National Libraries Day in Scotland

It was National Libraries Day on Saturday, with lots of activities going on for children and adults. Here are some examples.

I think Dundee Library looks like a great place to take kids. They have a squid!

Let me introduce our children's library squid. We're looking for a name. Any ideas #namethatsquid #NLDScot #NLD15 pic.twitter.com/wJfIJZZOMC
— Dundee Libraries (@dundeelibraries) February 7, 2015

And they were experimenting with Book Faces - this is a fabulous idea to try with the children in your school / library / home. My favourite:

#bookface #NLD15 #NationalLibrariesDay #NLDscot pic.twitter.com/Hzx1BbSnME
— Dundee Libraries (@dundeelibraries) February 7, 2015

Dunbar Library was having a great event with author Debi Gliori.

Sewing some wee creatures to help me with storytime in Dunbar Library on @NatLibrariesDay #NLD15 #AlfieBooks pic.twitter.com/meWnCeP0lj
— Debi Gliori (@DebiGliori) February 2, 2015

And Penicuik had Nick Sharratt.

On Saturday children's author and illustrator Nick Sharratt will be visiting Penicuik Library 2-3pm #NLD15 pic.twitter.com/qfXCpKVKTF
— Swoop (@swooplocal) February 2, 2015

Moray Library storytimes are popular.

Storytimes are still popular in libraries - check at your local library to discover times. #NLD15 #nldscot pic.twitter.com/I0iO40opi3
— @librariesmoray (@librariesmoray) February 4, 2015

Glasgow Libraries had a party with a clown at Langside to celebrate its 100th birthday.

Cheeko the clown entertaining children and adults at Langside Library's centenary birthday party! pic.twitter.com/5qPIKpgE4U
— Glasgow Libraries (@GlasgowLib) February 7, 2015

Strathclyde showed off its Storysacks. Student teachers borrow these to take into the classroom.

@Storysacks #NLD15 #NLDscot #UniStrathLibIT pic.twitter.com/ZK076j49kX
— Gordana Nesterovic (@SipaNest) February 7, 2015

It all looks great, doesn't it? But - despite the wonderful things going on in libraries, many of them are under threat. Here are some blog posts from children's authors and publishers reminding you why they are worth saving:

An Awfully Big Blog Adventure (by Dawn Finch) Happy National Libraries Day 2015!

Barrington Stoke National Libraries Day: Anthony McGowan and his teen narrator say it better than we ever could.

Jackie Morris Fighting talk.

Nicola Morgan Celebrating National Libraries Day.

And to take it back to a happy note before finishing, Playing by the book (Zoe Toft) describes a great book group she was running for children on Saturday, ACHUKAblog displays some lovely children's library cards designed by Jackie Morris and (not an NLD blog post but too good to miss) MinervaReads celebrates picture books on the theme of libraries.

Love libraries? Use 'em or lose 'em!