9.20am: Good morning, and happy Save Our Libraries day! With an estimated 100 events due to take place across the country I'll be collecting reports, tweets, audio, pictures and more as campaigners protest against proposed library closures. If you'd like to get involved post a comment in the thread, tweet me @culture_cuts, or email me: theresa.malone@guardian.co.uk.

Lots of authors, including Philip Pullman, Kate Mosse and Mark Haddon will be taking part in author events at libraries today. Billy Bragg will playing live at Charmouth library in Dorset from around 11am, and comedian Phil Jupitus is working as librarian for the morning at St Aubyn library in Plymouth. As my colleague Benedicte Page reports:

Campaigners are looking for creative ways to make their point. In Milborne Port in Somerset, a hooded "book snatcher" will descend on the library, stealing books from children and the elderly inside, and leaving them instead with signs that say "illiteracy", "poor life chances", and "social isolation". At Sheffield central library there will be a "mass Shhh-in", with supporters encouraged to make the traditional librarians' reproof, followed by a rousing three cheers for the library. Campaigners at Sydenham library in Lewisham will release 26 balloons, each one bearing a letter of the alphabet, as a symbol of library's role in supporting literacy. In Gloucestershire, a band of "flying authors" will spend the day racing between every one of the county's 43 libraries.

Find your nearest protest here, and tell us what the level of protest is like in your area with our interactive map.

9.24am: Cindy Jeffries, one of the Gloucestershire's "flying authors" has been in touch:

Cindy Jeffries has taken off and is heading for Lechdale library. ETA 9.30.

She will be racing against children's author John Dougherty, writer and performance poet Marcus Moore and author Katie Fforde to visit as many libraries as possible in the county today.

9.45am: Lots of activity about Save Our Libraries day on Twitter, with the #savelibraries hashtag. The hashtag was started by Shropshire ICT lecturer @MarDixon back in January, while she was doing her laundry. It was hugely successful, trending worldwide, with authors Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman joining in. Today, Mar tweets:

Dear followers: I know I'm annoying you with all my #savelibraries tweets. Best way to shut me up? Go to your library today. Thanks! Mar. Mar

MarDixon

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10.00am: After announcing the biggest cuts to council budgets in recent times, is it unthinkable that Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government could save libraries? From the Guardian's Unthinkable column today:

So how wise it would be of Eric Pickles, the communities minister, not exactly to U-turn (there are limits even to the unthinkable) but to think creatively about the challenge he faces. The chancellor, George Osborne, is known to have an emergency treasure chest. From it, Mr Pickles must extract a sum large enough to create what he might call a network of "big society" centres. These would be available in every neighbourhood. They would be warm, well-lit and large enough for the kind of activity that promotes community cohesion, with books and papers freely available and competitively priced access to the internet. The cash would be ringfenced. It is possible that he will find local libraries are just what he needs.

10.02am: Just received a call from John Dougherty, another of Gloucester's "flying authors", who has completed his first event for Save Our Libraries day. It was a well-attended singing and poetry workshop. He's off to Tuffley library now. Cindy Jeffries is onto her third library in Cirencester. "It was my childhood library, so will be quite emotional for me," she says.

10.30am: Blackbird Leys library in Oxfordshire, mentioned by Philip Pullman in his powerful speech against library closures, is one of those under threat. Guardian contributor and novelist Eloise Millar know is well. She says:

Blackbird Leys Library is really quite ugly; it's a 1970s, flat-roofed brick building lodged on a corner of a road – Cuddeston Way – on one of the largest council estates in Europe, where I spent a good deal of my childhood. Inside, there are the usual thin beige carpets, metal bookshelves, stale air... It was there, though, that I was able to access, and avidly read, books that would have otherwise remained unknown to me: Brambly Hedge, The Worst Witch, Anne of Green Gables... my weekly visits there engendered a passion for reading which took me on a path out of Blackbird Leys to Cambridge, where I read for a degree in English. It seems a horrible shame that such a great resource is being removed for a new generation of children.

Authors Mark Haddon and Jane Bingham will be appearing at the library today at 11am.

