Don’t let us lose ‘asset to the Royal Borough’
Here is an excerpt from the Advertiser of February 2015: “The library was opened to the public in April last year. The centre is used by families, residents with learning disabilities, and elderly residents with dementia, with the Countess meeting the users during the course of her visit.
“Cllr Eileen Quick, cabinet member for leisure and libraries, said: “I am delighted that the library has already proved so popular with the local community. It’s now a vital part of their lives and a real asset to the Royal Borough.”
If you haven’t already guessed, this is Boyn Grove library, which the council would like to close down.
What a retrograde step that would be, when we consider how much we have depended on books during three lockdowns.
When the council is claiming to work towards a greener future, it makes no sense to encourage the use of cars by closing a library that can be accessed on foot.
Pre-COVID, Boyn Grove library was used by parents who brought their children after school, groups meeting to take part in crafts and other activities, and residents who need help to deal with their dementia. It serves as a community hub.
If we have learnt anything from this pandemic, it is how vital community spirit is, and working together.
We have managed to keep connected despite social distancing.
I have heard of a grandmother enjoying a walk with her granddaughter to the library, older residents delighted to have access to books, others eager to avoid the building work in the town and glad to be able to have access to library resources within walking distance.
For those of you who have not seen the ingenious system of getting books to customers devised by the wonderful Maidenhead library staff during lockdown when Boyn Grove was temporariy closed,
I’ll describe it here : You chose a slot to collect a reserved book. When the book became available, a friendly member of staff rang the evening before.
At the appointed time, you arrived at the car park to find a car with balloons attached, and were handed a crisp paper bag by Eve. Inside it was comfort-in-isolation in the form of a book. (Hello, Eve, if you’re still there, I hope to see you again).
The crowning argument to close down Boyn Grove library is that it is small.
To me, this smacks of absurdity. If you value education and literacy, if you value a community resource, or if you simply think small is beautiful, please sign the petition.
The link for the petition is: https://petitions.rbwm.gov.uk/saveboyngrove/
SYLVIE HOWSE
Maidenhead