12 February 2013 Last updated at 07:42 ET

Maureen Lipman backs call to save Anlaby Park library

Councillors are expected to decide on the library's future at the end of the month

Hull-born actress Maureen Lipman has backed a campaign to save a city library threatened with closure because of council cuts.

The authority wants to shut Anlaby Park in west Hull and re-route the mobile library service to cover the area.

The stage and screen star said she had often visited the library and described it as a "lovely little place".

A final decision on the closure is expected to be made at a council meeting on 28 February.

The actress said: "They [libraries] become havens for young mums and for people sheltering and for people who want a little free time from the streets.

"I was a huge library visitor and used to go there two or three times a week.

"I remember it fondly and I'm trying not to be a sort of dinosaur about this but I think a struggle, or a bit of a fight, and you might just save it."

Wall cracks

The actress's support is a boost to those fighting to save the library.

Campaigner Julie Reed said it was the second largest library in the city in terms of membership, with some 40,000 users.

The actress said she used to regularly visit the Anlaby Park library

Ms Reed said: "Yes, it is a library but also it's right in the middle of Anlaby Park and literally it offers so much, whether it's the music group, half-term crafts for children.

"There's meetings there, the polling station, there's so much that happens there."

Councillor Terry Geraghty said Anlaby Park was earmarked for closure as opposed to other libraries which had more modern facilities.

"Anlaby has got cracks in the walls, we can only put three computers in there and there's no meeting rooms whatsoever.

"I understand people are upset about it but we have to make these cuts."