Library lesson
IT is home to one of the country’s smallest libraries, one that cannot even accommodate the complete works of Shakespeare, but at least book lovers in Green Moor, a Pennine hamlet between Sheffield and Barnsley, have a library of their own – albeit one located in a redundant telephone kiosk.
And that is the point. Through time, they have lost their village school, local shop, pub and use of its red telephone box for its traditional use, but they have shown that such setbacks can be overcome if the community spirit is strong and pragmatic.
In doing so, the pro-activism of Green Moor is sending out a powerful message that rural services can still be cherished – and that their fate usually rests with the community concerned. In short, if you value your local library, use it before it is too late.