This is a petition for Aberdeen City Council to reverse their decision to close Ferryhill 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. https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/cost-of-living-report-2023
  

About Ferryhill Library
Ferryhill Library on Fonthill Road, Aberdeen was build in 1903. The granite building by Arthur Clyne retains many original features of civic gothic with Jacobean detailing. It is a category B listed building by Historic Scotland.  Refurbishment works were completed in Feb 2020.

What facilities and services will be lost?
With the proposed closure of the Ferryhill 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 and community information
• Migrant Communities Information Point
• Electoral Roll for Ferryhill 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 10 weeks. The start date of the petition is Friday 3 March 2023 and the closing date is Friday 12 of May 2023.

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