More than 90% of the uk s libraries are taking part in world book day, through a partnership with the reading agency. Nicola davies is a childrens author and former presenter of the really wild show. Children and adults gathered outside brackley library to protest over cuts to the service by the council on world book day yesterday thursday. The uks public library service is facing what childrens author alan gibbons has called the greatest crisis in its history, with nearly 350. Councils cannot assume that they can threaten libraries with closure and then rely on volunteers to keep them open. The christian science monitor daily for august 14, 2017. Children spend world book day protesting outside brackley library.
We want to see how public libraries across the uk are. County council implements timetable with immediate effect, leaving 21 libraries open just one day a week and one food bank to find new. There are loads of exciting things happening in libraries on and around world book day. Please click my setting to check or update your setting. The power inherent in the industry was on full display recently at vidcon, a glitzy fiveday conference in anaheim, calif. The peaceful silence, the smell of an old book, the comfort of being alonea library can be the perfect escape from the noise and high energy of the city. World news environment soccer us politics business tech science opinion the guardian view columnists letters opinion videos cartoons sport soccer nfl tennis mlb mls nba nhl culture film books.
World book day isnt about fancy dress apologies to. The closure of libraries due to council cuts has been well documented. For national libraries day on 6 february in the uk, writers and. The longterm effects of council cuts to libraries could be disastrous. With 800 libraries having closed down since 2010, and attention spans dwindling at an alarming rate, books need all the help they can get in the. Tom watson, deputy labour party leader, condemns fall in library borrowing as a scandal, as organisers encourage parents and children to. But the loss of staff in remaining branches is equally serious. World book day isnt about fancy dress apologies to the boy who went as a giant. Today is world book day, an annual celebration of authors books and reading.
You can tell a lot about a country by how it treats its libraries. A study conducted by the institute of education shows that 10 to 16yearolds who read for pleasure do better at school. In 1971, a librarian in michigan asked public figures to write to local children explaining why their new library was a good thing. Without libraries we are less human and more profoundly alone. The books on this list offer funny, colorful stories about everyones favorite place. On world book day, a look at libraries from egypt to dominica that have remained open despite death threats, extreme weather and terrorism. The hidden treasures in italian libraries the new york times. Organisers said that book poverty is a very real issue. April 23, 2019 is world book day, which according to unesco is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Even though day of the libraries falls on saturday, october 24, 2020, it is a working day. Books blog five libraries around the world that are open despite the odds.
As a key moment in the reading calendar, world book day will help to put libraries at centre stage, through offering a range of exciting activities and positive pr. Campaigners warn of book poverty as uk celebrates world book day. World book day 2017 targets giving away 1m books to children jacqueline wilson, david walliams and julia donaldson among authors writing new stories to mark the 20th anniversary of annual children. Campaigners warn of book poverty as uk celebrates world. The hidden treasures in italian libraries in florence, rome and beyond, these buildings are a feast not only for book lovers, but for art and architecture enthusiasts as well. Annual survey shows sharp cuts to local authority funding have led to the loss of 17% of branches, alongside sharp staff and. Five libraries around the world that are open despite. Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show.