A county councillor is urging the public to support Beccles Library in hopes to preserve and protect the vital community services it provides.
Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw, a county and town councillor for Beccles, would like more people to join the town’s library trust.
The library is run by the Suffolk Libraries charity and in recent years has seen its funding repeatedly cut.
Due to the decreasing funding the role of trustee is more important now than ever.
Mrs Brambley-Crawshaw highlighted the importance of the library within the Beccles community and said it is “much more than just books”.
She said: “The library is a genuine space for all of the community – it doesn’t matter about age or background.
“It is more of a community facility than a library in the traditional sense. People can use the internet and receive advice from the district council.”
The councillor has served as a trustee since 2015 and described the position as “one of the most rewarding things I do.”
Trustees work in partnership with library management and staff to raise money and increase footfall.
They also help organise fundraising events and decide on priorities for improving the quality of the branch.
In recent years guest speakers have proved a particularly popular attraction and the library has welcomed the likes of Prof Chris Higgins, who spoke about stem cells and ethics, and artificial intelligence expert Ben Taylor.
Mrs Brambley-Crawshaw said: “We are trying to push the boundaries of what people are talking about in libraries and the talks have proved incredibly popular.
“We are lucky to still have our library – it is a warm, safe place that people of all generations come to.”
The Beccles Library Trust’s next formal Annual General Meeting, where trustees are elected and re-elected, will take place on Tuesday, February 20.
Mrs Brambley-Crawshaw added: “You do not need any particular qualifications to get involved – though we are always on the lookout for people with an enthusiasm for book-keeping, retail and events management.”
If you are interested in becoming a trustee or would like to support Beccles Library call 01502 442 820 or email library chairman Tony Brown at: tony.brown@suffolklibraries.co.uk
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