LIBRARIES BOOK NEW HOURS

A NEW chapter is about to open in the hours of more than half Liverpool libraries as part of a shake up in times the service is available, breaking away from former times to make it more accessible to the region.. 

The new report to the city council's Executive Board recommends all libraries open on Saturday morning and afternoon, together with a shake up of other opening times to make them more convenient.

It follows a survey of library users which revealed that 90% preferred daytime and early evening opening. The least popular choices were late evening, early morning and night time opening.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure, said:- "It's important we build on the 25 per cent increase in library visits over the last 12 months by opening when it's most convenient for people to visit.

Our libraries are officially recognised as the best in the country. They have Beacon status and received top marks from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The revised opening hours are part of our commitment to move the service further forward. It will mean libraries are open when people want to visit them and not when we think they may visit." 

CATHEDRAL FIREWORKS TO ENTER RECORD BOOKS

LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL will light up the sky for miles around as the roof of the building will have 35,000 different firework fired off from it on Sunday 18 July at 10:15pm. Contractors Fantastic Fireworks lit up Liverpool's three graces for the Queen's Jubilee in 2002. The display was bigger than the display at Buckingham Palace and the largest in the UK that year and they are back in Liverpool... Over 125 individually timed cue points and 15 different firing sites on building roof joined up by 4 km of cable will be laid on site and set of by 5 computers and radio synchronised firing systems. It will take 450 man hours onsite not including the 3 months of design and pre-production work has been undertaken to put on what will be a record braking show set to music. The music starts with Hallelujah Chorus and as European Capital of Culture 2008, ends in European anthem. The display will be 20 minutes long and will be seen over a 30 mile radius from as far as North Wales, Southport and Cheshire. The display is to mark the laying of the cathedral's foundation stone on July 19, 1904 by King Edward VII. 

Did you know? The Cathedral is now the 5th largest cathedral in Europe and largest gothic arches in world and is 660 feet long, 331 feet high and can accommodate 3,000 people.

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Taking A Stand against Anti-Social Behaviour Call for Local Heroes

PERSISTENT anti-social behaviour is a blight affecting entire communities throughout the country. Whether it is nuisance neighbours, vandalism, graffiti, harassment, intimidation or rubbish dumping, yobbish behaviour can ruin people’s lives and place a huge cost on local authorities to deal with it. 

In a one-day count of anti-social behaviour in England and Wales, there were over 66,000 incidents reported to the police, local councils and other public agencies. This equates to more than one report every two seconds. 

There are, however, thousands of brave individuals and groups who are devoting time and effort to stand up to these problems. They are working with their local police and councils to bring communities together to take a stand against anti-social behaviour. The Home Office, in partnership with Crime Concern, BBC Local Radio and the Co-op, has launched the ‘Taking A Stand Awards 2004’ to recognise courage in tackling anti-social behaviour. 

The Awards celebrate and reward the achievements of these local heroes, and encourage others to take similar action. 

Bringing people together to tackle problems also harmonises local opinion on nuisance behaviour. Communities that was once difficult for social workers, police and local councils to deal with because of apathy and indifference, have now seen the benefits of co-operation. 

Residents start to report issues, their voice becomes louder, and they gain a pride in their community. This co-operation between front-line workers and the community makes it clear to perpetrators of anti-social behaviour that their behaviour will not be tolerated and that they will face severe penalties if they continue.

DOWN LOADED the "Help save our schools form".

WE have been asked by Kingsmeadow Parents Action Group to run this downloadable form for them. The campaign is called "Shoreside and Kings Meadow saying NO to Amalgamation Blue Ribbon Appeal" The group is asking for our readers to help them by downloading this form and return to the Schools in question.   CLICK TO DOWN LOAD FORM