Give something back to library

Feb 12 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

INTERNET users around the world are being asked to suggest how a Runcorn library should spend £1.3m.

Halton Lea Library has launched its own Facebook site and is asking users to post comments on how it should spend the Lottery grant.

Ideas for a library revamp include a crèche, coffee bar, IT suites, exhibition and auditorium space.

Library staff are hoping users will post ideas and chat to each other on the site. The page, which has 17 members, links to the library website and includes photographs of the building and pictures of staff.

Halton Borough Council's Reader Development Officer Janette Fleming said: "We want people to write on our wall with ideas on what they want to see done with the money.

"Since Facebook is the most popular social networking site at the moment, it seemed logical to get people to put down their ideas online."

The Lottery cash boost was announced last October, when Halton Council’s library service celebrated a 97% satisfaction rating – making it one of the top services in the country.

The library has seen a 10% increase in readers and attracted 45,000 more visitors over the recent year.