The Campaign for the Book
The Campaign for the Book is a combination of individuals and organisations united around the following Charter.
We, the signatories of this Charter commit ourselves to campaigning for the following:
1. The central place of reading for pleasure in society.
2. A proper balance of book provision and Information Technology in public and school libraries. We welcome the integration of new technologies but believe that they must not erode the key place of books and the need for a healthy and expanding book stock.
3. The defence of public libraries and librarians from attempts to cut spending in a ‘soft’ area.
4. An extension of the role of the school librarian and a recognition of the school library as a key engine of learning. All staff employed in school libraries to have access to appropriate and adequate support and training.
5. The recruitment of more school librarians. It is a national scandal that less than a third of secondary schools has a trained librarian.
6. The defence of the professional status of the public and school librarian. We oppose downgrading. In some places this has reduced librarians’ salaries by up to half.
7. A higher profile for reading for pleasure in schools, including shadowing book awards, inviting authors and illustrators to visit, developing school creative writing magazines.
8. To support the sustainability and future development of Schools Library Service provision nationally.
9. To promote a more positive reading culture in school, in which the reading of whole books is preferred to studying extracts alone
It is supported by the following:
Michael Rosen
Julia Donaldson
Philip Pullman
Anne Fine OBE, FRLS
Sue Palmer
Jacqueline Wilson
Malorie Blackman
Society of Authors
National Union of Teachers
Orion publishers
Cilip
ASCEL
Barrington Stoke publishers
Hachette Children’s Books
Sarah Marshall, Lollypop Publishing
National Literacy Association
Beverley Naidoo
National Association for Primary Education
David Almond
Geraldine McCaughrean
Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance
Toby Litt
Robert Muchamore
Tony Mitton
Doncaster Save Our Libraries Group
Jeremy Strong
Gillian Cross
Caroline Pitcher
Mike Lindley, bookseller
Joy Court, chair elect YLG
Tricia Adams Chair YLG 2008
Helen Melone, Chair SLG Scotland
Dr Rona Tutt OBE, past president National Association of Head teachers and chair of the National Literacy Association
Andrew O’Brien, Managing Director, Micro Librarian Systems Ltd
Fiona MacDonald Head of Library and Education Sales, Walker Books
Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Tom Woodcock, President Cambridgeshire National Union of Teachers and Secretary Cambridge TUC (in a personal capacity)
Cathy Cassidy
Tim Bowler
Debi Gliori
Berlie Doherty
Dave Cryer
Steve Skidmore
Mike Cole
Bali Rai
Francesca Simon
Adele Geras
Jacky Atkinson
Steve Barlow
Kath Langrish
Linda Newbery
Catherine MacPhail
Eleanor Updale
Celia Rees
Alan Gibbons
Steve Bowkett
Liz Laird
Michael Foreman
Ann Turnbull
June Crebbin
Echo Freer
Helen Craig
Jack Foreman
Mary Hoffman
Catherine Johnson
Bob and Brenda Swindells
Val Bierman
Dr Krishna Basu
Dr Ganesh Balasubramanian
(directors: The Literacy Consultants)
Bernard Ashley
