THE Friends of Wiveliscombe Library is planning a mass withdrawal of books from the local library on Friday (May 11) to highlight opposition to its potential closure.
The library is under threat as part of sweeping changes by Somerset County Council that could affect a number of libraries in West Somerset and the whole county.
Consultation over the closures has been extended to June 13 and in the meantime the Friends of Wiveliscombe Library is encouraging people to make their views known, both by joining in protest events and by responding to council questionnaires.
The mass book withdrawal is taking place from 2.30pm on May 11, which is also Somerset Day, and organisers are hoping people of all ages will turn out in force to take out as many books as they are entitled to.
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Queues are expected for the event and there will be a gazebo outside the library, where the books can be kept temporarily and people can return them afterwards.
In the meantime, hundreds of people have been signing a Book of Protest organised by the Friends of Wiveliscombe Library.
An event is also being planned for the week of June 4, to highlight the importance of libraries in encouraging, fostering and maintaining high standards of literacy in communities.
Organisers hope local county councillor James Hunt, who has agreed to receive the book and deliver it to the cabinet member at County Hall, will be able to attend.
They are also hoping authors will show their solidarity and a number have been invited, including children’s author Michael Morpurgo.
”We’re aiming high, but why not? We have everything to lose,” the spokesman said.
The Friends are also working on a detailed response to the consultation, in which they aim to add colour and detail about Wiveliscombe and its library, to the formal reports that have been provided, together with reasoned arguments against the proposals.
Their response will be available to view at the June event.
The Friends are calling on local people to respond to the county council’s consultation, including the redesigned questionnaire.
Information can be found on the Friends of Wiveliscombe Library website.