Alan Wylie
@wylie_alan
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A Library Worker, Campaigner, Trade Unionist & Socialist. National Workforce Rep on DCMS Libraries Taskforce. Exiled Glaswegian.
Haringey
Joined February 2012
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Start organising and campaigning now against library closures & cuts and if you need any support/advice and/or someone to speak at a rally/protest/picket line then please get in touch ✊️
#savelibraries
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My wife has been teaching online since 8:30am this morning and is now doing Parents Evening until 7:30pm, after this she’ll spend an hour or two lesson planning etc and some would like you to believe that Teachers are sitting at home twiddling their thumbs 🙄
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People who claim that no one needs libraries anymore because everyone is online should spend a day in my library where all the pc’s are fully booked and watch us help people who are digitally excluded/unconfident, it’s an ever growing divide 🤷♀️
#digitaldivide
#libraries
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Hi
@DailyMailUK
maybe run a story about the 1200 Public Libraries closed since 2010 and the fact that School Libraries aren’t statutory and have been underfunded & undermined 🤷♀️
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Public Libraries aren’t there to fill gaps caused by cuts to other services they’re there to promote the joy of books/reading, literacy, information & education.
Let libraries be libraries 🤷♀️
#libraries
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My favourite ever public library photo 😊
James Baldwin visiting CLR James Library in Hackney.
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No Faith schools.
No Free schools.
No Grammar schools.
No Private schools.
A secular truly public properly funded education system for everyone.
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Dear Authors
Your PLR payments depend not only on libraries staying open but also on them being professionally run, you won’t get a penny if they all become non-statutory and volunteer-led.
Yours
A paid/trained library worker
#plr
#savelibraries
#iamalibraryworker
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I’m really sorry if this upsets some folks but no matter how well meaning you are a bookshelf in a village hall isn’t a Library and looking after it doesn’t make you a Librarian. 🤷♀️
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I know
@jeremycorbyn
and he’s definitely not anti-semitic, do you think I as a life-long anti-racist/fascist would stand with him if he was?
It’s right-wing/centrist/MSM weaponised bullshit 😡
#IStandWithJeremyCorbyn
#JC4PM
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Calling library users ‘customers’.
Calling library assistants ‘Customer Service Assistants’.
Calling volunteer-led libraries ‘community libraries’.
‘Hubs’.
Calling wooden/telephone boxes with books ‘libraries’.
Language is important and is often deliberately used to undermine.
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Is this one of the most depressing library notices ever?
"Your library is now run by volunteers. They work limited hours and cannot deal with every enquiry. Please use the self-service machine as much as possible" ☹️
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Answers to some common misconceptions about libraries;
“Libraries haven’t modernised”
Yes they have.
“No one uses libraries anymore”
Yes they do.
“We can’t afford them”
Yes we can.
“We have Google”
Library Workers are better.
“Anyone can run a library”
No they can’t.
#libraries
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So yesterday a library user who needs to search for jobs came in to ask if they could use a pc but knew they owed lots of fines so probably blocked.
They had had health problems so I waived the fines and they where able to search for jobs, we’re here to help not hinder.
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The weather was awful yesterday & the library was full of parents/carers with children, the elderly & the homeless taking refuge from the freezing temperatures. When libraries are closed where do these people go?
Libraries are a haven for the poor, the vulnerable & the isolated.
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You don’t SAVE a Public Library by offloading it to volunteers you only save the building, a library needs paid/trained Library Workers & a statutory remit.
Anything else is a book swap/community centre at best.
#savelibraries
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Make masks mandatory in libraries.
Make masks mandatory in libraries.
Make masks mandatory in libraries.
Make masks mandatory in libraries.
Make masks mandatory in libraries.
Make masks mandatory in libraries.
Make masks mandatory in libraries.
#ProtectLibraryWorkers
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A man sent by the Job Centre to use the PC’s for job searching, a woman photocopying medical docs for a PIP/ESA assessment, an elderly man who wanted to chat because his wife had died, a homeless woman who sits in the library all day because it’s warm/dry.
#iamalibraryworker
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A FoodBank isn’t a ‘Community Pantry’.
A volunteer-led ‘library’ isn’t a ‘Community Library’.
A building full of cut services isn’t a ‘Community Hub’.
They’ve hijacked ‘Community’ and are using it to hide cuts & the damage they’ve caused.
#ToryBrokenBritain
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Do some/many library users want to browse? Yes.
Should libraries be open for browsing during a pandemic? No.
🤷♀️
#protectlibraryworkers
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Is this one of the most depressing library notices ever?
"Your library is now run by volunteers. They work limited hours and cannot deal with every enquiry. Please use the self-service machine as much as possible"
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Dear Historians/Researchers/Writers etc
I know you are frustrated that access to libraries/archives has been limited BUT the health & safety of staff/users/public comes first. So please be patient and show some solidarity ✊️
Yours
A burnt out Library Worker.
