More than 80 events are being held across the UK to protest at threatened library closures. Over 450 libraries and mobile services across the country are currently under threat of closure.

Libraries provide an invaluable service making books accessible to everyone. In recent times they have also given lots of people access to computers and the internet. Whenever I visit my library, the computers are always in use by people of all ages. It’s not just about borrowing books. The librarians in my local library have known their visitors for years, they are involved with the local schools and provide activites during the school holidays.

This day of protest coincides with research just published by The National Literacy Trust. This research shows that children who use their local library are twice as likely to be above average readers.

On Monday we were invited to attend the Essex Reading Conference. Over the last few years we have attended many conferences, and it was a change to be at one focusing entirely on reading. I go along to these events with StoryPhones and I am often lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend the talks and workshops. This time I was privilaged to listen to Bill Laar speak. Bill Laar was a Chief Inspector for Schools, he is an author and is passionately committed to children’s education.

One of Bill’s comments stayed with me. He said quite simply ‘books change lives’. I was able to chat with Bill afterwards and discussed the ways that children could be encouraged to read and to want to read. We eventually arrived at technology and we discussed the fact that ultimatley, it may be technology such as MP3 players, apps on phones and ebooks that may be the key, particularly for boys.

This is not to say that the printed book should be abandoned, I would be sad to think that the joy of sharing a printed book with a child may eventually not be possible. However, technology may be the hook that brings more children and young people to reading. Surely the important point is that our children and young people become readers whether they choose the printed or technological path.