A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham, who collated it.  For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.

DAILY TELEGRAPH : 4th May
The importance of instilling a need to read
Jonathan Douglas is Director of the National Literacy Trust   (literacytrust.org.uk), a charity that transforms lives through literacy.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/10035473/The-importance-of-instilling-a-need-to-read.html

St Helens Star : 3rd May
Libraries in St Helens’ poorest communities cushioned from most severe cuts
Instead of library closures, hours have been slashed by a fifth as  part of the local authority’s response to making up a £50million  shortfall in government grant.
http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/10395703.Libraries_in_St_Helens__poorest_communities_cushioned_from_most_severe_cuts/

Brent & Kilburn Times : 3rd May
Project launched to return library service to Dollis Hill residents
Dollis Hill ‘”Love Books”, which was launched yesterday, will see books  from Brent’s Library Service collected and brought to the area’s cafés,  eateries, shops and pubs to create a series of “mini libraries”.   to provide  …. some of the benefits of what libraries offer.
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/project_launched_to_return_library_service_to_dollis_hill_residents_1_2180203

Yellow Advertiser : 3rd May
Southend | Support grows for library
Photo caption:  More than 200 people turned up to support keeping Leigh Library staffed by librarians not volunteers.
http://www.yellowad.co.uk/news.cfm?id=14817&headline=Support%20grows%20for%20library

leigh library