Councillors – take a pay cut and save the libraries

Published: 20 January, 2011

• THIS is a plea to all councillors to oppose fully any cuts to our library service.

At a time when many young people will find it financially impossible to go to university, the humble, free, access-to-all, Camden public lending library is our last hope for true enlightenment. Mark Twain learnt his art in public libraries. So did other autodidacts like Andrew Carnegie.

As a regular library user I see that the facilities are always fully utilised. There is no room for cuts especially when may people are out of work and need what the libraries offer more than ever.

Students, pupils, local people, are all there researching, reading, studying or using the web as well as borrowing books. 

I use Swiss Cottage and Camden Town Library and they are always busy. 

One cannot get a chair to sit and read; such is the demand!

The powers that be cannot make assumption based on how many books are being checked out, to make a decision on utility, as a library is a social and public space. Once a library is closed we will never see these beautiful building back in use as libraries. Just look at what happened to school playgrounds and playing fields after they were sold off? It’s a bad omen.

I make two suggestions. As times are tough and difficult budgetary decisions need to made why not get rid of a few assistant directors and merge a few of their roles? 

One of these posts will save us £100k per year. Does anyone think Camden’s CEO deserves £200k pa plus bonus? Furthermore if we are really all in this together, how about the cabinet members and all Camden councillors take a voluntary pay cut to their allowance for a few years while we are in this economic straitjacket? After all they are in public service and these are their second part-time jobs. Come on guys be brave. Lead by example.

ABDUL SALAM
Camden Street, NW1