Julia Donaldson poem against library closures

Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson has penned a poem to mark National Libraries Day.

Julia Donaldson has written a poem to protest against library closures.

By Martin Chilton, Digital Culture Editor - The Telegraph

 04 Feb 2012

Donaldson is a fervent believer that libraries must be protected. She said: "It's just more interesting to put the reasons I love libraries in the form of a poem rather than write an earnest article about it. If we lose libraries, we would lose readers and we would become a less literate country. People are kidding themselves if they think adults will downloads books to their Kindles if they haven't got the reading bug as children".

Library Poem by Julia Donaldson

Everyone is welcome to walk through the door.
It really doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.
There are books in boxes and books on shelves.
They're free for you to borrow, so help yourselves.
Come and meet your heroes, old and new,
From William the Conqueror to Winnie the Pooh.
You can look into the Mirror or read The Times,
Or bring along a toddler to chant some rhymes.
The librarian's a friend who loves to lend,
So see if there's a book that she can recommend.
Read that book, and if you're bitten
You can borrow all the other ones the author's written.
Are you into battles or biography?
Are you keen on gerbils or geography?
Gardening or ghosts? Sharks or science fiction?
There's something here for everyone, whatever your addiction.
There are students revising, deep in concentration,
And school kids doing projects, finding inspiration.
Over in the corner there's a table with seating,
So come along and join in the Book Club meeting.
Yes, come to the library! Browse and borrow,
And help make sure it'll still be here tomorrow.