Keep community beacon lit
US journalist urges council to reconsider library closure
A call to save Craigneuk Library has been made all the way from America by a respected news reporter who was brought up there.
Journalist Alan Fisher, who grew up in Craigneuk’s Meadowhead Road, has urged North Lanarkshire Council, and their CultureNL organisation, to reconsider their decision to close the library later this year.
Alan, now based in Washington DC as Al Jazeera’s English Senior Correspondent, contacted the Wishaw Press after reading 12-year-old Danny Boyle’s heartfelt plea for the library to remain open.
Alan, who has also worked for Scottish Television and GMTV, said: “I grew up in Meadowhead Road in the shadow of the Craig.
“Facilities for young people then were very poor and it was up to us to make our own entertainment.
“This often meant playing football in the street – unless Wimbledon was on when it was playing tennis in the street.
“The library I loved. My grandad took me there the first time and I was really excited to be given my tickets to allow me to take two books.
“I’d happily spend an hour or so looking through the bigger encyclopedias and books of maps to see the names of far off places, like Indonesia or Peru or even Banff! “I loved the calm in the library. “It wasn’t often busy and I just loved the peace and quiet; I must have been there every week for years.
“The library opened up so many areas of interest.
“It made me aware of the bigger world away from Craigneuk and it fueled a curiosity about the world which I believe has taken me to where I am today.
“Closing the library closes that opportunity for many young people.”
Craigneuk Community Council are mounting a petition to retain the facility in Shieldmuir Street, which has earmarked for closure.
Several primary schools including Coltness, Knowetop and St Thomas’ use the library on a regular basis as do the nurseries at Berryhill Primary, Craigneuk Children and Family Centre, St Brendan’s and Muirhouse.
Alan added: “It doesn’t surprise me that the people there are fighting to save such a vital community facility.
“Craigneuk has had a raw deal over the years.
“But everyone there recognizes the importance of community and education and I’m delighted to add my
Benefits for people in the community are huge and it would be great if these beacons can stay lit Alan Fisher
voice, even from this far away, to keep it open – libraries are a place where people can come to know themselves and their community and their history a bit better.
“This is a tough time and councillors have difficult decisions to make. There are competing demands from many different places and I don’t believe such a decision is taken lightly.
“But there are many reasons; economic; social; historical; educational, cultural why libraries can be the beating hearts of their communities.
“At a time when money is tight we should be celebrating what libraries can do and invest in them.
“In the short term, closing might seem like the best option but in the long term the benefits for the people in the community are huge and it would be great if these beacons can stay lit. “I hope the council will reconsider.” Other cent res across Nor th Lanarkshire will also be axed as CultureNL bids to save over £1 million.
Jillian Ferrie, chief executive of Culture NL, said they have no option to make the service reduction.
Councillor Heather McVey, CultureNL chairman, said people will continue to access first-class library services in the Wishaw and Motherwell area.