This is a petition for Aberdeen City Council to reverse their decision to close Cults Library. We need your support to campaign for this change. Please sign the e-petition and share.

Why is this relevant?

On 1st March 2023, Aberdeen City Council voted to close six public libraries in Aberdeen to save £280,000. People in Ferryhill, Cornhill, Cults, Northfield, Woodside and Kamhill will all see their local branches axed as part of a major savings drive. 

Why should Aberdeen City Council reverse their decision?

Local authority leaders blamed falling usage and changing reading habits towards online borrowing for closing down the library buildings. Although people can borrow books online, not everyone in the local  community has access to laptops and tablets and eReaders. 

Libraries allow children to access the magical world of books and encourage a love of reading that improves literacy levels.

Reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success. https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/articles/how-reading-for-pleasure-can-tackle-poverty

Libraries in Aberdeen currently function as a community warm spaces to help with the cost of living crisis for impoverished families who cannot afford to heat their own homes.

1 in 5 parents and carers (20 per cent) in the UK said they were spending less on books for their children due to increases in the cost of living. This means families are more heavily reliant on libraries.

We want to ensure every community has all the services it needs within a 20m walk to enable us to build communities abs reach net zero. A library is a vital community service. The nearest library to Cults, if Cults library shuts, is a 40m walk - too far for the elderly, young and physically impaired especially carrying heavy books.

What facilities and services will be lost if Cults Library is closed?

With the proposed closure of the Cults library, access to the following information and services will be lost:

Books (including large print and audio books)
DVDs
Free Wi-Fi and PC access
Photocopying, Scanning and Printing Facilities
Free access to Online Resources: eBooks, eMagazines, family history
Reference
Electoral Roll for Cults area
Newspapers
Bookbug Library Challenge
Bookbug Sessions
Home Library Service
Bioliners/food waste bags
Complimentary Sanitary Products
Disabled access
A public warm space for those affected by the cost of living crisis.

Timings
The petition will run for a period of 8 weeks. The start date of the petition is Tuesday 7 March 2023 and the closing date is 2 May 2023.

Thank you for reading. Please sign the petition and share it.