Join the SAVE OUR LIBRARIES ESSEX March and Rally
WHERE: Saracens Head Hotel, 3 High Street, Chelmsford CM1 1BE
WHEN: Saturday 9th February, 12:00 – 2:00
EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/352674068844486
This public march in Chelmsford on Saturday 9th February is organised by campaign group Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE). SOLE are asking for people to meet at 12 noon, Chelmsford High Street, outside of the Saracens Head Hotel.
For up-to-date information on the SOLE campaign, including this march, please visit, like and share their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurLibrariesEssex
Essex County Council is currently consulting residents on plans to close libraries across Essex while having other libraries run by volunteers. If this goes ahead one-third of libraries in Essex will close and many more will be under threat. Find out if your local branch library is under threat at: https://bit.ly/2FPYGOk
By downgrading or closing these 44 libraries, Essex County Council hopes to save an estimated £3 million pounds* which could easily be sourced from the £340.2 million† they have in reserves.
Libraries are an essential part of the community and need to be defended. With nearly half of library users being either under the age of 9 or over the age of 60 these closures will impact on the most vulnerable members of our society. It will mean the loss of local services that support parents and children. It will mean the loss of Internet services to the community. It will mean an increase in loneliness to those living in isolation.
If you have not already done so then please:
- Sign the petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-our-essex-libraries
- Complete the Essex County Council survey: https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/libraries-consultation
YOUR VIEWS MATTER SO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HEARD
Click here to download the SOLE March & Rally flyer.
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” Albert Einstein
“When in doubt, go to the library.” J.K. Rowling
“Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.” Ray Bradbury
“Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities” R. David Lankes
* Essex Future Library Services Strategy 2019-2024, p.20
† Essex County Council Statement of Accounts 2017/18, p.20