Britain’s libraries are vanishing.
A 2016 BBC investigation found that almost a quarter of library jobs had disappeared over six years, with some 343 libraries closing.
It’s true that technology has fundamentally changed the way we consume media, including books, but libraries are still an important resource, especially for children, young people and those from less well-off backgrounds.
Having free access to books, computers, music, films and having a dedicated space where these things are accessible and valued is important, and a lot of people are very passionate about the subject.
Could you turn a former library into a valued community asset? https://t.co/924JGghWzr
— Bury Council (@BuryCouncil) September 1, 2017
So when Bury Council sent out a clumsily-worded tweet asking “Could you turn a former library into a valued community asset?” it’s perhaps unsurprising that the replies were full of people savaging the council with the same suggestion.
A book shop. One that lets you take books for free for a period of time as long as you return them. With a fee if you don't. #Library
— Asam Yasin (@asam_yasin) September 2, 2017
Have you considered a library?
— 🕷Liza Frank (@lilithepunk) September 2, 2017
I've given this some thought, and a library sounds one spunker of an idea.
— Alistair Coleman (@alistaircoleman) September 2, 2017
I saw something on my holiday in France that would work really well here.
Excellent community resource.
I think it's called a bibliothèque.— Jane 🌱💙🇺🇦💚 (@localnotail) September 2, 2017
Somewhere that serves the community by allowing people to borrow books for free?
— Celestial M Weasel (@celestialweasel) September 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/iamdavidking/status/904062874376654849
All in all, this tweet rather sums up the situation:
https://twitter.com/Tillyecl/status/904051686242701317
