Author Alan Moore spearheads campaign to stop the closure of St James library
AN ANTI-LIBRARY closure protest in Northampton brought St James Library to a standstill as scores of people packed into the small building to protest against its possible closure.
People trying to join the protest were forced to stand outside the packed library, which is one of eight earmarked for closure by the county council, as the protest was held on Saturday afternoon.
Those lucky enough to get inside heard a ‘read-in’ led by Northampton author, Alan Moore, who is famous for writing graphic novels including Watchmen and V For Vendetta.
He told the crowd: “If it wasn’t for libraries I wouldn’t be standing here today and you wouldn’t be interested in coming to see me.
“When I was five and living in Spring Boroughs I was lucky enough to be urged to join the library.
“I ended up taking out two or three books every week and that was the only access I had to books.
“These days, tragically, my library at home is probably bigger than this library in St James.
“But not everyone is lucky enough to be a well-off comic writer and not everyone can afford books.”
The campaign was also backed by The Saints and The Cobblers.
A statement read out from The Cobblers during the event said: “The St James Library is as much as part of the community of St James and Northampton as The Cobblers are.”
Councillors Tony Clarke (Ind, Castle) and Paul Varnsverry (Lib Dem, West Hunsbury) also gave readings from books they have found inspirational and there was a message of support from Northampton-based science fiction writer Donna Scott.
Graham Croucher, the secretary of the St James Residents’ Association said: “This is our library and this area desperately needs it.
“We just hope the council listens to the people of this community.”
The event in St James was one of a number of protests held across the country in opposition to proposed library closures.
Almost 1,000 people have so far signed a petition calling for the St James library to be saved after Northamptonshire County Council earmarked it for closure as part of its multi-million-pound budget cuts.
The authority is due to make a final decision on its budget plans later this month.
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There are 28 comments to this article
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The Ninja Parade
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 12:02 PM15th Feb The Chron runs update, St. James Library saved! (for now). Kudos Mr Moore, you made a difference here, without a doubt, and all the folk that worked tirelessly on this! YAY!! :D
The Ninja Parade
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 11:43 AMRyan S I did put a 'forward slash' inbetween mobile phone and photocopying but there must be a glitch in the system, but yeah a phone with all the functionality be uber handy for sure! :)
Ryan S
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 05:27 PMA PhotocopyingMobile Phone? I'm due an upgrade. Where can I buy one?
The Ninja Parade
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 01:40 PMOn Saturday I remember Tony Clarke saying that he understands that the cost of running St. James Library is £25k per year that NBC pays. £15k of that is rent to NCC. As Cllr. Clarke said 'isnt that more surreal than anything Alan has written?' ----- I agree Cllr Clarke especially in light of both Councils recent expenses relating to 'PhotocopyingMobile Phone' useage.
The Ninja Parade
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 01:36 PMIt was heartening to see such a terrific amount of Northamptonians attend. The folk from London, Nottingham etc where an unexpected bonus, raising this from a local to a 'National' event too in the proccess.
The Ninja Parade
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 01:33 PMlots of video footage etc of this event on the facebook group 'Save St. James Library'. :)
pratchett
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 09:13 PMcomment 20 is right libraries have changed and aren't just about books and unfortunately st james just isnt big enough. i believe there is a good bus service to library in duston and into town from st james which of course pensioners can use for free.
pratchett
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 09:05 PMcomment 20 is right libraries have changed and aren't just about books and unfortunately st james just isnt big enough. i believe there is a good bus service to library in duston and into town from st james which of course pensioners can use for free.
LivingInTheRealWorld
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 07:21 PMI think people need to look at this in a different way. We all know that the Council need to save money, yet any talk of any disruption to any service and it's the end of the money. People are happy to criticise the Council for their mobile phone expenditure for example, yet do people know how much it costs to run a library? When looking at a library like St. James, which is only open half days, and not every day at that, is this really the best way to serve customers? Surely its better for the Council to concentrate its efforts on libraries such as Duston and Central, each of which are more or less within walking distance to St. James (or Hunsbury library is a short drive), and both offer significantly more services with better opening hours. And anyway, does anyone on here doing the criticising ever really use St. James library, as whenever I have been there it's usually empty!
TheCount
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 05:20 PM"willi eckaslyke"...There should be 0 government employees earning mofr than £58K...it's quite disturbing that there at 15000 !!!! Shocking. This is public money they are spending...mine and yours...they should be on average way the lot of them. None of them are more important than any other, they are just there to serve the public.
lady muck
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 05:06 PMI think Teddy might actually be one of the vulnerable...I think I might have seen a photo of him once with a stick (but I might be mistaken). The BIG question that Teddy must answer is simply that if the libraries etc are not to be cut, then where shall the cuts be made ? It's no good wittering on about the greedy bankers, the stupidity of Brown, the incompetence of the FSA etc...we are where we are now. Ultimately, I question whether the general public should pay for the individual's pleasure, whether it be libraries, swimming pools, bus-passes etc. Perhaps Teddy will tell us how his friday meeting with Mr Binley went Did you convert him to the Socialist Cause ?
willi eckaslyke
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 04:07 PMCount...some encouraging news for you..According to today's Daily Telegraph, Eric Pickles, the local government secretary has announced an intention to name the 15,000 local government employees earning £58k and over and what they actually do for it..
TheCount
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 03:12 PMThanks "monkeyboy of doom",l much appreciated that. I'd just like more people to think about the cuts and the tax we are forced to pay. Fairness doesn't seem to happen normally so society needs strong leaders to make balanced fair choices. Being a leader is not about being popular andor looking good on TV and it's certainly not about feathering your own nest off other peoples backs. It should be making the right decisions regardless of how hard the decisions might be. The leaders should be taking the biggest cut in wages, giving up their pensions, giving up their perks, leading by example. Those leaders are sadly missing at the moment. If they are not fit for the role of public servitude then they should do the decent thing and stand down and allow someone that can handle such roles.
monkeyboy of doom
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 02:55 PMI would actually be inclined to agree with you on that one The Count, Fair play sir. If you look at our European counterparts, when a legislation is passed that they feel is detrimental to their way of life, they go mental, cause mass disruptions and make it clear in no uncertain terms that "Actually, NO, we're not having this!" and many of them go from strength to strength. We have been groomed for hundreds of years by "Democratic Rule" whilst if it were a true democracy, surely we wouldn't be under rule, we would all be considerably more in charge of our own destiny's rather than hiring a handful of people on a ludicrous wage to perform a job that anything up to half the country can disagree with. And then be expected to be grateful for it! So as the old saying goes "The Count" "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
TheCount
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 02:39 PM"monkeyboy of doom"...very well put. I agree with everything you said. I am happy to contribute to society, but that contribution MUST be fair. It isn't at the moment, and it Irks me too. I dont' see why I should struggle to pay my bills when some ( not all ) of the civil servants are coining it in and setting on a very nice pension. Even a small amount of gratitude and humility from them would be nice. As you point out tho, the problem is with society, it's messed up. On the bright side, the cuts are needed and will happen, people will have to accept it and cut their cloth according. Maybe this will help society. The people ho benefited the most will complain the most, they are the ones that should stand back and take a look at themselves the most.
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