It’s only a few days away to the 3rd National Libraries Day (http://www.nationallibrariesday.org.uk). On Saturday 7th Feb 2015 National Libraries Day will round off a week of celebrations in lots of libraries throughout the UK.
National Libraries Day is an opportunity for us to think about all the great things that public libraries do and remind ourselves why they are so important. Public Libraries are the local gateway to knowledge, the provider of an infrastructure of life and learning from birth to old age. Public Libraries offer support and help, education, and foster a love of reading. In England more than a third of the population visit their local library seeking advice on things such as benefits, health and pensions. They are free to join and to borrow books from and have been a golden thread throughout our lives for over 160 years.
The inspiring UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) manifesto reminds us that ‘constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on satisfactory education as well as on free and unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information.’ National Libraries Day is a chance to celebrate and to support our public libraries. Better still…if not already a member of your local library, go along and join. National Libraries Day is a chance for all of us to take part and preserve our public library heritage.
