VOLUNTEERS could “take over” two former Warrington library buildings and run for and by the local communities.
The borough council has called a meeting of community groups, charities and social enterprises to discuss ideas for the future use of Grappenhall and Great Sankey libraries.
Both libraries have closed – victims of Town Hall spending cuts.
But council chiefs will meet with interested parties at Whitecross Community Centre, in Lexden Street, on Tuesday, April 19 at 6.30pm and outline their ideas for the future.
The council’s director of neighbourhood and community services, Joe Blott, said: “As we make changes to our service delivery we are aware that some local communities may be concerned that they may be losing a valuable resource. Self management offers a way of safeguarding these buildings for the future benefit and use of residents.”
The council’s idea is that interested groups should be encouraged to use the buildings to improve the local area and create cafes or social centres where, for instance, children could attend and use them for homework sessions.
Cllr Mike Biggin, (pictured) chairman of Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, said: “The parish council is fully supportive of the proposals for the Grappenhall Library building.
“Volunteers have come forward and set up a ‘Friends of Grappenhall Library’ group. Some of them are former librarians.
“We hope to be able to start a book exchange scheme at the old library and at Grappenhall Youth and Community Centre. The borough council is being enormously helpful.
“They will provide a starter pack of books and have said we can have the library shelving, some of which would be moved to the community centre.
“I think we could actually end up with something more suited to the people of Grappenhall and Thelwall.
“If anything, something which at first seemed a setback is bringing people together. I am very optimistic about this. We could end up with something far more beneficial to the local community than a library that was only open 17 hours a week.”
Volunteers set to take over libraries
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
So let get this right…. in October Warrington Worldwide reported that the libraries were to close down (see http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/articles/9197/1/Library-closures-the-people-must-decide/Page1.html) then 6 months later, after the buildings have been shut, the LIbDems launch a campaign to save them by offering them to volunteers????? Is there an election on the horizon and the LibDems realise that they had better pretend to do something. What have they been doing for the last half year????
I was going to volunteer that was until I saw the size of the queue. It’s just not going to happen is it? The same thing happened when some towns got rid of their lollipop ladies and expected a rush of big society volunteers to come to their rescue.
this Town has too many under used Libraries and the loss of two doesn’t matter. A town down the M56 on a Port only has one and they don’t have any problems.
Heres an idea – Labour go on about the town being run down – ok use the jewel in the crown library as the only one that will draw people in so then if they get the bus back they will stop off at some shops so the footfall increases. Happy days
You’re right about the Town being run down…but the article is about libraries. Is the fact that libraries are under used because they are open such ridiculously few hours? My point is given that the LibDem council decided to close the library down 6 months ago, why then has it taken so long to engage with the community to see if any volunteer wants to run the service?
Having done works in EVERY library in the town for the past decade, I can honestly say that whenever I have been in them, regardless of whether they are open or not, there is hardly anyone in them. They are just not used anymore. The advent of ASDA selling books for a pound and places like that has done as much damage as the tories….
It’s obvious that there an election in the air! These Libraries have been shut for 6 months. To reopen them is going to cost a lot of money. Where will this money come from? If there are volunteers ready and willing to run these buildings wil WBC arrange toi fund them? Obviously the original decision was not thought through. A dog’s breakfast!