Fiona Dunbar
Laurence Anholt
Jamila Gavin
Alex Shearer
Anthony Browne
Penny Dolan
Naomi Kingston
Peter J Murray
Julia Jarman
Ros Asquith
Graham Marks
Jane Ray
Gwen Grant
Tony Bradman
Tommy Donbavand
Helena Pielichaty
Caroline Harper
Anne Morddel
Carol Wootton
Gulay Dalkilic
David Hague
Jane Bassett, Head of English, Stoke
Newington School
Sue Jennings
Bridget Collins
Catriona Nicholson
Prue Goodwin
Benjamin Scott
Mary Goudge
Anne-Marie Perks
Lisa Joy Smith
Moira Munro
Jack G Priestley
Penny Kease
Chris Honeywill
Karen Wilkinson (Bookstart coordinator)
Madhavi Bhargava
Angela Robinson
LInda Kempton
Julia Jarman
Kathleen Milne
David Conway
Sandra Saer
Geraldine O’Brien Meade
Gaynor Cooper
Liz Chapman
Heather Bignold
Gus Grenfell
Renee Deans
Sue Eves
Sophia Nasaf
Alan Corkish
Michelle Shufflebottom
Nicola Smee
Kathryn Cave
Linda Kempton
Shana Nieberg-Suschitzky
Mary Green
Bridget Strevens-Marzo
Eugenie Summerfield
Sarah Mussi
Liz Brownlee
Amanda Lees
Eleanor Burnside
Beth Smith
Jane Carlton
Jillian Connolly
Lynne Roulstone
Philip Carter
Susan Morley-Smith
Lynn Varley
Shaun Case
Angela Patchett
Meg Harper
Leonie Wynne, Head of English, Park High School, Birkenhead
Lesley Hall, Y6 teacher
Jane Haywood
Dr Sue Jennings
Dyane Basinger
Gillian McClure
Anne Rooney
Pippa Goodhart
Ann Jungman
Sally Nicholls
Bridget Collins
Alan Davidson
Anna Ganley
Steve and Sue Weatherill
Patricia Kennon
Lesley Sims
Carole Seawert
Mara Bergman
Jan Ormerod
Ann Vrombaut
David Richardson
Jenny Alexander
Sue Purkiss
Anne Marie Young
Anne Marie Peters
Stephanie Baudet
D.J Blanch
Diane Lorriman
Graham Gardner
Mike Brownlow
Melissa Parker and Tom Ridge, Save Bancroft Library Campaign
Fay Sampson
Hilary Hawkes
Jan Oke
Richard Bradbury
Bernadette Main
Cat Magner
Amanda Hall
Sue Ferraty
Di Hofmeyr
P Thomas
Martin Kromer
Ali Sparkes
Daniel Blythe
Kate Eccleston-Wirtz
Sheila Rhodes
John Moore
Janet Bingham
Meg Harper
Chris Barton
Dee Shulman
Paul Shipton
Chris Buckton
Becky Stradwick
John Dougherty
Amanda Rainger
Birgit Bottner
Penny Dale
Jamie Scallion
David Thorpe
Lynne Chapman
David Bedford
Diana Kimpton
Rosemary Hayes
Nicola Killen
Rachel Kress
Chris Stephenson
Lynne Benton
Muz Murray
Laura Watkinson
Linda F Lawlor
Kathy Henderson
Dennis Hamley
Griselda Gifford
Catherine Henderson
Maureen Irving
Dawn Woods
J A Blanch
Lookman
Rebecca Colby
Anne Brine
Alison Allen Gray
Corinne Gotch
John Shelley
Rhona Whiteford
Catherine John
Julia Green
Liz Brownlee
Susan Isaacs
Michaela Morgan
Janine Amos
John Pilkington
Oisin McGann
Colin Dowland
Emily Dirmand
Penny Kendal
Ellen Renner
Gillian Shields
Hannah Broadway
Sarah Hayes
Jackie Marchant
Gill James
Sandy Stopher
Robbie Dodds
Ruth Colenso
Sian Smith
Ebru Keyman
Stephen Scianski
Bridget Frampton, Headteacher, Sacred Heart Primary School, Southend
Valerie Dewhurst
Enid Stephenson
Karen King
Nikki Heath
Karen Hans (CILIP NC member)
Elizabeth Bentley
Fiona Crawford
Dr Eddie Halpin
Dr Steve Wright
Lynne Hackett
John Foster
Stuart Paulley
Siobhan Ward
Bev Humphreys
Hazel and William Powell
Jean Coats
Wendy Mitchell (Senior Cultural Officer, Wakefield Schools Library Service)
Jennifer McFadyen
Steve and Julie Hird
Lucinda Neall
Liz Cullen
Richard York
Patsy Moody
Lynne Coppendale
Annike Dase
