Here in the UK, the new year isn't looking a happy, or prosperous one for our public libraries. 200 of them closed their doors in 2012, and the numbers are still stacking up.
The city of Newcastle, in the north of England is set to close 10 of the 18 they have at present and the city of York has agreed to hand 13 over to charitable organisations.
Yes, we need to find smarter ways in which we run our libraries, but in these times of austerity even charities, who receive tax breaks, and government grants are struggling along. So how long are libraries going to survive on this type of funding?
A good number of these closures are planned in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. Areas where the local library is a place where women can spend time alone, safely. A place where kids from underprivileged backgrounds can study, opening their lives up to a better world than they live in at present.
Our local library, as many do, offers IT classes for pensioners. Yes, it's good to stimulate their little grey cells, but it's not just the educational side of things that's good for our elderly. It's somewhere they can go and socialise and if they live alone, this maybe the only time they have any lengthy contact with others.
What's the answer? I have no idea, but we have to save our community before it fades into oblivion.
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