The Library With No Books. Town Borrows All 16,000

[demmiblue]

Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi was a famous proponent of nonviolent civil disobedience, seeing it as "a weapon of the strong." That's not to suggest that he advocated inaction. On the contrary, he said, "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."

Which brings us to the Friends of Stony Stratford Library (UK) who organised their 'Wot No Books' campaign and harnessed the power of social networking to get the word out. Following the spread of news via Facebook and Twitter, the library's entire collection of 16,000 books has all been loaned out. At one point forcing librarians to stamp 380 books per hour.

The reason for this extraordinary action was to demonstrate the void that would be left behind if the library was closed down, as is planned by the Milton Keynes Council. Now, the council may, or may not, be justified in their plans. That isn't technically important. What the residents of this town have made transparently obvious, is that communities do have the power to rally together and support one another when their common good is threatened. And impressive actions can be undertaken with verve and creativity.

<snip>

'The library is the one place where you find five-year-olds and 90-year-olds together, and it's where young people learn to be proper citizens'. It's crazy even to consider closing it.'

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/01/library-with-no-books-town-borrows-all-16000.php

[virgogal]

1. I cannot imagine life without a public library.

[Kablooie]

8. There has been some red rumbling about privatizing libraries.

For profit libraries. Now there's a delightful business model.


http://www.dailynews.com/ci_15967278

[Capitalocracy]

2. K&R, score one for direct action

I hope they succeed

[Boojatta]

3. Could you explain the first sentence?

Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi was a famous proponent of nonviolent civil disobedience, seeing it as "a weapon of the strong."

What should the weak use as a weapon?

[WinkyDink]

5. This. The weak are MADE strong by this.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

4. I'll bet they only get 95% of them back.

And I feel bad for he librarians who have to put the books back.

[Capitalocracy]

6. Don't worry.

Once the library closes, they won't have to put books back anymore.

[Kurovski]

7. K&R. (nt)

[xchrom]

9. recommend

[ladyVet]

10. I'd hate to see any library close.

Public libraries saved my life. I don't even like to imagine how I would have turned out if I couldn't have a safe place to go, and a large variety of books to check out.

I hope the people in that community get to keep their library.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Everything about a library is virtuous. n/t