British Library petition

Subject: British Library petition
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:39 AM

quoting Sara Dorman, only I changed "Africanist" to "Folklorists", as the library would also be a source for students of folklore, and many many other subjects:

There have been recent media reports (links below) of threats to the British Library, which many Africanists rely upon as a resource. UK citizens and residents (only!) may wish to sign the petition concerning threats to the British Library and/or email the Chief Executive (presumably all concerned academics, not just UK residents, may wish to do this):

The British Library is facing possible cuts if predictions about the
government's 2007 spending review prove correct. Library officials estimate that in the worst case scenario readers might be charged for use of the reading rooms, opening hours would be restricted and galleries might close. The Library might also be forced to restrict the collecting policy that has made it a huge resource of world-wide importance to the academic world.

Please add your name to the online petition:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/library/
This is a petition run on the no. 10 website, hence only UK citizens and residents may sign.

Please also e-mail [e-mail] (without the word remove, a spam block!)with a message stressing how important the British Library is to your work with your name, contact number and message,or write to Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB.

Guardian articles at
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2000822,00.html and
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2002405,00.html

Subject: RE: British Library petition
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 09:18 AM

So? It's politics. Gotta put them pounds, dollars, yen, yuans, wons, kroner, marks, francs and things into more important stuff like bullets and gifts for your political friends. Can't have our taxes going to things like schools and libraries; somebody might learn to think for themselves. Besides, we might have to raise taxes a little bit instead of giving the poor rich folks a break.

(This should be below the line, I think.)

Subject: RE: British Library petition
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 10:38 AM

I see this has been moved to BS, but I thought it should be a matter of concern to folklorists

for instance several years ago I was in the BL looking up old books about women pirates and sailors -- inspired to do so by songs such as the Handsome Cabin Boy

Subject: RE: British Library petition
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 10:04 AM

Maybe they will adopt the policy used by many Aussie libraries - when the place gets too full, they sell off at a garage sale all the old books that nobody has taken out in the last 12 months

(hey, you aren't ALLOWED to take out Reference Books!)