Protect our libraries!

Libraries are treasure houses of knowledge and entertainment... 

There are some 2.5 million libraries world-wide, with the greatest number being in Asia, followed by Europe. The United Kingdom has over 4000 public libraries and 950 academic ones. The United States has 117 000, the most famous being the Library of Congress which holds about 173 million items. 

But it's small, local libraries that have the most impact on our day-to-day lives, offering books, company, talks, educational programs, children's reading groups and many other valuable services. 

They are - or should be - at the heart of every village and community. While the growth of e-books and other high-tech methods of reading have changed the way some of us consume books, they can't replace the value of being able to borrow a book for free, in most cases, and return it for the next reader to enjoy. This is particularly important in the developing world and in rural areas.

Yet library budgets are being squeezed all over the world. What can we do to save these crucial institutions? Use them! As often as we can. And encourage our lawmakers to invest in them rather than denude their resources. 

So I am particularly delighted to be taking part in a Read-a-long at a local library in South Africa...