02/03/2024
WEEKEND OPINION PIECE
by Tracey Macrury, local resident.
"As a resident of Cambuslang, Glasgow and a mother of two young children, I have personally witnessed the transformative power our local libraries hold. My 9-year-old and my nearly 2-year-old have blossomed from shy individuals into confident book lovers, thanks to the resources and nurturing environment these libraries provide.
Our local libraries are not just repositories of books; they are lifelines for our community. They serve as safe havens for our children to explore their curiosity, develop their literacy skills and grow their confidence. Moreover, they play an essential role in promoting mental health within our community by offering a space for social interaction.
In areas like ours that face social deprivation challenges, these institutions are vital. They provide access to books and technology that might otherwise be out of reach for many individuals and families. They also offer opportunities for social interactions that help combat isolation.
According to The Reading Agency in UK (2015), library users report higher life satisfaction levels and better mental health than non-users do. Additionally, regular reading has been linked with improved empathy levels among children (National Literacy Trust UK).
Our local libraries in Cambuslang, Halfway and Blantyre are under threat today; we cannot stand by while such invaluable resources face closure. We call upon the relevant authorities to recognise the importance of these institutions to our community's wellbeing – especially that of our young people – and ensure their continued operation.
Also we need to support the staff in these establishments that go over and above their job roles who create the welcoming, nurturing and inclusive environments and these closures will have a huge impact on them individually and be a loss to our communities.
Please join us in this fight by signing this petition today! Let's keep the doors of knowledge open for all!
Thank you "
Save our Local Libraries in Cambuslang, Glasgow