In the UK libraries are required by law in prisons. That's wonderful. But to my surprise, I discovered that they are not required by law in schools. These past few weeks, authors, illustrators and librarians have been lobbying parliament to do something about it. The result is Early Day Motion 647 calling on Parliament to DO SOMETHING. The motion could do with beefing up. I note that it undertakes to 'encourage school libraries' not make them statutory. But it's a start. Reading is good for our children - It's not rocket science. Let us help our MPs FOCUS. Here's what you can do: 1. BLOG about it, linking to or embedding this slideshare in your blog. Make sure you sue the words "School Libraries" and your MP's name in the title so that Search Engines will flag it up. 2. TWEET this slideshare, tagging your MP's twitter account. 3. If your MP has already signed, blog and tweet anyway, mentioning his or her name. Make sure their Google Alerts flag up this issue. 4. DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR MP IS? Enter your postcode and find out here http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ I thank you, the librarians of the world thank you, and the children who will benefit will thank you. MY MP JEREMY CORBYN FOR ISLINGTON HAS SIGNED EARLY DAY MOTION 647 FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES, HAS YOURS? Here's the link - http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/647 btw I'm a children's author (www.candygourlay.com) who became an author because a librarian invited me into the school library.

3. Well, duh!

4. READING
IS A VERY VERY VERY
GOOD THING

5. That’s why we
have libraries for
people like him
in the UK.
It’s the LAW.
GREAT!

6. But for
school
children
like her …

7. LIBRARIES
ARE
OPTIONAL

8. The LAW does not
require LIBRARIES
in schools.

9. Well,
DOUBLE duh!

11. NOW MORE
THAN EVER
Children need to read.

12. BECAUSE DISTRACTIONS
ARE EVERYWHERE.

16. But There’s so
much to do.
What’s the
point of
reading?

17. WHY READ?

18. Because in the pages of a book
you can be ANYBODY.

19. Because the
words that build
the story will
become YOURS, to
build your LIFE.

20. READ not for
happy endings
but for new
beginnings.
You’re just
beginning
yourself, and you
could use
a MAP.

21. Because one of these days you’re going
to get out of this town, and go
everywhere and meet everybody and
you want to be READY.

22. READ, and you’re
never going to run
out of material.

23. EVERY journey
begins in the
LIBRARY and
you’d better
start packing.

26. SUPPORT
EARLY
DAY
MOTION
647
Reading in Schools
• That one of the Government's priorities is
for all children to read daily for pleasure
• That every school should have a well-
stocked library
• That research shows that children who
have access to a school library and who
read for pleasure reach higher levels of
attainment in all subjects
• That the best way to encourage children to
read for pleasure is by free voluntary
reading
• Calls on the Government to continue to take
all necessary steps to encourage school
libraries.

27. WRITE YOUR MP
TODAY.
ASK HIM or HER
TO SIGN EARLY DAY
MOTION 647

28. Slideshare created by
CANDY GOURLAY
WHY READ text based
on the writing of
RICHARD PECK

29. With BIG thanks to
Barbara Band
Juliet
The Mass Lobby of Annika, Esther and Otto
Parliament for Anne CN
School Libraries in Eje Gustaffson
Scotland and
Toshimasa Ishibashi
England
Leonid Mamchenkov
Cindy Bajema
Pratham Books
The Sambat Trust
Chris P