In a welcome sign that the apparent anti-public libraries lobby in official UK circles are not having things all their own way, the British charity National Libraries Day has announced that Lesley Pearse is to be the first official Ambassador for National Libraries Day, which will take place on February 8th, at the end of “a week’s worth of events and activities in public, school, college, university, and workplace libraries celebrating their work promoting learning, literacy and the enjoyment of reading to all.”

Lesley Pearse, as her own official website states, “is one of the UK’s best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 7 million copies of her books to date.” For National Libraries Day, she states that: “Libraries are vital. They are a primary source of knowledge and of entertainment. Books widen your world and teach you so much.” She also attributes much of her own love of reading to her early passion for libraries.

National Libraries Day describes itself as “a grassroots campaign with leading charities, local authorities, library campaigners and library staff involved.” Supported by 25 organizations, including the National Union of Teachers and the Society of Authors, it is led by a Steering Committee “of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the Reading Agency, the School Library Association and the Society of Chief Librarians.”

Last year’s Love Your Library Day involved events like pole dancing classes in libraries. Whether this year’s includes anything so striking remains to be seen. But it’s got to be way more sexy and romantic than Ed Vaizey or Sir Merrick Cockell.

NO COMMENTS

The TeleRead community values your civil and thoughtful comments. We use a cache, so expect a delay. Problems? E-mail newteleread@gmail.com.