Thinking the unthinkable on library consultation

Published: 11 February, 2011

• DAN Carrier’s article (The future’s in library users’ hands, February 3) made reference to Labour’s “form” in seeking to close libraries back in 1998.  

Miraculously, that year the money was found, so there is still hope. First, readers should question the assertion that £2million must be cut from libraries. There’s nothing to say that that figure is written in stone. It should be the citizens’ choice to set priorities of where cuts fall.

In the library consultation residents are invited to state their preferences of where the axe should fall. The temptation may be to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that – death by a thousand cuts.  There are several different categories of library in Camden and my view is the smallest are the ones that should be ring-fenced because of their central role in local communities and closing them would save peanuts. Save money on books? They only represent seven per cent of the annual budget already. 

Closing in the late afternoons? But that would remove a precious and much valued after-school sanctuary for children to do homework.

Thinking the unthinkable, I seriously suggest readers consider the closure of Swiss Cottage Library, which achieves most of what’s said to be necessary in one, thus preserving Camden’s much-valued geographical spread of neighbourhood libraries. There are good local alternative libraries nearby in Belsize and Kilburn and surely a new small neighbourhood library could be accommodated in the huge new 1,200 pupil secondary school being built 100m to the south, thus engaging the local community with the school?

Have your say by filling in the survey online at: www.camden.gov.uk/librarysavings

But before you do, think the unthinkable!

PAUL BRAITHWAITE, NW5
(in a personal capacity) ­