Whiston Library under Threat of Closure

Knowsley Council say Whiston Library will be transferred to community ownership and use in April 2014.

This effectively means Whiston Library will close unless members of the community find a way to run it themselves.

In a letter to library users dated 25 June 2013, Knowsley’s Director of Customer and Employee Services, Bernie Green, said government funding cuts had forced the council to make “some difficult decisions” to balance the budget.

“The council will continue to provide a mobile library service,” Mr Green wrote, and Whiston residents “will still be able to access council run library facilities in nearby Huyton and Prescot.”

Staff will have to find other jobs within Knowsley’s library service or face redundancy. Staff and users of Page Moss Library, also slated for community transfer or closure, face the same situation.

Knowsley Council have promised public meetings where residents and community groups can offer their ideas about how they can help run the libraries on a voluntary basis.

Prescot Online will update readers as soon as possible on dates of meetings. Meanwhile, you can email or write to Bernie Green yourself with comments and suggestions about the changes:

• Email: library.consultation@knowsley.gov.uk
• Post: Mr B Green
  PO Box 21
  Archway Road
  Huyton
  Merseyside
  L36 9YU

See also:

• Knowsley Council Needs to Shape up – but So Do We

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4 Comments

1. 

   Tony Biggs

   Thursday, July 4, 2013 at 1:06 pm

   Localism Act 2011 is the way to go:-
   http://locality.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Community-Rights-and-the-Localism-Act.pdf

   Reply
2. 

   Lynn Warbrick

   Thursday, July 4, 2013 at 2:07 pm

   Its really sad about Whiston library, but a sign of the times I fear. Probably not many people are using it due to the Internet and Kindles etc.

   It has really happy memories for me. We used to go from Whiston Willis school in small groups and sit on the floor listening to teacher reading, very special time. I always remember it had a lovely smell from the highly polished floors. I always wanted to be a librarian and I put it down to going regularly to Whiston library.

   Please keep it open. 🙁

   Reply
   • 

     Mark

     Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 4:13 pm

     Lots of people use it on a daily basis

     Reply
3. 

   Mark

   Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 4:12 pm

   page moss library under threat too

   Reply