A journalist who claimed no-one uses libraries and the books within them should be given to schools has apologised on Twitter after a barrage of criticism.
Andre Walker posted “Dear #Library users, I surrender!”.
Dear #Library users, I surrender! pic.twitter.com/1F0cog6xo0
— Andre Walker (@andrejpwalker) October 24, 2017
More than 110,000 people had responded to his initial tweet to prove that libraries are well used.
Walker had initially commented that “nobody goes to libraries anymore” when tweet quoting How To Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell.
She had asked how to make children from low-income families become readers for pleasure against a backdrop of library closures.
Nobody goes to libraries anymore. Close the public ones and put the books in schools. https://t.co/Cimy1V81n5
— Andre Walker (@andrejpwalker) October 22, 2017
I know this makes Librarians angry but shutting libraries and putting the books into schools would be an absolute good. https://t.co/AEy4X0iAAx
— Andre Walker (@andrejpwalker) October 24, 2017
But as thousands of people responded Walker, a columnist for the New York Observer and based in London, issued his white flag surrender.
It included a screenshot of a Facebook post where he wrote: “Dear (and I can’t believe I am saying this) all 110,000 who replied my tweet about libraries, Your sheer numbers have proved the point that libraries aren’t as unpopular as I believed this morning! Please stop replying!!!”
He has since been praised for his “willingness to let your opinion be changed”.
And, all snark aside, I admire and appreciate your willingness to let your opinion be changed. It's a rare virtue these days.
— Daniel Abraham (@AbrahamHanover) October 24, 2017
This is hilarious. (Admire him for not doubling down.) https://t.co/QjehBzZpDK
— Kitten of DOOOOM (@bookmistress) October 25, 2017
Walker’s turnaround was also welcomed tongue-in-cheek by the Society of Authors which tweeted: “We can’t condone chasing anti-library campaigners through the streets with sticks until they capitulate, but, I mean, it does seem to work.”
We can't condone chasing anti-library campaigners through the streets with sticks until they capitulate, but, I mean, it does seem to work https://t.co/jYWG6ncz3b
— Society of Authors (@Soc_of_Authors) October 25, 2017
Elsewhere, people were just happy to see book lovers unite and continued to school Walker about libraries’ brilliance.
Bahahahaha! Don't mess with libraries 😈 https://t.co/IsZDppnEgi
— Fiona Tweedie 💌🌈 (@FCTweedie) October 25, 2017
Not true. I go to libraries, and they are vibrant, well-used places. They provide more for a community than just books.
— Laminzi (@annaclarity) October 25, 2017
People who say ‘nobody goes to libraries anymore’ invariable mean ‘I don’t go to libraries and I have no idea who does’ https://t.co/Ju5U1UyO8A
— David Prosser (@RLUK_David) October 24, 2017