10.33am: Sheffield central library is preparing for its mass shhh-in, organised by Library Workers for a Brighter Future, at 11am. From its Facebook page, here are the rules:

11am Saturday 5th February - Central Library, Surrey Street Show your support for Sheffield Libraries, Archives and Information service, and libraries across the country, by turning up at Sheffield Central Library on Surrey Street for the National Day of Action for Libraries and take part in a mass Shhh-In. Shhh-In rules... 1. Finger to lips.

2. At 11am say Shhhhh!

3. Finish off with three cheers for the library!

4. Finally borrow lots of books – lets empty those shelves. You're allowed up to 15 out on your library card, so bring a big bag!

10.56am: Also happening soon in the threatened library in Sandown, Isle of Wight:

Sandown library 11am, Read In! Kate mosse, gay baldwin, diana kimpton & MJ Trow, plus tea and cake! #Savelibraries @culture_cuts Natalie de Gruchy

burlesquebelle

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10.57am: Plus Ros Asquith will be in Wood Green library, London, reading with Jane Ray. She has created this wonderful cartoon about the spending cuts:

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11.00am: Altogether now: Shhhhh!

11.05am: Stony Stratford library (which cleared its shelves in protest at the threatened closure back in January) is also holding an event today. From its Facebook page this morning:

We have crowds of people arriving for the event, an opening talk will be given at 11am followed by a talk by Author Carole Matthews.

11.28am: My colleague Hannah Freeman is at Botley library in Oxfordshire. She reports:

100+ people listening to Julia Golding reading. So busy can't get in. Loads of kids sitting down reading to themselves. Philip Pullman waiting in wings.

She gives the protest a score of 4 out of 5 on our Twitter map.

11.33am: Meanwhile, in Gloucestershire, Cindy Jeffries and John Dougherty are both racing to their fourth library (Brockworth for John, Tetbury for Cindy). In Sydenham, London, Charlotte Sundberg reports 30+ people have gathered for the event that is about to start at the library there.

Sandown library in the Isle of Wight (see 10.56 entry) is "bursting at the seams" according to @burlesquebelle on Twitter.

11.43am: Lovely pic on this tweet from @hannahfreeman of the wall outside Botley library:

@culture_cuts the 'fountain of knowledge' outside a very windy Botley library, asks what are you reading? http://yfrog.com/h41o1mij Hannah Freeman

Hannah_Freeman

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11.48am: Amelia Longcroft emails to say:

My mum reports that Bungay library in Suffolk is absolutely heaving this morning, with people queueing to get in the door. Local (Tory) MP Peter Aldous has turned up to ... show his support? Local group Sustainable Bungay has been active on the library issue. And there's a Save Bungay Library petition here.

From Sandy Robertson at Charmouth library:

Billy Bragg has just played three songs and made an impassioned speech about the rights of individuals and the place of the public library in preserving these freedoms.

And Emily Malleson reports from Stony Stratford:

Our read-in has been fantastic this morning, we had a song and poems which had been written about the library. We also had a talk from author Carole Matthews on the importance of libraries. Stories for children were held in groups, we have had around 200 people at the event. We had a poem from our new bard of Stony Stratford. It is clear that the people of Stony Straford are passionate about the library, we have comments from children on our facebook page. A brilliant event!

12.21pm: Thea Sherer has been in touch about York Gardens library in Battersea, which is holding a read-in protest at 12.30pm-3pm today. She says:

York Gardens Library serves the poorest ward in Wandsworth – and yet is the only library the council plans to shut. We're trying to show them today that if they thought people in this area would just roll over and take it, they misjudged. It's a really sad decision - the library is used mainly by children and older people, rather than by adults, and the council cite the lower adult usage as the reason for closure.

There's a moving video featuring library members on YouTube:

You can see a longer version of it here, and read a blog about the campaign to save the library here.

12.32pm: From Charlotte Sundberg, at Sydenham library:

• Councillor Chris Best said that they have to cut 26 % of their budget over four years. They aim to keep 7 out of 12 libraries in Lewisham open and to provide a quality service at those libraries with libraries that are open every day. She said that" councillors are in a difficult position to set a balanced budget."

• Louise Brooks has been involved with organising the Save our libraries day event at Sydenham for the past two weeks. She takes her children to the library every week. She said "it's a fantastic turnout. It shows what it means in the lives of local people. Once you realize how many other libraries are under threat, it just seems so wrong."

