ONE WOMAN’S quest to return a vital community facility to Haughton Green is on the way to becoming reality.
For Sam Quinton’s appeal to bring a ‘little library’ back to the area is looking to raise the funds to do it.
Since the end of 2012, the village has been without a vital hub that is about more than just books.
However, hopes are rising one will come back at the Tommy Todd on Haughton Green Road.
Books are sorted, interest is there, companies have said they will provide materials to actually place it at its identified site.
All that is needed is £2,500 for the actual structure that will house it all and bring back a piece of life that has been sorely missing.
Sam, 50, said: “When I was little, my parents owned a bookshop, so I’ve grown up around books.
“And as I grew up, I realised that not everybody has the same access to them that I did. I believe everyone should because it’s massively important for literacy, development, all sorts of reasons.
“Our local library closed a while ago. We fought to keep it, managed to keep it. Then, it ultimately ended up closing anyway.
“We do have library facilities at Denton and Hyde Town Halls but they’re smaller, not open 24/7 and might not be accessible to everyone.
“I applied for a little book stop from publishers Penguin when it was their 90th birthday but was unsuccessful.
“However, I thought, ‘I really want this for the community. It’s something that I’m passionate about.’
“Because I’m on my own, trying to get grants is not an option. I’ve applied to Swizzell’s as they’re giving out seven £1,000 grants.
“I’ll find out later this month and I’ve got a couple more local businesses to go to. I’ve also received a donation from the local Conservative Club.
“It’s ongoing really but the online fund had a good start.”
If feedback over an idea is anything to go by, it is a good one.
One comment said: “Since they’ve taken the library out of Haughton Green it would be lovely to give something back to the community”
Another added: “Reading is enjoyable and educational and as a form of escape it can help with mental health and an escape from everyday life.”
A site for the new library has been identified – on the Tommy Todd green, opposite Morrison’s.
Now to make the dream a reality and once the £2,500 target is reached, work will start straight away.
People could access it 24 hours a day, CCTV coverage is sorted and a long-lasting, fire retardant, easy to maintain structure has been picked, along with the materials needed to install it as soon as possible.
Repairs and touch-ups would even be covered if the £2,500 is reached, along with the initial set of books, although offers have come flooding in.
And Sam knows getting a ‘little library’ back will benefit the whole community, not just readers.
She added: “Libraries are community hubs and there are a lot of isolated people.
“We have a lot of independent wheelchair users and they could connect with others. It may be the only person they speak to in a day.
“It would be great if we could do something in summer around the bench that is nearby – in good weather, we could have reading groups or circles on the green.
“People can read and have a picnic lunch or go to the nearby bakery. Tiny things that I’d like to try and grow and develop.
“I’ve so many ideas about how to develop this. I can do ‘blind dates with books’ – ones with a plain cover.
“I can also get people to engage on social media about books they’ve read, books they’ve enjoyed, books they’ve put in there.
“There’s a small local book group too. Since joining, it’ been great to talk about books and share different ideas.
“And it would be great if we could get local businesses involved. There are ways we can get them engaged,
“I want the community to look at it and go, ‘Actually, I really love that, I’m really proud of that.’
“I want them to be annoyed if someone vandalises or damages it. The sense of community and community ownership would develop.
“While I would take the lead on the project and as I live close by, I’ll be going past it every day and will check, replenish, tidy it – whatever’s needed.
“But I want the community to love it, want it and get involved in the things around it. It’s so important for a community.”
*YOU can donate to Samantha’s appeal to bring a library back to Haughton Green by clicking https://www.gofundme.com/f/build-a-free-little-library-for-our-community.