SAVE SUFFOLK'S LIBRARIES
Please do as many of the things listed below to help stop Suffolk County Council wrecking our FABULOUS Local Libraries!
As you may be aware, the future of our libraries is at risk of being wrecked as a result of Suffolk County Council hastily deciding to take the service back ‘in-house’. Time is very short as the Council is likely to ‘rubber-stamp’ this potentially disastrous move at a meeting on 18th March. So, the need for your support is urgent. Please help us by doing as many of the following urgent actions as you can and as soon as you can:
If you live in Suffolk, email or write to your Local County Councillor
Urge your local councillor to do all they can to prevent this catastrophic ruling. We need the inboxes and mail sacks of our local representatives to be bursting with messages of opposition. Contact your county councillor here
If you live in Suffolk, email or write to your MP
Our local Members of Parliament are influential figures too. It’s vital that they know the strength of feeling against this move, as they may be able to speak to the County Councillors who will make the decision. Find the contact details of your MP by putting in your postcode here. Please email them with a similar message to the one for the councillors, amended as you wish. And if you have the time, please call their constituency office and ask for an appointment at their next local surgery so you can tell them in person how you feel.
If you live in Suffolk, email or write to your local District or Borough Council
Local politicians often speak with each other, so your District Councillor can raise this issue with Suffolk County Council if they hear your views. We need local politicians at every level to understand the strength of feeling on this matter. There’s a sample local District or Borough Councillor message below that you can ‘cut and paste’ and customise as you judge best. The contact details of your local District Councillor can be found below.
There are four council areas within Suffolk. If you are unsure which local council area you sit within, this can be quickly determined by entering your postcode HERE.
East Suffolk Council, find your local representative HERE (if you live in Lowestoft).
Mid Suffolk District Council, find your local representative HERE (if you live in Stowmarket, Needham Market and Eye).
Ipswich Borough Council, find your local representative HERE (if you live in Castle Hill, Gainsborough, Gipping, Holywells).
West Suffolk Council, find your local representative HERE (if you live in Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Clare, Haverhill, Mildenhall and Newmarket).
Whether you live in Suffolk or farther afield, please get as many of your family, friends and other contacts as possible to sign our Change.org petition - every additional signature makes our campaign stronger.
If you live outside Suffolk, but are interested in this issue because you care more generally about libraries and how charities are treated, please email or write to the Leader of Suffolk County Council explaining how you feel. Council Leader Councillor Matthew Hicks' contact details are available here
3 Important Documents
The documents below offer more information and a better perspective on the Council's decision:
1
Bulletin
How you can help save Suffolk Libraries.
2
The Truth
Our key grounds for opposing the Council's decision.
3
Response
The myths in the Council's official statement.
4
Open Letter
Suffolk Libraries' Open letter to SCC
Templates
Suggested template to use when contacting your local MP.
Dear ________,
I am writing to you with a request to do all you can to stop Suffolk County Council taking the running of our precious library service away from the charity that has run it so successfully for the last 12 years.
The charity has transformed our libraries into true community hubs offering a wide range of services, particularly relied on by families, children and some of the more vulnerable members of our community. Remarkably, the service now costs £3 million pounds less now than it did in 2011 whilst offering so much more to local people. All 45 libraries across Suffolk have stayed open with local Friends groups enhancing the offering, representing real value for money. And independent research has shown that when managed by the charity, Suffolk’s libraries generate £41m worth of social value, translating to £6 social value for every £1 invested and saving NHS services in Suffolk an amazing £542K every year.
During these uncertain times, and when many financial pressures are rife, I do not believe at this juncture we should disrupt the running of our libraries and make such a significant decision in haste.
I thank you for your time and consideration and I hope to hear back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Suggested template to use when contacting your local District or Borough Councillor.
Dear ________,
I understand that libraries are the responsibility of Suffolk County Council. However, I am asking that you take note of my concerns about the possible taking ‘in-house’ of our library service and relay these to any County Councillors that you are in contact with. I believe any such move will be to the detriment of our area.
The charity has transformed our libraries into true community hubs offering a wide range of services, particularly relied on by families, children and some of the more vulnerable members of our community. Remarkably, the service now costs £3 million pounds less now than it did in 2011 whilst offering so much more to local people. All 45 libraries across Suffolk have stayed open with local Friends groups enhancing the offering representing real value for money. And independent research has shown that when managed by the charity, Suffolk’s libraries generate £41m worth of social value, translating to £6 social value for every £1 invested and saving NHS services in Suffolk an amazing £542K every year.
During these uncertain times, and when financial pressures are rife, I do not believe at this juncture, we should disrupt the running of our libraries and make such a significant decision in haste.
I thank you for your time and consideration and I hope to hear back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Facts at a Glance
Timeline
