Celebrate Your Local Library!

By John Freeman on September 26, 2017

Discover something new during Libraries Week, a national week-long celebration of libraries from Monday 9th October to Saturday 14th October 2017.

Libraries across the country will take the opportunity during Libraries Week to demonstrate the services and activities they offer, including showcasing their digital resources, learning opportunities and family activities.

This year’s theme of discovery aims to encourage people to learn something new at their local branch – perhaps, for example, finding out just how many graphic novels many stock. Some libraries have also run comics-related events, such as Lancaster Comics Day, for example, or taken part in larger comics events in towns and cities across the country across the year.

It’s not just public libraries that are taking part, either – libraries of all kinds in schools, workplaces and universities have amazing services that will be on show during Libraries Week.

250 million visits were made to public libraries in Great Britain last year – that’s more than cinema and theatre visits, visits to the UK’s top ten tourist attractions and the number of people that went to live music gigs COMBINED
Over 1.6 million visits were made to the Library of Birmingham last year, making it the UK’s busiest library
Young people are the group most likely to use public libraries. 15-25 year olds are more likely to use libraries than over 55s across the British Isles.
Three out of every four people in the UK and Ireland say that libraries are important or essential to their community.
51% of us have a current library card and 47% have used a public library in the last twelve months. (Backed up by Carnegie UK Trust data)
There was a 330% increase in coding clubs Mar-Dec 2016

Libraries Week is supported by the UK’s library and information association, CILIP, the Arts Council, the Society of Chief Librarians, the Reading Agency, the School Library Association and the Libraries Taskforce.

• Register to take part or to keep up with the latest news

• You can call in at your local library to find out more information about Libraries Week, and events and activities that are taking place. Anyone who lives or works in the UK can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person. Membership is free and there are no age restrictions

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.