Once again Author Neil Gaiman Defends Libraries and What We Do

After best selling British author, Terry Deary, rants that Libraries are "no long relevant" (read about it here) Neil Gaiman responds on Twitter.  Follow the conversation below:

 

2:15 PM - 13 Feb 13

13 FebNeil GaimanVerified account‏@neilhimself

Loving the pro-library opinions here. And yes, libraries make readers. They don't starve authors.

 

1. 13 FebMeiLin Miranda‏@MeiLinMiranda

   @neilhimself I have 6 copies ea of my 2 novels in our library system. Once a month I look up how many are checked out, and smile.
2. 13 FebPatParslow‏@PatParslow

   @neilhimself Libraries feed authors and readers, just in different ways
3. 13 Febsxip shirey‏@sxipshirey

   @neilhimself "libraries make readers. They don't starve authors." perfectly put.
4. 13 FebLiz Vallish‏@elizziebeth

   @neilhimself I basically grew up in the library and later, when I had my own money, I started buying books.
    
5. 13 FebJoi‏@Joi_the_Artist

   @neilhimself My dad was a librarian from when I was 6 til I was 21. Practically lived in the library, developed life-long reading habits.

    
6. 13 FebJoshElder‏@JoshElder

   @neilhimself Over half the copies of my children's book "Mail Order Ninja" were sold to institutions (schools and libraries).

    
7. 13 FebMike Jung‏@Mike_Jung

   @neilhimself Libraries are essential to our collective health, intellectually, culturally, and socially. They promote the general welfare.

 

I love this last comment!  Let's all support libraries for the good of our children's (and our own) health and welfare!! 

 

I can see what having access to a library means to our children, each and every day! It supports and encourages them, inspires creativity, gives them the odd kick in the pants, stimulates curiousity, answers compelling and personally significant questions, keeps them up to date, takes them to another world, shows them that they are not alone.  The list of reasons go on and on. 

 

Thank you Neil Gaiman, for looking at the bigger picture, and shame on you Terry Deary, for thinking (mostly) of only yourself!