Paul Fletcher
Hayley Ramsey
Carla Tate
Christine Ball
Lin Stanley
Deirdre Livingstone
Wendy Smith
Sue Taylor, WEA Sheffield
Jol Miskin, WEA Sheffield
Tracey Collins, Right to Read coordinator, Kirkby Library
Rachel Bide
Dawn Knox
Shaun Case
Dyane Basinger
Susan Morley Smith
Lynn Roulstone
Philip Carter
Maureen Pavey, Libraries Consultant
Giles Miskin
Kay Waddilove
Harry Shapiro, author
Lisa Myers
Harriet Simpson, English teacher
Pam Parish, Senior Librarian, Children and Young People, Shropshire Libraries
Steve Goddard, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate
Ruth Wilkinson, librarian, Unison steward and Lib Dem city councillor
David Smith, Education and Projects director, Mid Pennine Arts
Lynne Loy
Sarah Matheison
Tim Davies
Anne Robinson
Bridget Rogers
Chris Beckingham
Charlie Alcock
Mark Robson
Claire Broadbelt
Barbara Egglesfield
Anne Harding
Rosemary Reed
Janis Wilson
Gyl Wood
Elaine Patterson
Helen Farrar
Liz Clinch, English teacher
Susie Hodge
Carol Wootton
Danny Middleton
Philip Caveney
Hazel Riley
Peggy Aylan
Jayne Gould
Tracey Paddon
Margaret Houston
Janet Painting
Emma Ostler
Cat Wand
Susan Westwood
Matthew Imrie
Vivienne Squire
Rosemary Hill
Anne Dawson
Anne Hetherington
June Taylor
Sharon Spreling
Hannah Fraser
Carl Cross
Dorothy McKenna
Susan Deering-Punshon
Jane Sandell
Ferelith Hordon
Matthew Watson
Ian Dodds
Karen Robinson
Margaret Pemberton
Tracey-Ann Dickinson
Janetta Otter Barry
Alex Williams
Valerie Nicholson
Robin Griffiths
Sue Roe
Jackie Cairns
Niamh Brown
Gillian Gardiner
Julie Musselwhite
Chris Turner
Emma Carrick
Judy Ottaway
Madeleine Fogelman
Hazel Sharrock
Mandy Turnbull
Liz Smith
Tracy Hager
Claire Harris
Emily Jacques
Sarah Smith
Nicola Vaughan
Julie Atkinson
John Birdsail
Michael Stead
Ayesha Johnson
Liz Rose
Helen Kenward
Helen Griffiths
Lionel Clauzon
Linne Omissi
Liz Rowling
Carol Hales
Janette Tuckwell
Gary Wilson
Jean Burke
David Lamont
Jackie Howse
Patrick Howse
Susie Cornfield
Ian Edwards
Agnes Guyon
Karen Usher
John Birdsall
Niamh Brown
Gary Wilson
Jackie Howse
Patrick Howse
Julia Hale
Alyson Bryant
Jan Dawson
Angela Parkin
Judith Harridge
Amy Breakwell
Diana Barnes
Ingrid Hopson
Diana Barnes
Margaret Taylor
Linda Lucas
Jayne Crawshaw
Alex Kingsbury
Sue Taylor
Nita Patel
Mentoria
Hannah Plom
Maureen King
Karen Crompton
Kate Stevens
A Gardner Medwin
Sally Anne Flemons
Gwen Woods
Linda Jenkinson
Margaret Fennick
Judi Steen
Sheila Corbishley
Elizabeth Lawson
Dorothy Massey
Urszula Piotrouska
Damaris Wade
Sam Burt
E Phethean
D Court
N Liller
W Heath
B A Harms
C Bell
W McArdle
Maria Kirkby
Sue Brown
Karen Compton
Jane Stack
Nikki Gamble
Ms T Head
John Malam
Marie Harper
Denise Woodgate
Bev Robertson
Carol Ballard
Gail Savage
Lynn Ashworth
Caroline Howick
Heather Holder
Kathy Roberts
Anne Woodworth
Amanda Stirrup
Kate Cann
Cathy Gould
G Lato
Emma Green
Sheila Compton
Nikki Packer
Leonard Elwell
Alan Summer
Stuart Aken
Frances Green
Alison Roberts
Pam Plowman
Anne Walker
Anna Franks
Phil White
Alan Nash
Wendy Knight
Lynne Jenks
and several hundred others
Librarians need to be designated an endangered species. Some library services are hanging on by a thread, with minimum input from professionally qualified and/or experienced staff.
