Mass 'shhh-in' marks start of library campaign

Sunday, 6 February 2011 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

Protestors have adopted a genteel version of street protests tactics to save their libraries, as events took place across the country to fight cuts to services.

Library Workers for a Brighter Future organised a mass "shhh-in" in Sheffield, where campaigners all shouted "shhh" before each taking out 15 books, the upper limit of their allowance.

There were read-ins in Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire and Oxfordshire, with children, adults and workers joining to together to kick-start the campaign against cuts.

Singer songwriter Billy Bragg, presenter Kirsty Young and authors Philip Pullman and Colin Dexter were supporting the actions.

An occupation at New Cross library ended at lunchtime today. Protestors sang songs and played board games as they stayed in the library overnight.

Shadow culture minister Gloria De Piero is taking on Ed Vaizey over the issue in parliament this week, with a series of questions tabled on how the public can most easily access information.

Over 450 libraries and mobile services are under threat across the country.

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