Saving School Libraries

School libraries are down for the count. One well-publicized example in Britain has attracted celebrity attention:

Philip Pullman, the bestselling author, has warned a school that it will become a ‘byword for philistinism and ignorance’ if it goes ahead with the closure of its library.

The comprehensive in Chesterfield has become the focus of an authors’ campaign since it announced that its librarian will be surplus to requirements after Christmas, when the school is to become a ‘virtual learning environment’. Pupils will be encouraged to read at break times and at after-school clubs, but its traditional library will go.

[Thanks to Andrew Porter for the link.]