KANGAZANG! AUTHOR HELPS CHILDHOOD LIBRARY IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST CLOSURE

Candy Jar author, Terry Cooper, has recently turned his literary attention to an issue of personal concern – by helping out his childhood library. Terry was born in Cricklewood, in North-West London, and the library that he regularly visited as a boy has been forced to close.

Cricklewood library was commissioned in 1923, and has served the local residents of the area for 89 years, even remaining open during 1940 when the area suffered heavy bombing from German aeroplanes. Now, after a ten month campaign involving petitions, read-ins, legal action and garden parties – and support from the likes of Philip Pullman, Alan Bennett, Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp and The Pet Shop Boys – Brent Council took the decision to close the library last October.

However, hope remains, as the Bursar of All Souls College, Oxford are the landowners of the site, and have written to Brent Council on several occasions requesting for the site to remain as a public library.

Terry Cooper and his donation

Members of the community have joined forces to create the 'Friends of Cricklewood Library', a pop-up library and community centre, funded by charity donations. Terry Cooper has donated a box of books including several signed copies of his own novels, ‘Kangazang: Remote Possibilities’ and ‘Kangazang: Star Stuff’ published by Candy Jar Books.

The next ‘Friends of Cricklewood Library’ event will take place on October 13^th marking the date when Cricklewood, and several other libraries, were closed in the borough.

For more information or if you would like to get involved visit the ‘Friends of Cricklewood Library’ Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCricklewoodLibrary

‘Friends of Cricklewood Library’ are keen to get as many signatures as possible, to help their cause please go here http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/all-souls-college-oxford-return-cricklewood-library-to-the-community-that-built-it

By Jake Rudge