Libraries

Charity aims to give 10 million young people across the continent the books they need by 2030

Book Aid InternationalSupplies much-needed books to developing countries, raising funds from publishers and general public; 'Reverse Book Club' is masterly idea-for just £5 ($10) month you can provide 48 books to go to where they're most needed is announcing its Generation Reader campaign, which will see the charity work with its partners across Africa 'to give a generation of African young people access to the brand-new books they need to unlock their potential', according to the charity.

A new PENSupported by eminent writers, this is the English branch of International Pen, which has centres in nearly 100 countries. It fights for freedom of expression and against political censorship. It campaigns for writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes murdered for their views. http://www.englishpen.org/ America report documents how state legislation across the country is driving an alarming spike in book bans in schools.

Book censorship in school libraries continues to rise. A Texas school district pulled 41 titles from the shelves, including the Bible, to put them under further review. Missouri passed a bill that makes any text with "visual depictions" of "graphic material" illegal to have available in schools. This has caused the removal of many graphic novels.  Read more

In a move that has alarmed library supporters, a new law in Kentucky will give politicians control over local library boards in the state. According to a report in the Lexington Herald Leader, SB 167-which came back from the dead last week with a dramatic veto override-will empower local politicians to "appoint whomever they want to library boards and block major library spending."  Read more

This year, my detective Vera Stanhope turns 21. She first appeared in 1999 in a book called The Crow Trap, which was conceived while I walked miles round the Northumberland countryside with my husband, Tim. He had suffered a major psychotic episode and been hospitalised. Though he'd been allowed home, he was still very poorly and very restless. Walking was the best remedy. It was autumn.  Read more