This hot off the press from the CWA

CWA campaigns for threatened libraries

The CWA has launched a campaign to help promote libraries at a time when the service is under threat from public sector cutbacks. We know that every single one of our members feels that libraries are fundamental to reading in the UK. Many of us first discovered the joys of reading through our public libraries, and it is our view that millions of people could be deprived of this going forward, as result of the cuts.

Local authorities, faced with a 29% budget cut over four years, often do not see libraries as a high priority. Even though they may not close, libraries may find their staff reduced and their book funds cut. We believe that with over 300 million visits to UK libraries in 2009-10 alone, it is crucial that authors help them to survive and thrive. Crime is the most borrowed genre from UK libraries. Therefore we are asking all our members to approach their local libraries and to stage at least three events there each year.

CWA Chair, the best-selling crime novelist Peter James, said: “We feel it is not enough to say that we oppose cuts to libraries. We want to do more, to offer practical help to libraries in their hour of need, hence our programme of initiatives to raise their profile. We feel passionate about libraries and want to do everything that we can to help in these difficult times. Libraries have been very good to the crime writers of the UK and we wish to acknowledge that through our campaign.”

The association already runs the annual Young Crime Writers Competition exclusively through libraries, acknowledging the role that they play in encouraging young people to read. The national shortlist has just been announced, and the winner will be revealed during National Crime Writing Week.

CWA members also hold a large number of meet-the-author sessions. In addition, the CWA organises National Crime Writing Week, which will this year run between June 13 and 19, and again involves events and readings in libraries.

If you want a writer to come to your local library, emailwriters@thecwa.co.ukand we will put you in touch.

This entry was posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:47 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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