The Bookseller has highlighted that the report used to launch Bookmark Your Library implies that the UK do not value libraries. You can read the article here: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/acescl-report-says-libraries-forgotten.html
The Bookseller explains that the newly launched library website set up by Arts Council England and the Society of Chief Librarians has reported that 60% of people are not visiting their local libraries.
But the report has been criticised by library campaigner Desmond Clarke, who said it was “strange for the organisations behind this website to launch it with such negative results” and, given the comments, it seems others agree.
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I have just tried the amazing 24/7 ‘ask a librarian’ service and got an instant & comprehensive answer to a pretty daft question.
This is just one example of the website’s resources.
Mostly it pulls together resources that have long existed, & have never been poroperly publicised.
Report after report points out how few people know what’s actually available at their local library – or even where it is!
The website will do a lot of redress this – as long as they publicise it properly (ie, not the way they have started out…)
Laura Swaffield
Chair
The Library Campaign