Call for heroes to come to rescue
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Bookworms can have their chance to become a hero by contributing to a brand new fund.
Culture Perth and Kinross (CPK), which operates the area’s libraries, is asking for the public’s financial support to help “ensure the best possible range of books and resources.”
The registered charity normally raises funds through events, workshops, talks, hiring out venues and its café at the AK Bell Library, but the lockdown has stopped all these valuable sources of income.
CPK’s libraries, archives and museums have been closed since March 17 for public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organisation’s chief executive Helen Smout has now taken the radical step to ask the Perth and Kinross public to dig deep during these difficult times.
The chief executive wrote an open letter to the public on the Culture Perth and Kinross website saying any heroes who could help would be “supporting your community and your local library in a unique and meaningful way.”
CPK is asking members of the Perth and Kinross public to consider donating £7 - the average cost of a new book. The chief executive points out how that one single book could then be loaned out up to 30 times in one of their libraries.
Helen wrote: “With our venues closed to the public, we are no longer able to generate income, impacting on the budgets and resources we have available for these services.
“I would like to ask if you could consider becoming a ‘book hero’ by making a donation to help ensure we have an exciting and diverse range of books and resources available for babies, children, young people and adults to greet their return to our venues when that becomes possible.”
Book heroes can then have their names added to the Culture Perth and Kinross Heroes Book or can choose to remain anonymous.
Helen finished: “Even if you are not able to make a donation, we still value your continued support and look forward to welcoming you back into our venues as soon as it is possible. We miss you.”
Anyone wishing to become a Book Hero can do so here: https:// culturepk.charitycheckout.co.uk/ bookhero?utm_source=email&utm_ medium=covidemail&utm_ campaign=donations#!/