A petition to save Heckmondwike Library has been handed to Kirklees Council.
Friends of Heckmondwike Library gathered 2,300 signatures and presented them to leader of the council and Heckmondwike councillor David Sheard, in a bid to highlight the number of people opposed to its potential closure.
They are among several communities Kirklees-wide which are rallying to save library services in the light of government cuts to Kirklees Council’s budget.
Sonja Martin , one of the Friends, said: “We have had a lot of support with the petition from businesses as well as churches and mosques which has been great.
“We have also held a public meeting where we discussed ideas for future events.”
Heckmondwike is among several communities Kirklees-wide which are rallying to save library services in the light of government cuts to Kirklees Council’s budget.
The council has to make £69m of savings by 2017 and councillors will consider an option to reduce its 26 libraries to just two plus the home delivery service.
It could mean the loss of 100 jobs and the loss of community facilities unless communities step forward to take them over.
Previously, members of the group said that they were also concerned that Heckmondwike could lose its only civic building if the closure or moving of the library service was to take place and that key community services and classes could be lost.
The council is currently reviewing the future of all its libraries.
One option put forward to save millions of pounds was to close all but the main libraries in Huddersfield and Dewsbury and try and encourage community groups to take over the running of smaller libraries.
Several groups ave already een set up to help try and save local libraries.
To receive updates on the group, find their Google+ page at (http://goo.gl/AP5i05) or search for it at www.facebook.com .