• Two girls from the teenage reading group are reading from Knife edge by Malorie Blackman

12.45pm: From Sarah Bradley in Leeds:

The protest is in full swing at Leeds Library. Amassed protestors have stamped out their full allowances of books, and are sitting on the library floor having a right good read. The atmosphere is good, and there's a small crew from the local news here. Passers-by are supportive. "This is the wrong time to be closing valuable public services like libraries," a sympathetic former librarian told me on her way in to change her books.

1.01pm: Hannah Freeman reports that campaigners at Oxford central were told that the library was not under threat – and would be receiving extra funds. Yay!

Update 2.16 Just to point out this is yet to be clarified.

An update from our "flying authors" in Gloucestershire. John Dougherty recorded an interview for NPR radio in the US this morning – good to see the campaign getting some more international interest, will update with a link when we have it. When I spoke to him a little while ago he had just left Hester's Way library where the BBC were supposed to be filming today, but according to John they had been denied permission to do so by the county council.

Cindy Jeffries called in from Nailsworth where there was a protest taking place outside the library, with lots of signatures being collected for a petition against the closure of the library.

1.03pm: Voices for the Library has published a response to the libraries v internet debate, kickstarted by the BBC, online and on TV this morning. Read it on Voices for the Library's Facebook page.

(H/t to @ijclark)

1.33pm: Children's author Jo Cotterill has emailed me about the event she attended at North Leigh library this morning:

I'm just back from the North Leigh library protest, which saw visitors of nearly 200, a 400% increase on its usual Saturday numbers (it's open for two hours). Many parents brought their children, some from the local school (which takes every class across the road to the library once a week so that every child can choose a book to read) and some from nearby villages. There were teens using the internet and older local residents browsing the non-fiction shelves. There were craft activities for the children and I read picture books to an appreciative group. This is a small library and our numbers may sound less impressive than others, but this library is well loved, and one of the teenagers wrote that as well as liking the internet access and the free books, "I am always happy to see Sarah the librarian." Barry Norton, David Cameron's election agent, attended in person and was happy to show his support. Local Conservative Councillor Louise Chapman, who was brought up in North Leigh and attended the primary school, also gave her support, saying she hoped that the library service would find a way to implement cuts without having to close branches.

1.42pm: More from Charlotte Sundberg in Sydenham library:



Author and Guardian columnist Lucy Mangan read from her book The Reluctant Bride. She read every Pony book in her local library when she was a child and still knows them by heart. Mangan said: "Libraries mean so much to so many people and to a sector of people that fly under politicians' radars. That's why it's important to come along, raise awareness, make our feelings known to them, the big them." "There is enough money in this country ... if it's taken from the right people and political will is there to not deprive the already deprived institutions and communities further."

1.49pm: Author Mary Hoffman has emailed with an update from this morning's activities at Bampton library in Oxfordshire. She tells me the protest must have reached level 5 (on our Twitter map) by the end:

We had celeb Kirsty Young, writers me, Linda Newbery, David Wiseman. Lots of users reading and Candida Lycett-Green, John Betjeman's daughter, dropped in to read one of her father's poems. The library was draped in bunting made by primary school children and the building was bursting with people of all ages from little children, through teenagers, mums with babies and right up to venerable. Too many to count but the two stalwart librarians were inundated with users taking out their allocation of 20 books each, including me. At the end we all held hands and made an embracing circle round the library.

1.53pm: People have been braving the elements in Edinburgh to protest today. From Twitter:

@culture_cuts #savelibraries protest outside freezing Scottish Parliament, readings from fave books. Youngest protestor 6 weeks old! Rose Hanley-Nickolls

rosehn

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And Cheryl Goddard has sent in an update from Milborne Port library in Somerset:

Almost 300 people from babes in arms to "vintage villagers" of 90 turned out to try and protect our library from the dastardly book snatcher.



With chants of "Hands off our library, there is another way!" protesters surrounded the library from one end to the other and received many supportive 'toots' from passing motorists.



Children desperately tried to defend their beloved book corner with cries of "Save the books" and "We love reading", but the only thing that can save it are 58 councillors on 16 February.

2.06pm: Tony Benn is now speaking in Liverpool.

