100 signatures reached
To: Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
Save Loftus Library
Please keep Loftus Library where it is with the current hours of opening.
Why is this important?
Loftus Library was purpose built for the Community and is centrally located with good access. It has parking for 7 cars, disabled parking and is DDA compliant and also has room out front for deliveries. It is designated a Walkers are Welcome and Breastfeeding friendly premises. It also has a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities.
The Library as it stands has 11 public computers giving internet access for those doing job searches, applying for universal credit and other benefits as well as a host of other accessible online services.
Citizen Advice hold surgeries twice a month. MIND are in 3 times a week. Learn Direct and other educational agencies use the Library, hold classes and meet with students on an outreach basis to assess their progress. Groups such as the Local and Family History group meet weekly whilst Accord Walking Group meet monthly. The Library welcomes any Voluntary Group or Community group that wishes to meet. They also host Council surgeries.
As one of the Headmasters of a Primary school in Loftus has said”' A properly funded and professionally run Library service ensures the development of our education and helps everyone to play an active role in society. A professionally run and properly funded library service alleviates pressures on the most vulnerable by providing them with access to resources they may require. This proposal reduces Loftus Library to a book exchange. A Library is much more than that. Libraries play a crucial role in levelling the playing field and ensuring the everyone has the opportunity to fulfill their potential. For children Libraries provide a safe space to ensure that the poorest have access to the same resources as the wealthiest. This ensures that the children from the poorest backgrounds are not left behind and give us the best possible chance to address poor literacy standards. A good book can spark the imagination of a child. Without a good library , none of these are possible”
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of our Library building in our Community. We have little enough as it is - to move the valuable resource to another building with opening hours causing concern and a building owned by a charity who rely on grants and donations do not give our library a long term guaranteed future..
The Library as it stands has 11 public computers giving internet access for those doing job searches, applying for universal credit and other benefits as well as a host of other accessible online services.
Citizen Advice hold surgeries twice a month. MIND are in 3 times a week. Learn Direct and other educational agencies use the Library, hold classes and meet with students on an outreach basis to assess their progress. Groups such as the Local and Family History group meet weekly whilst Accord Walking Group meet monthly. The Library welcomes any Voluntary Group or Community group that wishes to meet. They also host Council surgeries.
As one of the Headmasters of a Primary school in Loftus has said”' A properly funded and professionally run Library service ensures the development of our education and helps everyone to play an active role in society. A professionally run and properly funded library service alleviates pressures on the most vulnerable by providing them with access to resources they may require. This proposal reduces Loftus Library to a book exchange. A Library is much more than that. Libraries play a crucial role in levelling the playing field and ensuring the everyone has the opportunity to fulfill their potential. For children Libraries provide a safe space to ensure that the poorest have access to the same resources as the wealthiest. This ensures that the children from the poorest backgrounds are not left behind and give us the best possible chance to address poor literacy standards. A good book can spark the imagination of a child. Without a good library , none of these are possible”
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of our Library building in our Community. We have little enough as it is - to move the valuable resource to another building with opening hours causing concern and a building owned by a charity who rely on grants and donations do not give our library a long term guaranteed future..
