Gruffalo Author takes Protest Over School Librarian Cuts in Argyll and Bute to Nicola Sturgeon

The former children’s laureate Julia Donaldson has added her voice to the chorus protesting against the decision by Argyll and Bute Council to remove school librarians from all secondary schools. Donaldson, author of children's books including The Gruffalo and Stick Man, has now written an open letter to Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, asking her to intervene. Julia told the First Minister that “it seems obvious that the result will be a decline in literacy”, adding: “I am worried that the situation in Argyll and Bute might set a precedent for the rest of Scotland, and I would urge you to persuade the councillors to reverse their decision. “Obviously you and not I are the policy maker, but I did have the idea that provision of a secondary school librarian could be a statutory requirement,” she added. Authors have long campaigned for libraries and trained librarians to be made statutory in primary and secondary schools. “I feel sure that as the instigator of the first minister’s reading challenge you are aware that reading broadens the mind and feeds the imagination, and that you would rather increase than decrease school pupils’ access to books and author visits and the caring and inspiring advice which a school librarian can provide,” wrote Donaldson. “With so many public libraries disappearing or being run by volunteers it is surely vital that children have access to books and to professional advice.” Please share and sign the petition.