I am a resident of Cippenham, and to me and my community, our library means more than just a building with books. Its unquestionable importance bridges gaps in numerous ways in our lives. It serves as a beacon of information literacy, teaching us how to competently find, evaluate, and use information ethically and effectively. Our library offers indispensable instruction in research skills, critical thinking, media literacy, and digital literacy. And it doesn't stop there.

Our beloved Cippenham library stands as a community centre—a heartening hub that harmonizes our community, brings people together, and provides free services and events. However, our library is under risk and it needs your help to continue as our knowledge sanctuary.

Couple of statistics highlight the crucial role libraries play. For instance, a Pew Research Centre study found that two-thirds of Americans (65%) aged 16 and older believe that the closure of their local public library would have a major impact on their community. Furthermore, the librarians in our public libraries interact with nearly 1.4 million children and young people, which represents one-fifth of the children and young people living in the UK (according to Public Library News).

Retaining our library and improving its services is not a luxury, it's a necessity. We appeal for consideration of preserving and enhancing the Cippenham Library services. Sign this petition to help us protect and improve our community's treasure—our library.