Our libraries fight goes on

Published: 21 October, 2010

• THE fears of Highgate Library users, expressed in Mike Doherty’s letter (October 14), are very real. 

The reduction in government funding for local government is an ideal opportunity for local authorities to dust off the plans they sought to force on unwilling electors 11 or 12 years ago. Councils believe they can now do what they have long wished to do and can then blame someone else. 

That councils rarely learn from mistakes is graphically illustrated by what is happening in Lewisham at present. 

At the same time as Camden’s library users were fighting to save their libraries 12 years ago, the Lewisham people were engaged in a similar war. Like Camden, the Lewisham library users won. They are now repeating those battles in an attempt to stop the closure of five of their 12 libraries. 

Lewisham is using the same tactics as were deployed in Camden and Lewisham in the last war – distortions, half-truths, omissions and desperate lies. The south London borough has been plunged into a extremely damaging conflict which is diverting resources from the task of properly managing the borough in a difficult time. 

The current rumours of library closures suggest that Camden is sliding down the same slippery slope into conflict. 

A closure policy is not the only way of saving money. Its attraction is that it is the easiest to plan and implement. Alternatives require a lot more effort and that, in turn, requires a real commitment to providing Camden’s residents with a service they need and value. 

Camden’s commitment has, in the past, been limited to rhetoric and little else. There is nothing to suggest this has changed. 

Library users throughout the borough are right to prepare for conflict.

ALAN TEMPLETON
Chair, Camden Public Libraries Users Group

• In a letter about Highgate Library last week, the sentiments of campaigner Enid Evans about there being “a very real risk to Highgate Library” were mistakenly attributed to Councillor Valerie Leach. We apologise for this error.