Crucial months ahead for library campaign
Volunteers who are ‘determined’ to keep a community library open have called for help from the public as they face a vital three months.
New Invention Library is facing closure but residents who have been battling to keep it alive now have to put together a business plan over the next three months.
The New Invention Community Forum has been working with Walsall Council to develop proposals for a rescue plan for the library on New Invention Square since it was announced that the site would close on June 30.
Plans include turning the site into a community hub offering a library style book exchange, room hire for local clubs and societies, craft and hobby classes and coffee clubs to reduce social isolation.
Wendy Evans, chair of the forum said: “We have been given a three-month period in which to put together a business plan that can show the council that we will be able to run and maintain the building over the longer term.
"The council have agreed that during this period we can keep the building open for a book exchange service and other activities to replace the Library service we’re losing.
"We can only do this if we are able to recruit sufficient volunteers to help us.”
The forum group is currently working with One Walsall the voluntary sector support organisation, who run the volunteer centre in Walsall to put together the business plan and promote the volunteering opportunities.
The Forum is planning to re-open the doors at 10am on July 22 but this will be dependent on the numbers coming forward to volunteer for the various roles needed for the book exchange and computer service.
Rupy Pandaal, secretary for the forum said: “We are determined not to lose this facility.
"We ran a couple of consultation events in the spring which showed that there is a real need for this facility to be maintained, we received many suggestions for activities that the community would like to see run within the building and were very encouraged by the offers to help from within the community.
"Our priority now is to recruit volunteers as quickly as possible.
"We are looking for a minimum commitment of two hours per week from potential volunteers.”
For further information call One Walsall on 01922 619840 or visit their website at www.onewalsall.org/volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer/
