Award-winning Scots author slams North Lanarkshire Council's plans to axe librarians from secondary schools

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An award-winning author has backed a petition - now signed by more than 37,000 people - against the decision to axe school librarians from all 23 of North Lanarkshire’s secondary schools in a budget-saving measure.Former Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIPS) president, Theresa Breslin OBE, has joined local author, Damian Barr, and CILIPS representatives to condemn the decision by North Lanarkshire Council.

Back in June, Lanarkshire Live reported on how council officials said the 17 impacted staff members were being offered redeployment or voluntary redundancy, and that the cost-cutting plans - confirmed in the final days of the academic year - were originally agreed in the authority’s 2020 budget.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android A petition set up online now has more than 37,000 signatures and top Scottish author Ms Breslin has highlighted the "detrimental effect" axing these posts will have on youngsters.

Carnegie Medal winner Ms Breslin told Lanarkshire Live : ""I am writing as a well-established author with extensive experience as a writer working in schools to encourage reading and creative writing, and as a former professional librarian - a principal officer providing youth library services. "For many of our young people, the library within their school is