>To: Chairs & Secretaries of ELG, SLG and YLG
> Chair of Youth & School Libraries Joint Committee
>
>cc: Update and Library & Information Gazette
> Management Team
>
>
>Dear All
>
>I forward emails of thanks from Philip Pullman and Anne Fine
>regarding CILIP's support for their campaign against publishers
>marking their books with age bands.
>
>You will find the response, that was approved by Caroline
>Moss-Gibbons, under CILIP's Rapid Response procedure below
>
>With thanks and best wishes
>
>Guy
>
>Guy Daines
>Director, Policy & Advocacy
>CILIP
>Tel: 020 7255 0632
>Mobile: 07746 796387
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pullman
>[<mailto:[log in to unmask]>mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 23 October 2008 14:51
>To: Guy Daines; Anne Fine
>Subject: Thanks
>
>Dear Guy Daines,
>
>Thank you very much for your backing in the age-banding affair. It's quite
>clear that the publishers' sole motivation for introducing this scheme was
>commercial, and while books are indeed commodities among other things, it's
>a great mistake to see them as ONLY that. Your support is a powerful
>reminder of the much wider and deeper relationship that books have with
>readers, and we're grateful for your interest and support.
>
>Yours,
>
>Philip Pullman
>
>From: Anne Fine
>
>Dear Guy, This is really, really good of you and will help
>enormously. I think that the publishers have been hoping that they
>can wear us down, and so the fact that an organisation of such huge
>importance as CILIP is prepared to stand with us is a major boost. I
>know Philip will be equally delighted, and your support will be
>featured on site as soon as possible.
> Once again, many many thanks for your help in this matter.
> All good wishes, Anne
>
>
>CILIP Statement of support:
>
>"CILIP supports the aims of the "No to Age Banding" campaign. It
>believes that the age banding of books is unhelpful and potentially
>harmful to the enjoyment of reading by children for the following reasons:
>
>1. Children and young people develop at different ages. By
>banding books with an age it could make reluctant readers think that
>a book that is actually appropriate for their reading ability is too
>young for them, thus putting them off reading altogether. Equally a
>strong confident reader may feel that a book that is appropriate for
>their reading ability is too old for them.
>
>2. Personal reading experience shows that children take out of
>their reading what they need, and many books can be read at
>different levels. Parents and others who are uncertain about
>appropriate books can ask at bookshops and libraries where staff are
>experienced and knowledgeable.
>
>3. It is much more important that the needs and tastes of the
>individual child be considered - in libraries, in bookshops and by
>teachers - in line with the present educational commitment to a
>personalised approach, than applying a banding system that will
>either necessarily be too rigid or will have to be so encompassing
>to be too vague to be of any point.
>
>We wish the campaign success and assure you of the support of the
>library community".
>
>
>
L Gildersleeves
Lecturer
School of Library, Archive & Information Studies
University College London
Gower Street
LONDON WC1E 6BT
office tel: 0207 679 7204
direct line: 0207 679 2630
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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