Angry

Actually incandescent with rage at Lincolnshire County Council's decision to close 32 of the county's libraries. The numbers look like this: just 15 libraries for the second largest county in England and 170 people losing their jobs.

The Council's argument seems compelling until you look at it closely. They say that 82% of the county's population never borrow a book and when you consider closing a few libraries against, say, closing a nursing home, well there's no contest.

But why is it one or the other? Why do our libraries have to fall on the sword? It's a matter of only months since we were reading about LCC councillors allotting themselves £17 a head for lunch during meetings. MP's payrises anyone? Tax evasion by the rich? Bank bailouts which we are still paying for? Maybe none of these apply in this case, I'm no politician, but why is one sector having to sacrifice so much while others just take?

The Council are perfectly blase that its citizens have no say in any of this. No amount of petition signatures, letters to the Echo or angry librarians with flaming pitchforks will have any effect. It is a done deal. So I, my book mad Little Ginger Boy, and any numbers of pensioners, mums with young children, aspiring geniuses of tomorrow and people who can't afford their own internet access to apply for jobs or fill in online-only government forms will just have to lump it. Nice one LCC.

I'll end my angry rant with this: "Google can bring you back 100, 000 answers, a librarian can bring you the right one." (Neil Gaiman)