The second volume of Paraxis, which I co-edit with Andy Hedgecock, is now online. When discussing what the theme for this volume should be, 'the library' came straight to mind. Unfortunately, this was not because of my ongoing love affair with Borges but because of the continued threat to library services in the UK. As author and organiser of Campaign for the Book, Alan Gibbons, says in the impassioned essay he wrote for this volume:
Never has there been so much coverage of libraries in the media, but never have libraries been more vulnerable. Tens of thousands of people are taking up cudgels to protect their local branch library while local and national elected officials and various bureaucrats are simultaneously sharpening their knives to make the deepest cuts to their funding in decades.
Please do take some time to explore Paraxis 02. The library takes many forms in seven short stories from a selection of fantastic writers. You'll also find intriguing and informative essays, beautiful artwork and the Paraxis Library Wall, an exploration and celebration of libraries to which 51 writers, readers and artists contributed. And if you enjoy this volume please consider showing your appreciation by helping us to raise some money for charity (we're currently fundraising for The Reader Organisation).
And if you want to keep up-to-date with the fight to save our libraries, I'd recommend following the sites Voices for the Library and Fight for Libraries. The first thing you need to do, though, is visit and use your local library. You don't want to wake up one day and find that it's gone.
artwork taken from 'The Library' by Myriam Frey