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Some folks might not like it BUT Homeless people and people with mental health issues ARE part of the community and as such have as much right to use Public Libraries as everyone else does 🤷♀️
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Please please stop saying that “Public Libraries are more than JUST books” say instead “Public Libraries are books plus ….”, stop undermining the core/heart of what we do 🤷♀️
#libraries
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Yesterday a very stressed person came into the library and asked if they could use a PC to gather job search evidence together for a Job Centre appointment, if they didn’t they would risk being sanctioned. We helped them, this is what we do.
#savelibraries
#iamalibraryworker
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Instead of “libraries are more than JUST about books” can we please start saying “Libraries are about books AND….” 🤷♀️
#libraries
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Libraries are ‘essential’ unless it’s the staff, the buildings or the funding 🤔
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“I never use libraries because I can afford books and have a computer so I don’t care if they’re cut or closed” is an incredibly privileged, selfish & stupid take IMHO 🤷♀️
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Everyone talks about ‘Librarians’ but what about Library Assistants, Saturday Assistants, cleaning/facilities/van staff, purchasing/cataloguing/IT staff, finance/admin staff and everyone else who works in a public library.
We are all library workers ✊️
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I’m stepping back from campaigning due to my recent health scare, I’ve been doing it solidly for 10yrs and it’s taken its toll.
Good luck to everyone fighting for libraries 😊✊️
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Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
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Library Workers are being blackmailed by being told that if they don’t keep libraries open during a pandemic then it would be the death knell for the service as if a decade of austerity & localism hasn’t been 🙄
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If you want your local ‘library’ run by someone’s aunty and her mates, open every other Tuesday for 3hrs and stocked with books the local charity shop turned down then fine BUT I’ll keep on fighting for a properly funded & staffed statutory library service.
#savelibraries
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Library Workers, including me, are always picking up colds/infections from users (who cough, sneeze & breathe all over us) & each other, libraries are a breeding ground for germs & viruses.
They definitely shouldn’t be open during a pandemic 🤷♀️🙄
#ProtectLibraryWorkers
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Solidarity to all the Library Workers in the US stressed out by the new mask mandates, take care and stay safe ✊️
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Poor people who can’t afford to turn their heating on sitting in Public Libraries that can’t afford to turn their heating on run by Library Workers that can’t afford to turn their heating on is the new levelling up vibe 😬
#libraries
#energycrisis
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Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
Public Libraries are a statutory service.
#SaveLibraries
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WHEN I become Libraries Minister the first thing I’ll do is ban the word ‘hub’, I’ll also make it illegal to call Library Assistants ‘Customer Service Assistants’ ✊️😉
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@HomeRuleNow
@DavidLammy
He’s as English as you mate as is my wife who was born and raised in Paddington but who’s family are also from Guyana
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Let me say it once again loud and clear
You don't SAVE public libraries by handing them over to volunteers you only save the buildings.
Public libraries MUST have paid/trained library workers. Anything or anyone else is a sham, a lie and a smokescreen for cuts/closures.
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@stevedechan
In 2017-18
36% of adults visited a public library, 233.1 million visits.
183 million books issued.
59% of 5-10-year-olds and 72% 11-15-year-olds visited the library in the last year.
18% of adults engaged in the library sector digitally.
Not relevant, really!!! 🤔
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Offloading Public Libraries to volunteers is not a good news story, it’s a highly regressive and damaging political/ideological agenda.
Public Libraries are a statutory service and need proper oversight, funding & staffing. Communities should not be blackmailed into doing this.
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I’m often asked
“would you rather see public libraries close than run by volunteers?”
My answer is always
“A public library without paid/trained library staff and/or a statutory remit is a closed public library”
And this is the message we need to drive home to Politicians/Cllrs.
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My latest TED Talk is entitled
“You can stick your resilience training and wellbeing apps where the sun don’t shine just give us more funding, resources & staff”
I thank you 😊
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Don't let them fool you folks
A Public Library without paid/trained library staff isn't a Public Library. It's a building, a book swap, an Internet cafe, a community centre, a staffless foyer/hub but NOT a Public Library.
#savelibraries
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I'm NOT opposed to volunteers assisting library staff as long as it's within clear boundaries/guidelines, timeframes etc
What I am opposed to is volunteers replacing/substituting library workers and running libraries.
🤷♀️
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If you are campaigning to ‘save libraries’ then you must also be campaigning to ‘save Library Workers’.
You don’t ‘save libraries’ by turning them into volunteer-led book exchanges/Internet cafes, that’s not saving libraries that’s saving buildings 🤷♀️
#savelibraries
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I spent 22yrs working and training in Reference Libraries until my post (and team) was deleted a few years ago and it breaks my heart to see them cut, closed and hollowed-out.
