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Morpurgo: library closures 'impoverish the intellect'

01.01.70 | Benedicte Page

Former children's laureate Michael Morpurgo has spoken out in defence of libraries, calling access to literature for everyone "a right, not a privilege".

Echoing comments from the current children's laureate Julia Donaldson, who has frequently criticised library closures, the War Horse author said: "To close a library is to shut off an opportunity, perhaps the only opportunity for some, to knowledge and understanding. It is to impoverish the intellect and starve the emotions." He added: "In a civilised society, the availability of literature for everyone is a right, not a privilege."

Morpurgo was speaking in an interview to The Bookseller's sister publication We Love This Book.

Donaldson is currently on a tour of libraries, taking part in drama activities with local schoolchildren. The tour finishes at Weymouth Library on October 18th.

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