It’s a national disgrace and a community catastrophe We are mourning the loss of #GraceHillLibrary closed for nearly two years… but still fighting to see it restored to life. Then we will celebrate. Tony Vaughan KC MP Kent Libraries KentOnline #LibrariesWeek

Children face 'lifetime cost' of council crisis Local Government & public services are broken Bland platitudes won’t sort this. A #budget which invests in our future would be a starting point. #community #schools #libraries #youthservices #socialcare bbc.com/news/articles/…

Gosh: yes.

Fantastic afternoon in Parliament with dozens of politicians and hundreds of library service leaders & allies #LibrariesChangeLives

Wonderful afternoon yesterday in #HouseofCommons talking about why libraries matter and how they change lives as President of organisers ⁦CILIP. Some excellent speeches and conversations

Public Libraries are a statutory service. Councils provide/fund them. Library Workers are paid & trained to run them. The 1964 Act makes no provision for alternatives such as volunteer-led etc. Anyone who tells you otherwise is deluded, ignorant or lying. #savelibraries

facebook.com/share/p/mCs853… We need properly funded public services: libraries are not a luxury. Sky News #Budget2024 #Folkestone

“The time has come to tell the truth” Kemi Badenoch. Gosh, really? Better late than never. #Conservatives #Politicians

Literacy, democracy. Good if they help to build a thoughtful & considered world together.

Hi Ealing Labour Lisa Nandy MP Chris Bryant Offloading a statutory service to volunteers isn’t the answer we need support, funding, staffing and a future. When are you going to act? #savelibraries

Crisis in credibility for government committed to creating opportunity?

'London-style' buses promised nationwide with £1bn boost Does this announcement of new investment & greater powers for local authorities offer some hope for service improvements in areas like #Folkestone ? bbc.com/news/articles/…

It’s the red tape that families & vulnerable people face in getting help & support which really needs cutting. Kent County Council Are you going to follow suit? Tony Vaughan KC MP Folkestone and Hythe Labour Shepway Green Party Folkestone & Hythe Lib Dems A campaign for Christmas?

Jenny Colgan says “I was a library kid, Val McDermid was a library kid, Ian Rankin, we’re all library kids. Unless you only want posh people writing books {you need libraries}.’” dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1… Chris Bryant Lisa Nandy MP

One potential barrier is a local authority that closes the main town library in #Folkestone without a plan. Folkestone and Hythe Labour Folkestone & Hythe Lib Dems KCC Chairman Shepway Green Party #libraries #community

Good news for public library colleagues (local govt funding increases, new recovery grant, reform inc. fairer funding for essential services like libraries, and multi-year settlements) but how many more libraries will close before they take effect? gov.uk/government/new…

Today is a very sad day for Folkestone & MUSIC. The Chambers ceases to trade after 26 years. This week has been packed: we're now realising what we're going to miss: one of the best grass-roots music venues in the UK. Chris & Liz are legends & we'll forever be in their debt.

Councils to be merged in major local government shake-up This will be interesting. #Folkestone could well be in the mix for rethinking the democratic model. bbc.com/news/articles/…

There is almost always a way. It’s all about listening and looking for solutions and opportunities. #GraceHill #Folkestone

A picture of our times: this is the reality of a grossly distorted economy and economic outlook in which the next generation have little vested interest- and may well reflect the lack of investment in them. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…