Author’s support for Northamptonshire’s libraries
CHILDREN’S author Anne Fine spoke of her fondness for Northampton’s libraries during a public meeting to discuss the future of the county’s book lending service.
The author, who grew up in Northampton, was a member of a five-person panel during an open discussion at the Friends Meeting House in Wellington Street on Tuesday.
In front of an audience of 70 people, Mrs Fine talked about how libraries in Northampton had inspired her to become a writer.
Donna Scott, a poet and comedian, also expressed her appreciation for how Northamptonshire libraries exposed her to a world of literature well beyond her immediate family environment where the only accessible book was the Argos catalogue.
Graham Croucher, from the Friends of the St James Library, talked of his opposition to the county council’s plans to push responsibility for securing funding to local communities, and Mo Easton, of the Friends of Desborough Library, warned the audience about the consequences for library provision posed by proposals to increase the number of volunteers to run libraries from 400 to 1600.
Ron Mendel, of Northampton Alliance to Defend Services, said the key message that came out of the meeting was that libraries meant a lot to a wide range of people and should continue to be funded by the county council.
Mr Mendel said: “If one message came out of the meeting it was that libraries were not simply buildings.
“Instead they served as interactive environments (between users and staff) that nurtured a respect for learning and personal development, and therefore constituted a social good that should be adequately funded and supported by local authorities and not face the threat of cuts.”
The county council said it cannot afford to continue to fund the library service on its own and needs to reduce costs by up to 50 per cent by 2015.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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