Thursday 26 July 2018

The CWA Dagger in the Library


I've written many times on this blog, and elsewhere, about my lifelong love of libraries. I vividly remember being, at the age of ten, allowed to become the smallest member of the adult section of Northwich Library, in order to feed my addiction to Agatha Christie, and then to many other crime writers. And in recent years, in recent weeks even, I've enjoyed doing a range of library events up and down the country, as well as hosting Alibis in the Archives at Gladstone's Library.

So you can imagine that I'm as pleased as Punch to find my name on the shortlist for the CWA Dagger in the Library, along with such luminaries as Nicci French, Peter May, Simon Kernick, Rebecca Tope, and Keith Miles (aka Edward Marston). This is an award where the nominees are selected by librarians throughout Britain, and I'm duly honoured.

There are some truly wonderful libraries in this country. It's been a privilege for me, over the past few years, to become quite closely associated with the British Library, and that relationship, in particular with Rob Davies and his team in the publications department, has brought me enormous pleasure. The same goes for Louisa Yates and her colleagues at Gladstone's, a very different place, an independent library run as a charity, and rich in history, atmosphere and charm.

And then there are the public libraries which mean so much to the communities of which they form part. I've enjoyed working, for instance, with local and area librarians, and also a Friends Group in Stockton Heath which aims to support the professional staff in a variety of ways.

Hard to believe, but it's almost two years since I wrote about the threat posed to Lymm Library, a short walk away from my home. Like other local people, I was deeply worried about its future, but I'm thrilled to be able to report that it's just been announced that the library is not only to be saved, the empty space in the building is to be utilised for the benefit of the community: the detail is here.

So there is a great deal of room for optimism about libraries, despite the undoubted financial pressures they face, if all of us who believe in libraries pull together. I look forward very much to trying to play a part, in the coming months and years, to trying to play a small part in helping their almost limitless potential to be realised for the benefit of communities not just in my neck of the woods, but further afield as well.

7 comments:

Jeff Baker said...

Glad to hear they saved the library, Martin! Libraries are special places to me, too! They were going to close one of our branches here in Wichita that served a largely Latino, underfunded neighborhood. It was all part of the new City budget, but there were howls of protest, including from a former mayor! The Library is in the budget now!

Martin Tolley said...

We need help with Northamptonshire libraries
http://tinyurl.com/y999o4ez

Mister Tolley said...

Libraries in Northamptonshire are in deep deep trouble
http://tinyurl.com/y87fvqhb
http://tinyurl.com/ybzjrkeq

Unknown said...

Many of us found the Libraries of our childhood our second home. The buildings were big, quiet and filled with wonder and they established a love of reading which has only grown as we have gotten older. Our personal library is now the size of a small community library and it provides comfort and happiness daily. There are over 35,000 books, 23,000 are mysteries and believe it or not, someday I hope to have read them all. In the meantime, they wait patiently...

Martin Edwards said...

Many thanks for these comments. Martin, I'm sorry to hear about Northants. If the librarians think the CWA can help, let me know and I'll involve our Libraries Champion

Martin Edwards said...

Jeff, Unknown, many thanks to you both.

Rick Robinson said...

In my county in Portland, Oregon, Multnomah County, we pay a special tax of $15 per voter per year to be used for library costs exclusively. It’s helped our fine library system keep the collections current and the facilities maintained, as well as pay the library staff.