Libraries as warm spaces
During winter, Manchester Libraries have been Warm Spaces, and offered free teas and coffee. The popularity of this amongst the city’s residents was shown by a visit to Longsight Library.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Skills , Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, David Barclay, Campaign Director of the Warm Welcome Campaign and broadcaster Gaby Roslin visited Longsight Library and Learning Centre on 12th February. The library is one of more than 5,000 Warm Welcome Spaces across the UK, offering a safe space to keep warm, make friends, and connect with their local community.
Longsight Library is a heavily used library where the visitor base strongly matches the demographics of the local community. Lots of organisations use the library to deliver services to the local community, including Olympus Music Foundation and Citizens Advice Manchester. The library has benefited from recent investment from Manchester City Council, which included the creation of a couple of new meeting rooms, improvements to the children’s library, and implementation of Open+ technology, which enables adults to access the library in self-service mode up to 8pm, at times when the library was previously closed.
Andy Burnham and Gaby Roslin were given a very warm and friendly welcome and spent time chatting with library visitors. They were joined by David Barclay, Campaign Director of the Warm Welcome Campaign, Elaine Morgan, Principal, Strategy Reform for Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure, along with Neil MacInnes, Head of Libraries, Archives, Galleries and Cultural Services.
They met Ayza and her younger brother Ryan who are regulars and were visiting with their mum. Ayza was delighted to let them read her award-winning story and they were so impressed that, aged 10, she is now going to be a published writer.
The visit coincided with community children benefiting from free music lessons, thanks to Olympus Music Foundation. The guests were treated to an impromptu performance on the flute from Eyuel and they even got involved themselves.
Also there to greet the guests were a group of older men who come every day and who all agree it is a place to relax and come together enjoying the free cups of tea and coffee, connection and chat.
Gaby Roslin said: “I’ve been lucky enough to visit two Warm Welcome Spaces and seen the remarkable difference they make to people’s lives every day, reducing isolation and enhancing wellbeing. They are places full of positivity, where people can come together, connect, and make new friends.”
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Skills said: “We know that the Warm Welcome Spaces scheme in Longsight Library and Learning Centre provides a lifeline for people in need of support, whether that is a cuppa, a supportive person to listen, or the wealth of additional support they can access via our library services, and I am proud that all our libraries play a critical role in helping to improve the lives of the residents in this cost of living crisis.”
