Hi, I just wanted to say a big thank you for signing and sharing this petition. My hope is that it will demonstrate to Cheshire East Council just how valued Bollington library is by the town’s residents and visitors. 

The Environment and Communities Committee will now be meeting to discuss the future of our library next Thursday 18th July. If you are a resident within the Cheshire East area, I ask you to please also write to the committee to share your support for the campaign, for the library, and to implore that they vote against proposals to close, or change beyond recognition, our town’s vital resource. 

Email addresses to contact, and a draft letter template from the Friends of Bollington Library campaign group are below:

https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?ID=962

Dear …….,

I am writing to express my concern at the proposed closure of Bollington Library.

Our library provides crucial services which connect the isolated. From supporting new parents through a range of baby groups, to helping older people access both technology and company - the role of the library in connecting people of all ages with others and the support they need is clear and significant. To withdraw this would be to leave the thousands of regular library users without not just an important space, but a connection to others and to the community. 

Libraries are also key to ensuring equal access to culture, knowledge and education. Regardless of income, everyone can access hundreds of thousands of books, E-books, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines. Countries with the highest quality of life (such as Norway and The Netherlands) are actively investing in and expanding the provision of public libraries, rather than closing them down, as they recognise the important role they play in ensuring democratic access to education and wellbeing. 

Everyone who has visited Bollington library knows the warmth of the space, and the care with which it is run. There is usually a jigsaw to contribute to, paddling pools of Lego for young children to play with and often a book group or community group using part of the space. It is clearly loved by children, adults and the librarians who go above and beyond to make the library the community hub that it is.

Ultimately, a child’s access to books should not come down to how much money their parents have.  A dementia support group should not be without a place to meet and connect. Those who are isolated should not have this warm, free, friendly space withdrawn. The impact on the most vulnerable in our community would be devastating.

If you are committed to the principles of equality and democracy which our government and council claim to support, I urge you to challenge the proposed closure of Bollington Library. 

Kind regards,

Your Name

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Many thanks for your support, please continue to share this petition and let Cheshire East Council know we are a community who care passionately about our library, its services and its librarians. 

Julia