(h/t @libraryweb)

People have been telling me on Twitter (@Culture_cuts) what they've been checking out of their libraries today:



@trivia_lad: Jackie Brown, We Are Scientists, Gil Scott-Heron, Frightened Rabbit and Outkast - all for less than a fiver

@benedictepage: John le Carre, Haruki Murakami, Nancy Mitford, David Nicholls, Susan Hill (x2), Albert Camus and Anita Shreve! Eclectic

@Sophie_Paterson: Reading Matters: 5 Centuries of Discovering Books, an excellent and pertinent read

2.21pm: A joke!

To support Save Our Libraries Day I have hotwired a mobile library and will spend the rest of the day joyreading. #savelibraries Carl Maxim

carlmaxim

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2.36pm: A final update from Charlotte at Sydenham library:

The library here was full of people from all ages today. Chair of the Save the Sydenham library campaign, Anthony Scully, is and has taken part in organising the event today. Scully says that one of the things he remembers from his childhood is going to the local library to join it and borrow a book. He says the Sydenham library is not only about the books but it also has reading groups, runs young people's film workshops and has been involved in organising a family fun day. He says it is a place where "communities come together". He says "it's free of charge, that's very important, and can be accessed locally". Local pensioner, Pat Holt, is a very regular user of the library. She uses it to borrow books and use the computers. She has also been involved with the petition for saving the library. If the library closes down she will have to travel to Forrest Hill or Catford. She says "I've got some physical problems so for me it will be particularly difficult."

2.38pm: From Thea at York Gardens library:

Here at York gardens library we have a great turnout and as well as a number of authors and local residents Sam West and Polly Toynbee have also spoken about how important this library is. Every age and part of the community represented. No word from the Tory councillors yet though, although credit to a couple for turning up.

2.50pm: I just spoke to Mar Dixon who started the #savelibraries campaign on Twitter, here's an audioboo recording of what she had to say.

(Apologies if you can't hear me very well – but what Mar has to say is more important and that should be coming across loud and clear.)

3.05pm: Flash mob in Cambridge:

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3.12pm: I've received an email from Leslie Gilbert, who was at the demo in East Finchley today:

A large crowd has gathered outside East Finchley library in north London. Especially noticeable is the high proportion of children, some circulating a petition or handing out cakes. "Close it down!" exclaimed one of the protestors. What an act of unimaginative vandalism that would be". Eighty years old and occupying a listed building (even the furnishings are listed) the library is a community focus. The delightful children's room is regularly visited by local infant and junior schools. Right now mums are showing their toddlers picture books or watching them play with toys donated by the Friends, who also helped to provide the coffee machine. There is an attractive, well-resourced teens room, and a large hall complete with stage. The internet computers, newspapers, magazines and reference materials are popular, as are the CDs and DVDs. Students come to do their assignment in quiet and comfort. And, yes, books can be borrowed. Among the demonstrators are author Ann-Marie Conway and poet Fleur Adcock. Polly Napper, organizer of the library's user group, says "For so many people to come along at short notice and despite the weather shows how much the library is valued. It must be kept."

3.38pm: Children's author Jonny Zucker and poet and novelist Cheryl Moskowitz took part in an event at Alexandra Park library today. Here's what they have to say:

Jonny Zucker

60-70 people showed up in a spirit of joy because our library will NOT be closing. However, we are expecting a massive cut in the books budget and stock will probably shrink. The local community love the library and see it as a community hub. I write all of my books here, my friend Freya North wrote loads of hers here too. The library is a magical place where a choir practises, toddlers play, older citizens meet for coffee, artists and photographers exhibit their work, parents bring their kids – plus there are music gigs, art classes and book clubs.



There are children doing craft work right now, there are people in the computer room and there are others just reading. For many this place is a haven and I am so delighted it has been saved. I'll be keeping my eye on other boroughs in the region to see if I and fellow authors can do anything to help keep them open.

