I AM responding in full measure to the deep concerns expressed by Shirley Burnham in her continuing campaign to save our community libraries.

It is extremely important that this ongoing issue is debated openly before a final decision is made, that the quality of life affecting so many people in our community, across the age span, is maintained with depth of understanding, caring and respect.

The councillors at the helm of this ‘decision making’ need to connect with the specific needs of the people, who they appear to regard as totally irrelevant. Our community needs the support of the truly caring councillors who are not self-promoting, but have the necessary vision to ensure that the crucial branch libraries across the borough are saved for our people and for the very purpose for which they were created. That future generations will continue to benefit from these accessible gems of learning!

Our people must be protected from being ridden rough-shod in this deteriorating society in which so much of value and true worth is being systematically eroded.

Families must rally and stand their ground to voice their deep concerns regarding the threatening closure of community libraries that are absolutely vital to stem the tide of illiteracy in our society.

After all to communicate through the essential arts of reading, writing and our spoken English language is the very basic need and right of every child and the inherited rite-of-passage for our future generations.

I urge all discerning people to support Shirley Burnham’s campaign that prioritises the needs of the people to save their community libraries.

MARY RATCLIFFE Old Town Swindon