Meeting hears of library fight
THE Oswaldtwistle community is fighting back against proposals to close its 100-year-old library.
Around 100 people gathered at the Civic Arts Centre on Union Road to discuss the future of the building, one of three libraries across the borough placed at risk by Lancashire County Council cuts proposals.
Oswaldtwistle Library is one of five Carnegie libraries in Lancashire, but is the only one under threat of closure.”
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by ScottishAmerican businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Wendy Sanderson, an Oswaldtwistle resident and volunteer at the library, said she has been using the facility for nearly 40 years.
She said: “In total the library has 238 hours of community usage, and that’s not including borrowing books, over a hundred pupils from local primary schools have signed up to the library following visits.”
In a letter to those attending the meeting, local resident Peter Jones described the library as the “birthright” of the town’s citizens.
He said: “Only last year Oswaldtwistle Library OU R LI BR AR IE S celebrated its 100th anniversary, which was extremely well supported with standing room only.
“The library is an essential community hub for Oswaldtwistle, providing various groups for readers, writers, knitters and lots of children’s activities.
“Let’s send a message to the national and county authorities to keep their hands off our library.
“It is the birthright of every one of us.”
St Andrews ward councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “I’m really delighted with the number of people that turned out to show their support for the library.”
At the meeting Gayle Knight, Civic Arts Centre creative director, outlined the procedures for community groups to express an interest in their local libraries.
Afterwards she said: “I thought it was a positive meeting with a small committee being formed who will try to find out more about community libraries.
“It was agreed that we’d continue trying to get a petition signed by as many people as possible to show the support in the community.”
The committee has been formed to work towards securing the future of the library.
Oswaldtwistle, Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors libraries are at risk of closure.
County council bosses say no decisions have been taken and they are also ready to consider proposals from groups who may want to take on full responsibility for council-owned buildings for the benefit of the community.
A 12-week consultation on the proposals is due to end on August 14, with a final decision later in the year.
To take part visit www. lancashire.gov.uk/ council/get-involved/ consultations/changesto-where-we-provideservices.