Beechdale (Western Boulevard) Library is threatened with closure by the City Council. An action group has been set up to save the Library.
The Council have been approached by the St John Ambulance who are interested in buying the site. The Council have told local councillors Alex Foster and Gary Long that this is not a cost cutting move – they have promised that they will put the money saved into improving library services across the City.
But Gary and Alex do not think that Beechdale Library should be closed. Nor do many local residents. When the news leaked out, dozens of residents visited Alex and Gary at their surgery in Beechdale Library on one night alone. An action group has been formed to oppose the closure.
We, the undersigned, object to the proposed closure and sale of the Beechdale Library, which provides an outstanding service to the community. Please Save Our Library!
Why should the Library stay open?
Closing the library will reduce access to library services for local people. None of the alternatives suggested by the Council will give local residents anywhere near the same level of service they get now.
The suggestion by the Council that they will improve library services overall by the closure is simply wrong!
Closing the Library will, in itself, reduce the library service.
Gary and Alex do not think that the money saved by closing Beechdale Library will improve services elsewhere by enough to balance this out.
What Now?
The action group has started a petition which will be collected in local shops etc and have set up a rota to collect signatures in the library. Please note that the library staff are not allowed to help collect the petition. This leaflet is being delivered to local homes to let people know what is planned and local peoples response. Many local people are also writing to the councillor who will make the decision – Cllr Dave Trimble.
What can I do?
Sign the petition – either on the back of this form or in local shops/at the library.
Local residents have a rota covering library opening hours for collecting signatures for the petition. The library staff are not allowed to help.
Get petition signatures from your neighbours and friends – you can print off a form below.
Write to the Council – Cllr Dave Trimble, The Council House, Old Market Square, Nottingham, NG12DT – and explain why it is not a good idea to close the library.
Use the library! Make sure more people than ever are borrowing books and valuing their local library.
Some Facts
Tiny Beechdale Library has an incredible 26,000 visits a year, despite only low opening hours – which demonstrates how popular it is with its local population. The nearest other library is Bilborough which does get more visits but is open much longer. Despite the difference in opening hours, Beechdale library lends more books per hour than Bilborough. It is very unlikely that opening Bilborough for longer hours will increase visits by as much as the reduction caused by closing Beechdale library.
