PENRHYN Bay residents wanting to save their 40 year old library are calling on supporters to attend an anniversary open day.
The Penrhyn Bay Library Users Group (PLUG) will be showcasing the range of services available at the popular community resource on Llandudno Road at a special event on Thursday, June 2 from 1pm.
Chairman of the group, Alison Mullineux, said: “It’s a birthday party to celebrate the fact that the library has been open on its current site for 40 years and hopefully it will continue to serve the residents for many years to come.”
Activities on the day will include songs, story telling, refreshments and information on all the services the library provides.
Mrs Mullineaux added: “There is a lot you can do which people don’t realise. There are CDs, Internet access, you can book theatre tickets, get green recycling bags, pick up forms to get a senior bus pass. A member of our group put together a list and there are about 15-18 things that you wouldn’t think you could do at the library.”
Penrhyn Bay library is one of a number of smaller sites earmarked for possible closure, with Conwy Council reviewing the future of the service through a series of workshops and consultations.
Marianne Jackson, Head of Community Development Service, said: “Stakeholder workshops will be independent, allowing discussion to be uninfluenced by staff and Councillors.
“The consultation period will start on July 4 and will close on August 26. The results of the stakeholder workshops, together with all feedback received during the process, will be brought together and presented to Councillors before Christmas for further consideration.”
The campaign to save Penrhyn Bay library has seen strong backing by town and county councillors.
Deputy Mayor of Llandudno, Myra Wigzell, said: “What the ‘powers that be’ sometimes forget is Penrhyn Bay library is not just for Penrhyn Bay, it’s for the area including Rhos on Sea, Bryn Pydew, Glanwydden, Penrhynside and even some people in Craigside because it is so much more accessible than Llandudno.
“These workshops they are holding must be costing money. And I’m sure when they spent £400,000 on Llandudno library they could have found a better price for the work, and any remainder could have gone to keep smaller libraries open.”
Cllr Wigzell confirmed the library is an important community resource, and although minor upgrade work would be welcomed, it was not essential.
She added: “We keep hearing the phrase ‘the library needs a lot doing to it'’. But it doesn’t - it’s perfect functionable as it is. We do not want a glorifed coffee shop, we just want a library and Penrhyn Bay gives us that.”