Alan Gibbons, the children's writer, has launched a nationwide campaign to promote the central place in society of reading for pleasure, a recognition of school libraries as key engines of learning, and the defence of public libraries and librarians from attempts to cut spending.
Launched only last weekend Campaign for the Book, has over 300 writers and professionals pledging their support, among them Michael Rosen, Philip Pullman, Anne Fine, David Almond, Anthony Browne, Malorie Blackman and Beverley Naidoo.
Libraries Charter
We, the signatories of this charter commit ourselves to campaigning for the following:
1. The central place of reading for pleasure in society
2. A proper balance of book provision and information technology in public and school libraries
3. The defence of public libraries and librarians from attempts to cut spending in a "soft" area
4. An extension of the role of the school librarian and a recognition of the school library as a key engine of learning
5. The recruitment of more school librarians. It is a national scandal that less than a third of secondary schools has a trained librarian
6. The defence of the professional status of the public and school librarian. Opposition to downgrading. In some places this has reduced librarians' salaries by up to half
7. The promotion of reading whole books in school, rather than excerpts
8. A higher profile for reading for pleasure in schools, including shadowing book awards, inviting authors and illustrators to visit, and developing school creative writing magazines
http://alangibbons.net/
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/66369-author-launches-libraries-campaign.html
http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/66479-page.html