Cheryl Moskowitz

The pessitimistic part of me thought Jonny and I might be speaking to one or two people who had come in to read the Saturday paper and didn't want to be disturbed, but there were balloons pinned to the railings outside when I got here and crowds of reguar library users with their families all here to celebrate its existence. I love being in libraries, the way it is always possible to be together with other people, but alone. I can't be in a library without "window shopping" the shelves constantly, seeing a title on a spine which inspires or intrigues me. The reverie that is possible in libraries is the best kind of reverie from which to write poetry. I read some of my own poems (from my children's poetry collection Can it be About Me to the crowd assembled (after Jonny did his magic tricks) and then just talked about what makes libraries so special. Before I moved to Haringey I lived in Hackney, when my kids were small. The little library at the top of our road was under threat of closure. We gathered up children and our sleeping bags and moved into the library together with everyone else from the area who could not imagine life without it. We slept there until we knew the council would keep it safe. Thankfully my local library here in Haringey does not seem to be in that kind of danger ... yet. But if it were, there are plenty of people here who would gladly take up residence.

3.46pm: Benedicte Page, our books correspondent, called in from Blackheath to tell us what's going on there:

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You can listen to Sly and Reggie's We Love Libraries song on Soundcloud.

3.59pm: The Guardian's Edinburgh beat blogger, Michael MacLeod, has sent me a summary of what happened at the protest there today, along with a video.

The Gruffalo writer Julia Donaldson was among a crowd of authors, illustrators, readers and children protesting at the Scottish Parliament this morning.

The Edinburgh protest was organised four days ago by Carnegie Award winning children's author Theresa Breslin. Around 100 people joined in, with some reading sections from their favourite books.

Breslin said:

"Literature is one of Scotland's jewels. I've sent out emails asking people to support the protest for the past six months. Only on Tuesday afternoon I sent out an email... and suddenly it went viral. I had 768 emails by Friday morning. I could only put the names of the first 100 supporters on our letter today but there are hundreds more.

"This is not a petition, it's a protest. We are advocates. It's a national day. Our friends in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are protesting and I really worry that we are wearing thin the cultural fabric of our country if we don't look after our libraries."

The biggest cheer of the morning's protest came when Duncan Wright, school librarian of the year, read his six-week old son Gregor's favourite book. He said:

"Cat, duck, polar bear, penguin, zebra, rabbit, mouse, hen, fish and cow."

The crowd cheered and clapped at each animal, while Gregor slept in a sling on his dad's chest. Somebody shouted out: "Are you going to read the whole thing? Don't spoil the ending for him."

Another Scottish children's author, Debi Gliori, told of how she discovered books as a prison library cleaner. She also paid tribute to Lerwick Library in Shetland. She said:

"Libraries are the most important things and that's not just because I'm an author and I benefit from PLR. It's because when you write, it's not about selling books. It's about wanting your books to be read and with libraries we get a readership, we get minds into which we can pour our books. That, for a writer, is the most important thing. It's all about connection."

4.09pm: From Ros Asquith:

Wood Green library on a Saturday is packed with local people at every desk, terminal and bookshelf. Loads of adult learners and loads of kids.

Jane Ray and I read and drew pictures and here's what the kids (about 30, aged between two and 10) said about libraries. 'They are full of fun activities'

'They are joyful places'

'They help me write stories'

They are like houses made of books'

'They have books about horses'

"I meet my friends there'

'There are all the books you want to read that you couldn't fit into your house'

'This one is like a book wonderland'

4.12pm: Some thoughts from reader Janet Brink, which sum up what so many people have been saying about libraries today:

Not often does the news bring tears to my eyes but today the threat of library closures did. Living temporarily in Spain the only thing I really miss about England is the library and being able to nip up to my local library to borrow a couple of novels to read is only one of the many assets of the library that I miss.



While the internet offers a wealth of information it is no substitute for a library where all the books have been edited. Library book recipes work, the advice on D.I.Y., health care, diet, computers, music, cars, gardening and anything you can think of, has all been checked by a publisher and it costs nothing to access. Furthermore, if the information you seek is not there, the librarian usually knows where to find it. Besides which curling up in bed with a good laptop is just not the same, I have tried.



Not only can you learn a foreign language, how to cook, to read music, improve health, and so many other things from library books and tapes but what greater pleasure than simply reading the fiction on offer. Libraries also allow the opportunity to preview a book before buying it and many of my cherished titles were first borrowed as library books.



Born in central Africa I have known many libraries. My school friends and I would cycle to the tiny library in Blantyre, Malawi, on a Saturday morning, meet up with others and swap authors. No TV there in those days. I have fond memories of bedtime stories read by mother or father; what better quality time between parent and child and the library means that even the poorest can afford to do this.



