It seems that libraries are having a tough time everywhere, even in England. According to an article in The Guardian, more than 600 libraries are threatened with closure.
But in England, at least, libraries have a new “no bullshit” champion. Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials trilogy, isn’t one to mince words. At a national conference of library campaigners, he called on the participants to fight against stupidity, referencing Brent council’s suggestion that closing half of its libraries would help it fulfill “exciting plans to improve libraries”. This has got to be one of the more absurd statements I’ve come across lately. Pullman obviously thought so too. He suggested that Brent council’s ludicrous suggestion “ought to be quoted in every anthology of political bullshit from here to eternity”.
Right on Mr. Pullman.
Sheryl McFarlane 
Oct 25, 2011 @ 10:53:21
Thanks. Will check out that lecture. He’s a wonderful spokesperson for intelligent and thoughtful education as well as for libraries. Does administration think that anyone is actually stupid enough to believe that library service will improve after cutting 600 libraries? But I’ve heard the same argument in Toronto. The thing is, they’ll cut libraries, including the jobs, and the savings will go to something else entirely.
Oct 25, 2011 @ 09:26:31
I’ve admired Pullman for many years, not only for his skill and imagination, but his willingness to ‘call’ stupidity. Check out his Isis Lecture (http://www.philip-pullman.com/assets_cm/files/PDF/isis_lecture.pdf )and its condemnation of how educational systems deal with creative writing.. It also contains one of the best description of the creative process I have ever come across in the section Night Fishing. He is a wonderful, and fearless promoter of literacy. Thanks for posting this Sheryl