Don't axe our library, pupil tells councillors

Eight-year-old CJ Greenway needed a glass of water to keep his faltering voice going when he urged councillors not to axe the mobile library. Photo / George Novak

The campaign to save Tauranga's mobile library from the city council's cost-cutting axe has found a new champion - and he is only eight-years-old.

CJ Greenway not only galvanised his school by organising a 176-signature petition, he also plucked up the courage to deliver his message in person to city councillors on Wednesday.

With support from his Bethlehem Primary School classmates, mum Victoria and teacher Phillipa Cox, CJ walked up to the rostrum that was too big for him and told the council why the library bus was an important part of his life.

He touched a lot of hearts at the outset of the submission when he said: "I am kind of losing my voice so I will try my best."

CJ said as far back as he could remember his mum had always taken him and his sisters to the bus because it parked close to their house and always had a great selection of books. "I love reading because it makes me feel happy."

He also used the bus when it came to his school each fortnight. "So I was really sad to hear that the councillors want to take away the mobile library."

CJ highlighted how the bus was a community gathering point, including older people and young mothers who wouldn't or couldn't drive all the way into the town library.

He said it was the only library for a lot of kids and they really looked forward to it. "Reading is knowledge and knowledge is powerful. This is something you should all be encouraging, not taking away," CJ said reading his speech.

"Having lots of books to read has encouraged my love of reading. I know a lot of other kids and adults feel the same way. We kids don't want to lose this service so please don't take it away from us," he said with a faltering voice.

Mayor Stuart Crosby responded with a cheerful "well done CJ", saying the council would be discussing what CJ and a lot of other people who wanted to retain the mobile library had been telling them this week.

Councillor Clayton Mitchell congratulated CJ.

"That was a really good speech, possibly the best one I have heard."

The council will begin its discussions on submissions to the 2014-15 Annual Plan on June 2.

Mrs Greenway said afterwards all the Year 4 to 6 children that used the mobile library had signed the petition. The bus had an up-to-date selection of books and it would be a huge loss if the service ended.

Tauranga's mobile library

*Issues 50,000 books a year including 15,000 to school pupils (restricted to two books per pupil)
*2700 individual users in the last 12 months.
*37 community stops and 6 school stops each fortnight (14 community stops close to retirement villages and pre-school centres)