Why #LibrariesAreEssential to Us – Views from the Save Whiteinch Library Campaign
Category: #LibrariesAreEssential, #LibrariesAreEssential - Scotland's Stories, Blog
Why Public Libraries Matter by Maureen Cannell
I am sixty years old, and I cannot recall a time when my local library did not play a significant part in my life. Libraries connect us to our past, our present and our future. As a young child, mum and dad would take me on a Saturday. We did not own a lot of books or have space to store them. So a trip to the library was amazing. My father loved to tell me how he visited this library as a child. He and his brother borrowed the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn so often, they earned the nicknames of ‘Big Huck and Wee Huck’. Nothing delighted me as much as getting my first library card. On cold dark winter afternoons the library was a warm safe space, and a wonderland of stories.
As we grow and develop the way we use the library changes. As a teenager I studied for exams with groups of friends.
Later as a student, I would download materials from specialist libraries and would use my local library to study and write.
As a parent, my local library was a haven to stop off at and feed my babies. My children loved to visit, read, meet other children and participate in group activities. When my father lost his sight, we were able to access large print and audio books for him.
When the pandemic hit, we were all faced with restrictions and loss of freedom. I gave up my ageing laptop prior to this believing I could always have access to the library if I needed to use a computer or scanner. Thus when the library closed I became digitally deprived. The library means so much to so many people. The day the library reopened was, for me, like going home, when you think you may never go home again. It has been delightful to take my grandchildren to the library. To see my granddaughter take her first steps in the children’s room. I really love to be able to share the experience with them, and keep the link to our cultural and family traditions alive.
The Save Whiteinch Library (SWL) campaign by Elizabeth Brown and Colin McGeoch
The campaign was formed as a subgroup of Whiteinch Community Council in April 2020. This was in response to the Council Leader, Susan Aitken, and Glasgow City Council confirming that Whiteinch Library would not reopen post-pandemic, having previously promised to re-open all the City’s libraries. As far as we were concerned, there was no warning that this was going to happen and there had been no consultation.
The SWL campaign comprises community councillors and local people with a range of skills and abilities relating to PR/media, local government, libraries, building infrastructure and community work.
The Campaign’s main aim was to ensure the library reopened. This focused on:
- Successfully obtaining support from individuals, local groups, organisations, Glasgow City Councillors, MPs and MSPs.
This was based on an impressive social media campaign on twitter with a Facebook Group of over 1200 followers. Hundreds of people displayed Save Whiteinch Library posters and over 4000 people signed our petition. Numerous press articles covered our work along with TV coverage. Overwhelmingly this impressive support was underpinned by 40 weekly read-ins at the library. Young and old, never less than 30 people and well over 100 on occasions, turned out in all weathers to express their support.
Themed read-ins brought people together e.g. to read poems supporting the library, learn about local services, listen to musical recitals including campaign songs. We were particularly proud of our community protest art on the library railings. Additionally, we worked with other campaigners to bring communities together. This included demonstrations and rallies where we marched in solidarity with hundreds of people.
- Challenging Glasgow City Council’s statements on why Whiteinch Library could not reopen.
Freedom of Information requests enabled us to contest the statements made by councillors and Glasgow Life about library use and the listed building’s condition.
Working with a lawyer allowed us to submit a legal challenge to the lack of an Equality Impact Assessment about the closure. Consequently, funding from the Scottish Government and then additional funding from GCC has provided the funds necessary to open the closed libraries until March 2023. Whiteinch library reopened 24th January 2022. However, opening the library does not mean the library has been permanently saved.
What now?
The Save Whiteinch Library campaign continues, aiming to ensure a sustainable future for the library in its building. Whiteinch Community Council submitted a participation request in 2021, under the Community Empowerment Act 2015 and is now working with the Council and Glasgow Life to investigate developing the library as a community hub.
The read-ins continue – now monthly inside the library. They will enable community involvement in the participation request as well as promoting the library and its services.
Above all they will allow the community spirit, which the campaign has created, to continue to flourish.
Thank you to Maureen, Elizabeth and Colin for sharing the story of Save Whiteinch Library so far and why #LibrariesAreEssential to them and their community.
Click here for more on why #LibrariesAreEssential to Scotland’s stories, now more than ever.