Stop British Library Cuts

Posted in Janine's blog on ,

I love the British Library's Newspaper Archive in Colindale. I discovered it when I first started looking into the Poplar Rates Rebellion of 1921, and came away with armfuls of newspaper articles which transported me back eighty years as effectively as a Tardis might. At that time, I could hardly believe such a teasure trove existed. Now, I can barely contemplate it not existing.

But the latest round of government cuts has placed this free, public resource under threat. The government plans to cut the British Library budget by 7%, get rid of 15% of its books, charge for admission, cut staff, and close the newspaper archive.

Since the cut is 'justified' in terms of the overall 'culture' budget, I can not help but wonder whether the spiralling cost of the Olympics might have something to do with it.

There is a petition against this savagery here. If there is any other campaigning planned, count me in.

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