This is a crucial service and should be supported and funded especially in these dark times ☹️
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People wrongly think I'm anti-volunteer but I've volunteered making soup for the homeless & on the management board of a community centre, so I'm not against volunteering but I am against an ideological/political agenda to offload public services & substitute paid/trained staff.
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Dear
@nadhimzahawi
as ‘Children’s Minister’ do you think that 850 libraries closing and 12,500 library workers losing their jobs has had a detrimental effect on childhood literacy, education, wellbeing, safeguarding etc?
#savelibraries
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Dear Authors
Your PLR payments depend not only on libraries staying open but also on them being professionally run, you won’t get a penny if they all become non-statutory and volunteer-led.
Yours
A paid/trained library worker
#plr
#savelibraries
#iamalibraryworker
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Running a public library isn't just about keeping the doors open it's about adhering to a legislative/ethical/professional framework. That's why it's a statutory service and that's why the staff are, or should be, trained/qualified.
It's not a hobby it's a vocation.
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Might be worth repeating this again.
Things that ARE NOT public libraries;
Telephone Boxes.
Wooden Boxes.
Shelves of books in pubs.
'Libraries' without staff.
‘Libraries’ without a statutory remit.
#notalibrary
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My mum just asked me why my dad won’t talk to her and I’ve just had to tell her that he died 17yrs ago, stroke/dementia really is tough 😞
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Found these old photos of me and my partner when we first met at North East London Poly in 1985/86, we were 19 then and we’re still together 😍
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The only advice I would give to an aspiring young library worker/campaigner ✊️
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Advice for anyone planning to or currently running a volunteer-led ‘library’;
Don’t take Library Workers jobs.
Don’t claim you’re doing a better job than paid/trained staff.
Don’t call it a library.
Don’t give up fighting for public management/funding/staffing.
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If you’re erecting a wooden book box outside your house or anywhere within your community PLEASE PLEASE don’t call it a ‘library’, real public libraries are being cut and closed and the language we use is crucial.
#littlefreelibraries
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This a public service announcement
to all Councils;
CLOSE YOUR LIBRARIES NOW!
Library Workers are not martyrs.
#coronavirus
#libraries
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I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again the Saturday Library Assistants I work with are a great bunch and do a wonderful job, let’s celebrate and support ALL library workers not just Librarians 😊✊️
#iamalibraryworker
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A big shout out on
#WorldBookDay
to all library staff who are doing great work in times of severe & savage austerity cuts.
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“Do we need Public Libraries in the digital age?”
Spend a day with a Library Worker helping people with little or no digital skills/access apply for jobs, fill in government forms etc.
We are more crucial in the digital age.
#libraries
#digitaldivide
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Two young guys on the bus talking about how much they love libraries because they can sit and study all day and not be expected to spend any money 😊
#libraries
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Libraries didn’t support their communities during the pandemic it was Library Workers, a subtle yet crucial distinction 🤷♀️
#iamalibraryworker
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Got a meeting tomorrow at Parliament where I’ll be raising the desperate situation facing the public libraries sector & workforce and the need for stronger policy/legislation and more funding.
Wish me luck.
#savelibraries
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Since moving branches I’ve started to love my job again, the staff are great, my new boss is great, the users are great and the neighbourhood is brilliant.
Apart from being a Reference Librarian which I loved this is the kind of library work I should have been doing years ago 😊
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Just had a really good chat with
@jeremycorbyn
about the importance and value of public libraries. And received an honour from
@IslingtonU77
for my library campaigning 😊✊️
#savelibraries
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“Those who think that every expert can be replaced by a cheerful volunteer who can step in and do a complex task for nothing but a cup of tea are those who fundamentally want to see every single public service sold off, closed down, abolished”
Philip Pullman
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Over-diversification in Public Libraries is a major problem, we take on anything & everything in a desperate attempt to justify our own existence/worth BUT it’s damaging & exhausting especially to the frontline staff who are constantly forced to do more with less 🤷♀️
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I’m sorry if i haven’t adopted the right positive attitude re libraries reopening but my main and overriding concern is health & safety, that’s why I use
#ProtectLibraryWorkers
and why I don’t think that libraries should be reopening in the current circumstances 🤷♀️
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If you’re thinking of becoming a volunteer then always ask the question “am I replacing a paid worker” and if the answer is “yes” then say “no thanks”. 🤷♀️
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The ‘open+’ (staffless library) model in Barnet has reduced library use from 187,000 active users in 2017 to under 20,000 now.
