A public meeting has been called to rally interest in saving a library.
Residents and users of Kirkburton Library are asked to get involved in the future of the library, which is at risk due to massive Kirklees Council budget cuts.
Kirkburton Parish Council has been in discussions with Kirklees about securing a stable future for the library, with the prospect of £152million of cuts from central government being implemented over the next two years.
Clr Robert Barraclough, Kirkburton Green Party, said: “It is important that we take the initiative to ensure there remains a Library service in our villages.
“Doing nothing or criticising from the sidelines is not an option. We need to engage with Kirklees Council to provide a secure basis for Kirkburton and other library services.”
His fellow ward and party member, Clr Derek Hardcastle, proposed that Kirkburton Parish Council engage Kirklees in talks regarding the Library’s future: “We have to get detailed proposals together regarding the possibility of transferring the library from Kirklees to Parish ownership, going through costs and coming to arrangements regarding a regular library service operating from the building.
“We need to inform and involve the community about plans and I want as many people as possible to attend the meeting to express their views and hear what plans we are pursuing.”
The meeting takes place at the Kirkburton Hub, Riley Lane Kirkburton on Tuesday, October 7 at 7.30pm and is open to all.
Kirklees Cabinet Member Clr Graham Turner, who has been involved in the Denby Dale community taking on its library, will attend with Kirklees chief librarian Carol Stump.
