FINAL CALL FOR LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS

Following the decision by Cheshire East Council earlier this year not to close Alderley Edge Library, I have been putting together a group of local volunteers to help keep the library open for an extra half-day. During the summer, Cheshire East Council cut the opening times from 25 hours to 20 hours per week, which means that there are only two occasions (Thursday & Friday) when the library is open in an afternoon. With the help of local volunteers, I am seeking to re-open the library on Tuesday afternoons, between 1.30pm (when the staff currently close up) and 5.00pm.

Cheshire East have now organised two training sessions for potential volunteers. Both training sessions are being held at Alderley Edge Library between 2pm and 4pm; one on Tuesday 13th November and the other on Tuesday 20th November. It is intended that the first session will cover the basics of operating the library, whereas the second session will be more geared towards general customer service and health & safety aspects. If anyone would like to help out with a volunteer-led session once a month and would like to attend the training, please can they let me know (craig.browne@cheshireeast.gov.uk).

Although the library has been saved from closure on this occasion, it is important that this does not simply become a temporary stay of execution, which will be the case if user numbers do not improve.