‘Library closures will cause isolation’

The Henley Standard reports:

COUNCIL chiefs planning to close almost half of Oxfordshire’s public libraries admit the move would cut off rural communities.
Documents seen by the Standard state the proposals would “not fully address socio-economic need” and “not fully address rural isolation”.

The papers were obtained with a Freedom of Information request made by the Friends of Sonning Common library, one of three in South Oxfordshire facing closure if their funding is withdrawn.

Of course it's not just in rural areas where library closures would cause isolation. In Botley, our much-loved library is a community hub, our area's only non-denominational community asset.  A place where people go not just to exchange books, but to read the newspapers, go on the computers and have a friendly chat with the librarians. The closure of Botley library would be a massive loss to our community, leading to increased social isolation in our area. This is why the Save Botley Library campaign- and the thousands of local residents whom we represent- are so opposed to the county council's proposals.