Libraries change lives. They are magical portals to worlds of wonder, replete with possibility, especially for poor, working class, black and ethnic minority people, they offer a hope of rising above the limiting circumstances of our birth. For the shy, isolated and excluded child, they offer companionship and a chance to rehearse bravery, for poor, working class, black and ethnic minority people the chance to meet their full potential. Libraries are more than a material resource; they are the commitment of our community to its future. They express a faith in the power of shared imagination. Lambeth Council, one of the poorest boroughs in the country, is stopping funding to half of the borough’s libraries. Two will be immediately sold off to cash in on the rising property prices locally. Others they hope will be taken over by fantasy big society community groups, or replaced by bookshelves in pubs. Threatening half the borough’s libraries with closure is a short-sighted and irresponsible plan, public libraries are an essential part of a functioning literate nation. This is an act of vandalism against the community, signalling the death of hope that anything can ever get better.
UPDATE 1 March 2015: @SaveLambthLibs have been gathering support from authors on Twitter. The following authors have retweeted the following “please show your support for #SaveLambethLibraries by RT or commenting on our author statement”
(See below for list of authors and writers who support this statement)
UPDATE. February 2016
Less than TEN weeks to save the TEN!
The plans put forward by Lambeth Council seek to close half our libraries.
David Almond
Philip Ardagh
Tim Atkinson
Margaret Bateson-Hill
Jag Bhalla
Elizabeth Buchanan
Cathy Cassidy
Mark Chadbourn
Marika Cobbold
Jane Costello
Jackie Collins
Cressida Cowell
Bobbie Darbyshire
John Dougherty
Stella Duffy
Katie Fforde
Dawn Finch
Catherine Gault
Alan Gibbons
Andrea Giles
Daisy Goodwin
David Ziggy Greene
Jeremy Hardy
Joanne Harris
Kate Harrison
Ian Hocking
Milly Johnson
Caroline Jowett
Bernadine Kennedy
Lia Keyes
Tim Lebbon
Toby Litt
Val McDermid
Anthony McGowan
Sarah McIntyre
Paul Mason
Fiona Pitt-Kethley
Bali Rai
Ian Rankin
Jay Rayner
Zelda Rhiando
Michael Rosen
Meg Rosoff
William Ryan
Marcus Sedgwick
Caroline Smailes
Irvine Welsh
Alex Wheatle
Jamie Zubairi
We are incredibly grateful to all of them for the support they have offered.
Save Lambeth Libraries 
February 26, 2015 at 10:42 pm
Please comment to show your support or simply share on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #SaveLambethLibraries. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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February 27, 2015 at 7:47 am
A civilised community needs ALL of its libraries – ALL of the time.
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February 27, 2015 at 9:22 am
Libraries offer the whole universe for free and ask nothing in return, except that you keep them open.
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March 2, 2015 at 6:48 am
IMO libraries should all be getting bigger and better. It’s the early trips to the library with mum that encourage children to love books and reading in the first place. Books nurture the imagination in the best possible way and in this the 21st century there should be more availability, not less. Think again Lambeth. And all the other libraries throughout UK who are heading down the same track.
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March 3, 2015 at 7:25 pm
As a young 16 year old, confused about life and who and what i was , unable to talk to anyone about my confusion I found my local libraries a welcome addition to my life. For the 1st time I found stuff I could read that gave me an insight to a lot of what was in my head. The libraries opened up knowledge and an understanding of me being gay. So many happy years on being a gay man, I want that same opportunity for any other young person who is looking for an understanding of who they are. Our libraries offer that access to books and info that is essential to them finding the pieces to the puzzle that is their early life..
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March 4, 2015 at 11:16 am
Libraries have changed with the times, and they can continue to do so. They can continue to be sanctuaries; they can continue to create communities, serve communities and bring communities together. But not if they’re closed. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. Please, Lambeth Council, please, please think again.
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March 4, 2015 at 11:51 pm
There are very few public, free, shared spaces left these days – and libraries can offer so much to students, readers, listeners and just about anyone. It isn’t even just about books and reading – libraries can give a sense of community and in London, that’s a vital thing.
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Pingback: Happy World Book day! Is Your Favourite Author Supporting the Save Lambeth Libraries Campaign?
March 6, 2015 at 10:03 am
Reblogged this on Random Pen and commented:
JK Rowling celebrated world Book Day by writing a new book. Lucky her1 I spent it trying to get writers more famous than me to sign this author statement.
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