Shelved (The song of the book) by Elspeth McLean

Written about the abandoned books in Great Homer Street Library, which were left there on their own for a while when the library closed.

Up here at the top it’s a bit of a squeeze
We’re cover to cover in line
It’s been a long time since we felt a fresh breeze
Or the warmth of a hand on a spine

Our library shut in the summer
Now we’re shut up in the dark where no one can look
What use is a page with no reader?
This is no way to balance the books

There’s Taylor, and Alice, Rashida and Tom
Where will they get their stories?
Or the poets their poems? Or the singers their songs?
They’ve all been locked out by rich tories

Chorus

The mayor says they can all pop into town
Or download us onto a laptop
But the bus fares are huge and the rain’s tipping down
It wont happen, their reading will stop

Chorus

There’s all sorts of knowledge up here on our shelves
We could feed you love – or your rage
But your leaders are keeping it all to themselves
They know the power of the page

Our library shut in the summer
Now we’re shut up in the dark where no one can look
What use is a page with no reader?
This is no way to balance the books

As 11 libraries are threatened Liverpool City Council announce their 'Vision':

"To provide a vibrant and sustainable public library service for the people of Liverpool supporting reading and learning; health and wellbeing; employment and business growth and free access to information and local archives."

Liverpool Echo - Protestors pledge: We will fight to save Liverpool's libraries

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