Stars gear up to battle cuts to Oxfordshire libraries (From Oxford Mail)

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Stars gear up to battle cuts to Oxfordshire libraries

10:30am Friday 4th February 2011 in Oxford By Chris Buratta

Philip Pullman

AWARD winning author Mark Haddon is the latest literary heavyweight to lend support to threatened county libraries.

Mr Haddon, most famous for his 2003 book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, will be one of a host of writers staging ‘read-in’ demonstrations across the county tomorrow.

Other authors and broadcasters speaking on the day include children’s novelists Philip Pullman and Julia Golding, and BBC Radio Four presenter Kirsty Young.

Mr Haddon joins a growing list of writers outraged by Oxfordshire County Council’s controversial plan to halt funding for 20 out of 43 libraries. He is joined by Morse creator Colin Dexter, sci-fi writer Brian Aldiss and journalist Peter Hitchens.

The closures, to be decided on February 15, would save the Conservative-controlled county council £2m over the next four years. It is part of the authority’s bid to cut £119m from its budget by 2015 due to reduced funding.

Mr Haddon, a former resident of East Oxford, said: “Libraries are the NHS for the mind; one of the very few places where we are all equal... where we can all read and learn and get involved in our community.”

The author will read at Blackbird Leys Library as part of the events organised by the Oxfordshire Anti-Cuts Alliance.

Broadcaster Kirsty Young, who lives in West Oxfordshire, will add her support to the campaign to save Bampton Library. Ms Young, who presents Desert Island Discs, said keeping the libraries open was “hugely important”. She added: “Everyone deserves the joy, enlightenment, fun and education that books bring.”

The branch will also stage a reading from Richard McBrien, whose TV credits include Spooks and Wallander.

Council Leader Keith Mitchell said: “I welcome people’s support for our libraries. I hope that we can translate that support into keeping libraries open where we may not be able to fund them ourselves.”

cburatta@oxfordmail.co.uk

Comments(8)

the wizard says...
10:44am Fri 4 Feb 11

While I welcome, commend and give thanks the various people who are prepared to give up their time and show commitment to the cause, I fear that Cllr Mitchell, who's earlier statement was in effect, the protest was futile, will win the day and the decission is already made.
Cllr Mitchell seems to have little sense of contact with the population and even less appreciation of what the electorate hold dear and what they feel is an essential part of their lives and recreation. I hope the protests bring some sense of reality and gravity to Cllr Mitchell and that some sort of concessions can be won, although at heart I feel the battle is already best part lost.