When my father was in his mid eighties I asked him "Dad, what do you get out of life now?" and he replied, "You may think it strange but I enjoy learning, even if I don't remember it all the next day." His frequent visits to the library which was within walking distance of where he lived, not only allowed him access to that last real pleasure in his life but gave him exercise and an opportunity to interact with others.



Cutting back libraries is a step backwards in our civilisation and is as stupid as not teaching children to touch-type in this computer age.

4.47pm: Thom Crabbe emailed me about today's event at Woburn Sands library:

We had a fantastic uplifting event this morning with about 20 children and 30-40 adults ranging from two- to 70-year-olds.



We had readings and a Q&A with two local writers – an under-5s storytime was enjoyed by young and old. A number of people read poems and we had a reading chain of Edward Lear's The Jumblies. There was something for everybody – just like public libraries Our library is in a Friend's Meeting House owned by the Quakers and in that spirit people stood up and said why the library is so important to them and the community, including Rosemary who was the librarian for about 20 years before retiring a couple of years ago. Quite moving.

One of the library's supporters, Lorraine Streatfield, designed this logo:

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5.15pm: Our flying authors in Gloucester have now landed safely. John Doughty and Cindy Jeffries have been reflecting on how the day's events turned out for them.

John Dougherty

I've had a fantastic day – it was lots of fun. We had lots of very different sessions across the country and met some great people. I'm exhausted now!

Going forward, I hope people keep on using their libraries and give feedback to their councils. I don't feel Gloucestershire council has done enough to let people know about the cuts to the library service. Its website says that this is not just about the cuts but the changing needs of users, which I think is disingenuous to say the least.

Kick up a fuss, don't take this lying down libraries are too important to lose.

Cindy Jeffries

It's been a phenomenally successful day in Gloucestershire, we've had authors in every library in the county. I actually visited 11 libraries, one more than scheduled – and surprised my rival John by turning up there while he was performing!

I have met some fantastically driven people from all walks of life today, including librarians who are not allowed to say anything publicly about the cuts, but who told me their feelings privately. It's been a very moving day.

The thing that gets me is that we've been telling developing countries for ages that education is the most important thing. If you educate people, they will go out and contribute to society in a positive way. What are we doing? You can't tell me that libraries don't educate – I've seen it in every library I've walked into today.

5.41pm: "Libraries are at the heart of multicultural London," says Patrick Vernon, who has been at Marcus Garvey library in Tottenham and Coombes Library near Spurs football ground today:

I am a publisher from Every Generation Media, creator of 100 Great Black Britons. I am standing here in Marcus Garvey Library in Tottenham promoting the latest cultural history book of Jamaica, Jamaica Fi Real, which dispels the myths and stereotypes of the country and the people. The library has a large diaspora community of Jamaicans and people from the Caribbean who frequently use it to be inspired or to learn about the black contribution to British and world history. I have been coming to this and other libraries in London for the past decade, usually during Black History Month in October. I have given talks on family genealogy, screened films and promoted authors and publications here. Libraries are at the heart of multicultural London. They are a meeting point and place of dialogue,exchange and understanding. Libraries are the glue to connect local residents and communities, especially if the Big Society is going to work in places like Haringey, Hackney, Brent, Lambeth and Lewisham.

5.48pm: Vanessa Wood was in Brixton today:

Despite the extremely blustery conditions in Brixton providing a challenge when trying to get people to sign bits of paper, we had a very successful day. In addition to collecting stories from library users as to how important the library was to them, we got over 300 people to write letters to their councillors about their concern over the proposed cuts. Lambeth has already announced that its mobility services are to go.

5.57pm: I spoke to author Alan Gibbons earlier who has been involved with the organisation of a great deal of today's activities. Here's what he had to say:

(Again, apologies – you can barely hear me! But again, it's what Alan has to say that counts)

6.20pm: That pretty much wraps up this live blog, and a very active day for library campaigners across the UK. A huge thank you to everyone who joined in by posting comments, sending emails and tweeting @Culture_Cuts – many apologies if I didn't get around to including your contribution. Thanks also if you added your protest to our Twitter map, which is looking lovely. I'll leave you with some final words from We Love Libraries campaigner Ken Kutsch, who reminds us that although it's the end of Save Our Libraries day, the campaign is by no means over.