion for books and the services that they offer.
Without libraries future generations will be lost to the ever evolving technology, which has taken so many people already. With the country’s economic state and unemployment rates not looking to improve any time soon, we all need to appreciate the simple things in life again. So if you want this invaluable, free service to be here this time next year then get involved! The government plan to close 400 libraries this year, make sure yours isn’t one of them!