Some councils are boasting they are hanging on to their libraries, school library services included, but at the cost of any remaining paid staff’s health and by putting pressure on local communities to keep a skeleton service on offer.
Some councils thiink they can offer the minimum, and no one will put up a fight.
This is a time when more people will need libraries.
This is a time when we do not need fewer people paying taxes.
This is a time when we need fewer people unemployed, women and young people in particular.
This is time to stop the decline.
Hi
I totally support your campaign to prevent the book from becoming extinct.
I have developed a “Little Readers Group” for the children who attend the nursery here at Deeside College.
This is designed to encourage reader development within the younger generation before books become a thing of the past.
I am all for progress and understand that we have to move with the times with regards to technology, and I am actually studying for a diploma in ICTL at present, but I am extremley keen to preserve our use of books and the Library.
Lisa Williams/Deeside College
As a charity with a small bookshop DEP support your campaign
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The destruction of the library service must be resisted at all costs. In an age wgere information and knowledge are precious, we in Britain are denting that to large sections of our people. The barbarians are at the gates and if we do not take action vital community assets will be gone forever.
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I agree with you whole heartedly. Libraries are primarily about books and should be celebrated and supported. I’ve mentioned your campaign in my recent post. Thanks for shouting about libraries.
In a time where we all need a place to be still..a place to feel calm and at ease..to ease the soul.This is also the library.
Libraries have always played an important part in my life. I want everyone to have access to libraries in order to enrich their lives.
Hope you like this song:
Ode to Libraries
1. Stories and pictures and books on all topics
Novels and poetry, romances and classics
Large books for reference and biographies
These are a few of our favourite things.
2. CDs of music and drama to borrow
PCs to use for your homework tomorrow
Papers to browse and the best magazines
These are a few of our favourite things.
Chorus: But when the cuts come and the axe falls
And the libraries close
We’ll simply remember our favourite things
And then we shall be – so sad.
3. Story time sessions for children and babies
Writing groups, book clubs for folk of all ages
Local history and poetry readings
These are a few of our favourite things.
Chorus: But when the cuts come and the axe falls
And the libraries close
We’ll simply remember our favourite things
And then we shall be – angry!
Lyrics by Cathy Bream & Making Waves choir
Original by Rodgers & Hammerstein, from The Sound of Music
Version 2 May 2013
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Hello Mr Gibbons, Remember The kid that asked you for your autograph on a book Called “Julie and Me with Michael Owen”? Thats ME. I really liked your story on Julie and Me! Hope you make enough money to make a living in Hong Kong. Nice Website!
From
JOSH
Thanks Josh,
Glad you enjoyed it.
Alan G
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I am the owner of Pikku Publishing, and have just found your charter for Campaign for the Book. We are publishing THE MAN WHO LOVED LIBRARIES: The Story of Andrew Carnegie aimed at young readers next month: the response from library development officers and suppliers has been great. We will be publicising the book as widely as we can: even though we are very small, this is a big book in terms of its message about libraries (and philanthropy). The author, Andrew Larsen, has recorded a video about the book and the importance of libraries, addressed to a young audience. I can offer it for use in schools or at events. Best wishes, Elena
Thank you Elena.