A truly innovative success I’m sure you’ll all agree!!! 😡😤
#stafflesslibraries
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We need to be wary of creating a two-tier library workforce after reopening where senior staff are allowed to work from home whilst lower grade/paid staff are pushed onto the riskier frontline
#uklibchat
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As
#librariesweek
starts let's not forget all the library workers struggling to keep the doors open & the service afloat in times of severe cuts, short-staffing & hollowing out. We need funding, policy, action, strategy & leadership.
#savelibraries
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Offloading libraries to volunteers or charities isn’t a good news story or in anyway “positive”, it’s a tragic failure of funding, policy & leadership.
Libraries are a STATUTORY service.
#savelibraries
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Dear Privileged People
Just because you don’t need or use Public Libraries doesn’t mean others don’t or won’t.
Yours
An actual paid & trained Library Worker.
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When I heard earlier on that my service was closing ALL of its libraries from today I sighed a huge sigh of relief for all my colleagues who’ve been under a huge amount of unnecessary stress that last few days, let’s hope all councils make the same decision very soon 😊✊️
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If you’re a Library Worker and NOT swearing at the shit that’s going down then you haven’t been paying attention 🤷♀️
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@alirachelpearl
@kelsonanderson
Can you also add “don’t put one of those Little Free Libraries outside your house we have a local Public Library service that needs supporting”
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I’ll say it once again to any Cllr or MP willing to listen there’s no point promising to keep libraries open while at the same time cutting funding, staffing & stock/resources.
We don’t want hollowed-out ‘zombie’ libraries we need properly funded & staffed ones 🤷♀️
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When
@UKLabour
appoint a new Libraries Minister I’ll do again what I’ve been doing for the last 14yrs, I’ll ask for a meeting then offer to work with them to adopt a national policy supporting Public Libraries & Library Workers.
I’ll never give up.
✊️
#libraries
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When I’m Libraries Minister I will ban:
Calling Libraries ‘Hubs’
Calling Library Assistants ‘Customer Service Assistants’
Claiming that self-serve frees up staff time to do other things.
Cllrs or anyone else saying that libraries need to evolve to remain relevant.
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During the 30yrs I’ve worked in Public Libraries one of the things that users have consistently asked for are quiet areas so why has modern library design & management ignored them?
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Recently I was told that I’m an embarrassment to Library Workers & after 11+ years of fighting tooth and nail for the service & profession this is pretty hard to take.
I usually don’t give a shit but this has knocked me for six 😞
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WHEN I become Libraries Minister I will ban the following terms/phrases
‘Community Hub’
‘Customer Service Assistants/Officers’
‘21st Century Libraries’
‘Adopt a positive narrative’
I will also place an exclusion order on management consultants & social entrepreneurs.
✊️✊️
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“closing libraries. I find it a shocking, mean-spirited thing. What do libraries cost? Nothing. A few Barclay's bankers could support the whole library system. It's criminal. We could stop it but we need joint action.”
Ken Loach
#savelibraries
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People wrongly think I'm anti-volunteer but I've volunteered making soup for the homeless & on the management board of a community centre, so I'm not against volunteering but I am against an ideological/political agenda to offload public services & substitute paid/trained staff.
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Please make sure that when you volunteer that you're not replacing/substituting a paid member of staff, nowadays there's often a very fine line between volunteering and complicity in the governments agenda.
#InternationalVolunteerDay
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Libraries NOT ‘Community Living Rooms’.
Library Workers NOT ‘Customer Service Assistants’.
Library Users/Borrowers/Patrons NOT Customers.
#letlibrariesbelibraries
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Folks when writing or talking about Libraries remember that the majority of Library Workers aren’t Librarians 🤷♀️
#iamalibraryworker
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One of the first things I’ll do WHEN I become Libraries Minister is to demand that all public libraries bring back specialisms such as Reference Librarians, Children’s Librarians, Cataloguers etc, enough of this generic bullshit.
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I’m staying of Twitter for a while the personal abuse has been too much especially after those incredibly biased BBC & Metro pieces.
Thanks to everyone who has offered solidarity & support ✊️
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Dear Library Users
I know you’re frustrated re ‘Grab and Go’ etc BUT
Library Workers have had a shit 12 months + many have been redeployed into covid related roles SO be patient & channel your frustration & anger into fighting cuts & supporting us 🤷♀️
#protectlibraryworkers
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Number 2 in my series of the most depressing library notices ever.
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Dear Library Users
If you really support public libraries and the staff who work in them then please don’t all rush to use them when they reopen and please don’t abuse or threaten staff when they ask you to follow guidelines.
Many Thanks
A Library Worker
#ProtectLibraryWorkers
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I'm going to write a piece about telephone/wooden box 'libraries' entitled 'You wouldn't put an aspirin in a tin and call it a hospital'.
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@MichaelRosenYes
“We’re going on an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Cardiomyocytes hunt”
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