Samia draws crowds to new-look library

Samia Smith prepares to cut the ribbon, with the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Alan McCarthy, Chair of Heywood Township and Jim Dobbin MP.

More than 300 people flocked to watch actress Samia Smith officially open the new-look Heywood library on Church Street. 

The 26-year old soap star, who plays ‘Maria’ in ITV’s ‘Coronation Street’, joined the Mayor Councillor Robin Parker, Jim Dobbin MP and other local councillors to mark the occasion.

Samia spent more than an hour chatting to guests, posing for photos and signing autographs for the crowds who came to support the event.

The Mayor, Councillor Robin Parker, spoke about how delighted he was to see so many young people in the library, and the importance of preserving the town’s heritage before asking Samia Smith to cut the ribbon.

“This library is a real piece of Heywood history, but also a great facility today and now it’s been brought right up to date," he said. "You can order or renew your books over the internet from home.

"Libraries play an important role in the community and we want as many residents as possible to benefit from their services. This new-look library will make it a more attractive place to visit. I hope today will encourage more people to become regular library users.”

It’s still not too late to enter ‘Riveting Read’ – a book review competition run by Rochdale Council as part of World Book Day 2009 on Thursday (5 March). Just describe in no more than 250 words what your favourite book is and why you like it. There are two age categories, up to 11 and 12 to 16. Entries can be handed in at Heywood Library, or any other library in the borough. The winners will get to see their names in print and win a book token.

An application form can be downloaded from www.rochdale.gov.uk/libraries or picked up from your nearest library, so get reading!