Angry Time!

 

          Glasgow folks are getting pissed off with the council, having watched them close so many amenities due to Covid are now being informed of a list of those that will not open again. Public libraries among some of those permanent closures. The well loved and much used People's Palace Winter Gardens, now has a shadow of permanent closure hanging over this gem of a Glasgow public owned asset. As myself and others have repeated on a regular basis, that all those billions of pounds paid to keep very rich corporate business with a tidy bank balance would have to be paid back by you and I in the form of austerity. The loss of public services and amenities is just the start, there will be a whole raft of measures to pay back the financial Mafia for that load the state borrowed to keep their corporate friends happy during the pandemic. You ain't seen nothing yet, cuts to education, NHS starved of proper funding, stricter control over benefits and cuts to social services, that will be there plan for starters. Of course we can sit back and moan to each other about hard things are, or we can get organised in our communities and work places, and take our anger and discontent on to the street. Together we can forge a new normal, a fairer society based on mutual aid and sustainability, freed from the poison that is the economy of profit and ever expanding consumption, a society that sees to the needs of all our people. That choice is up to us, don't expect the billionaire parasite class and their minders the state to do that for us. Let your righteous anger flood the streets and change the world we live in.
       Saturday afternoon, 5th. June, saw some of those angry Glasgow citizens form up in George Square to voice their determination to fight to hold onto all our public assets, public services and amenities, join them, our wall of anger, determined solidarity and organisation can push back that tide of austerity that is coming our way. 

Join them here;

 https://www.friendsofppwggg.org.uk/  

https://www.livingrent.org/contact_us

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

VOICES FOR THE LIBRARIES.

   

  The following is taken from Voices for the Libraries.

        There’s an awful lot of information floating around about library campaigns and closures, and we know not everyone has the time to get to grips with it all! Here’s our quick intro to the current UK public library situation – in a 2 minute and a -10 minute version, to suit busy lifestyles.

We also have both available to download as flyers: VftL 2 min guide, VftL 10 min guide

The 2 minute guide to library campaigns:

1.   Over 10 % of UK Public Libraries are under threat.

2.   Councils have a legal obligation to provide libraries – and they aren’t allowed to charge for book loans.

3.   If you’re worried about libraries in your area, contact your councillor and MP.

4.   You could also set up a campaign or a ‘friends of’ group – Facebook or a blog is a great way to do this.

5.   Want to know more? See http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/

The 10 minute guide to library campaigns:

1.  Over 10 % of UK libraries are currently under threat – over 500 out of a total UK public library provision of just over 4500

2.  Library closures and cutbacks are determined by the local authority, but may be influenced by spending/funding restrictions imposed on them by central government.

3.  The duty of a local council to provide a ”comprehensive and efficient library service” is a legal obligation under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act. The Act also prohibits charging for book loans.

4.  Some councils are suggesting that library services can be run by volunteers. This takes no account of the professional and ethical standards to which professional librarians must adhere, including data protection.

5.  Contact your local councillor if your library service is under threat, to show your support and let them know about why libraries are important. Many councillors don’t know about what libraries do and why they’re vital services.You can also write to your MP.

6.  If you need more information about libraries in your area, a Freedom of Information request can get you real data and statistics. You can find out more about FoI and make requests here: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

7.  Many library supporters are forming local groups to protest cutbacks and closures. These often use Facebook or other social media as a central point for their campaign.See Save Doncaster Libraries and Save Somerset Libraries for examples.

8.  If you would like to start a petition, check your local council’s regulations about how many signatures are needed for the petition to be discussed in Council and other requirements for the petition to be valid. Councils are now also required by law to provide an online petition function; check the council website for details. A read-in can be an effective, peaceful protest. See here for information about how to set one up.

9.  Your local librarians may be prohibited by the council from campaigning themselves – don’t expect them to be able to start a campaign group. Also, because libraries are council property, they are not allowed to house a petition about council-related issues. You are allowed to petition outside libraries though!

10. Spread the word! The more people who know about proposed library cuts, the more chance we have of a fair, balanced review of provision. Good places to campaign are supermarkets, sports venues, community centres, and often schools are keen to help.

ann arky's home.

SAVE YOUR LIBRARIES.

        The cuts being bulldozed throughout the country by the Cameron/Clegg public school thugs will, as we all know, devastate the social fabric of our society. One of the services that will be decimated will be the libraries. Up and down the country 400 libraries are earmarked for closure. Of course who will this hit the hardest, why those who don't have fat bank books. Resistance is growing against what these cuts are doing to our communities, and tomorrow, Saturday 5th February, there is a national day of protest across the country. In Edinburgh, Scottish writers and illustrators will lead an organised protest in the city to hand in a petition to the Scottish Parliament at 11am.

      

 The petition reads;

"To: The First Minister and all Members of the Scottish parliament

        We would like to protest at the widespread cuts to the library service taking place throughout Scotland.

In addition to the promotion of knowledge, literacy, and information retrieval skills, a professionally delivered library service embeds the joy of reading in our young people, building self awareness, articulate self expression, confidence, validating their life and culture, and leads to social and emotional literacy.

       In a society experiencing a widening gap in household incomes, our libraries, in the great tradition on which they were first inaugurated and enshrined in the law of the land, provide access for all.

       The cuts to book budgets, library opening hours, mobile services, branches, and the drastic and unnecessary deletion of professional posts strike at those most in need of a library service and those least able to protest against the cuts in that service - the less affluent, the elderly, the frail, people who are challenged mentally and physically and their carers, those who look after babies and toddlers and, crucially, our children - who are our future."

ann arky's home.