South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture

A sample of the 1140 resident comments received are detailed below:

"My elderly father uses the library weekly. Ensures he gets out for a walk, chatting to staff in addition to keeping his mind active read. The book bug sessions are fantastic for the local area. Families from this area may not have a car to get to the centre & will cost for parking there. Early education with parents is so important. I feel this library is more important than St Leonards."

"My kids have had parties here, the school who now cant afford to take the kids on trips thanks to all your cuts to education, walk the kids to the library for visits so to lose this would have a huge impact on our community and our kids. I think you have taken enough."

"My nephews use this facility as & is instrumental in encouraging their love of books which is needed for young children."

"Myself and my wife regularly use the library with our toddler for Book Bug sessions and frequently borrow reading materials. Any time we are there it is always full of families and it feels like a thriving community hub. We were heartbroken to hear that this vital service and it's wonderful staff were potentially going to be taken away from the community.  Greenhills Library serves a significant chunk of East Kilbride, with Greenhills, Lindsayfield, Westwood, Whitehills, Hairmyres, Gardenhall, Mossneuk, Newlandsmuir, The Murray, and Jackton residents all accessing library services at this location.   As I am sure you are aware, Greenhills Library services some of the most deprived areas of East Kilbride and provides a vital hub for the local community. Both the Murray and Whitehills have SIMD 2 areas, whilst parts of Greenhills and Westwood are SIMD 3. Removing funding and services from the areas most in need of investment is a disgraceful disservice to the local population.  The closure of the Greenhill Library, or any other library for that matter, would be disservice to those who rely on it, regardless of age or background.  Please reconsider the closure."

"No libraries should be closed.  They provide a warm and safe space to many. In some cases it is the only source of information that public members have to get information and access to IT and IT support."

"No library services for books or unemployed that use computer services as advised by the job centre. If people can’t look for work/apply for jobs how can they claim any benefits they are entitled to."

"Need to be able to access internet if can’t afford it at home.  Children need to have access to do homework and coursework if no internet at home."

"Our libraries are a cornerstone of our communities and essential for learning, education and social interaction. DONT YOU DARE CLOSE ANY OF OUR LIBRARIES!"

"Removing a highly appreciated resource that will impact multiple age demographics - Libraries must remain as a place of studying, a place to learn and develop skills within, and a place to encourage reading."

"Residents in this area would have to travel a significant distance by car, public transport or by foot to access their nearest public library service if this closure goes ahead. The council would no longer be providing a reasonable or adequate library provision for these communities which you are required by law to do. Children in this area already have limited access to school and public libraries, which they rely on to meet the government's literacy rates."