Friends of Cobbett Road Library meet in the community room on the last Saturday of the month at 11 am: do come along and give your views on how the library can best be used, and find out more about what's going on. Notes from the May meeting follow.

Meeting of The Friends of Cobbett Road Library
held on Saturday 26th May 2007  

1. After the last meeting, the Conservation Officer for the area had been contacted regarding putting the library on the list of appreciated local architecture. It was confirmed that it is on the list, but that the list had not yet been adopted by the Council.
From this contact it also emerged that the Conservation Officer was not aware of Cobbett Road Library! WE NEED TO RAISE OUR PROFILE.

2. Some sample posters were produced. There were suggestions as to where they might be placed to best advertise the library. The notice Board at Bitterne Park, the one in Steuart Road, various shops at Bitterne Triangle and local doctors‚ and dentists‚ waiting rooms  were all mentioned and will be investigated. There will also be some posters available in the library for individuals to display.

3. Information from the Library Campaign had been received. It was thought a good idea to join, as it provided many ideas for library users in our situation.

4. It was agreed that we should delay inviting David Baldwin to a meeting until such times as we had something we especially wanted his attention drawn to!

5. There has been some progress towards the refurbishment of the Community Room. The Health and Safety Officer had deemed the tables too heavy to move. They also need to be restored. He suggested the use of Œmini trolleys‚. However, some users of the Community Room need the tables, so restoration was agreed as the better option. With the clearing away of the bound newspapers and remaining stock, there should be ample room for all users without the necessity of moving the heavy tables.

6. The merits of building up the Good Neighbours‚ Scheme, for people unable to get to the library, were discussed. If library members offered to borrow books on behalf of their housebound neighbours, not only would it be helping the community but it would also keep up our borrowing numbers. The scheme already exists, and presents no liability to the person actually taking out the books. Ask at the desk for details.

7. Although adult borrowers were good for May, children‚s issues were not as good as those in other branches. Please take out lots of books for young children, and encourage those old enough to borrow their own. We need to beat Burgess Road Library on the number of children‚s books issued!

NEXT MEETING: Saturday 30th June at 11.00am  (Tea/coffee and children‚s activities.) Come along and share ideas.

Notes from the April meeting are here