Schoolgirl steps up bid to save libraries

Mar 16 2011 By Lawrence Poole

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A NINE old Great Missenden schoolgirl has stepped up her bid to save her local libraries by meeting a council chief.

Jessica Trueman (pictured, centre), a pupil at Gateway School, met with Bucks County Council's head of culture and learning Paula Buck on March 11 at Wendover Library.

She was joined by her sister, Alex, and a group of friends as they quizzed Mrs Buck and Cllr Marion Clayton on the future of the libraries in Wendover and Great Missenden.They are two of 14 across the region which could close if enough volunteers are not found to run it under a proposed community model.

Jessica's mum Andy Trueman said: "Jessica and her friends along with other children present talked about how they like to read lots of books from their favourite authors, use books to help with homework and find new authors to read.

"Paula Buck explained that the books budget has been maintained so that is good news."However, she also made clear that the library budget has been cut and changes have to be made.

"It is clear that they are banking on communities picking up the pieces through volunteering but in the case of Wendover, there is no viable community solution yet."

Jessica has set up a petition to save the libraries, with over 700 people already signed up.

She said: "It was really nice that so many people were there because I had made leaflets about the meeting but I was not allowed to leave them in the library for people to see.

"They were nice people and said there is no intention to close the libraries but they also said that they don't have enough money so they must make changes.

"I hope that they will keep the libraries open but I won't let this drop. If I need to write to (Culture Secretary) Jeremy Hunt and David Cameron again then I will."

A decision on the libraries' future, which also includes the service in Chalfont St Peter, is due in April.