Others have got on with safeguarding libraries

Published: 12 May, 2011

• THE Camden libraries debate on April 27 put two important items into clear focus, the strong support for Camden libraries by residents across the borough, and the lack of ideas by Labour to keep a well-treasured service going.

Residents came out in force to fill the public galleries, ranging from young to old, to voice their concerns for Labour’s plans and to show their support for libraries. Libraries are an integral part of Camden life, a community meeting point, a learning centre and a place to facilitate community cohesion. 

In the main the cabinet member could only answer residents’ concerns with hope for the future of the service while her colleagues focused on their objection to privatisation. After almost a year in power, the administration has very little to secure the future of the service.

They have not increased library incomes, gained donations or sponsorships or made the operational efficiencies necessary to keep libraries open.

Camden says that it is waiting for the results of the consultation. 

In the meantime, Essex County Council has decided to keep all its libraries open by reducing some hours and getting operational efficiencies. Buckinghamshire established a libraries trust that receives donations and bequests and it lets empty spaces to the community – raising valuable income. Other councils have reduced operational costs by automating the book lending process, reforming the supply process, changing the back offices and taking on volunteers.

Camden could do the above and gain even more revenue by:

• (effectively) selling copies of the material in library archive; 

• capturing advertising revenues and;

• relaunching its library cafeteria services with competent private sector partners with the aim of raising more income.

The administration could implement some or all of the above suggestions from today. This would go a long way towards saving our libraries.

Why has the Labour administration done so little so far? Other local authorities have already instituted measures to save their services without the need for expensive consultation. They just did the hard work necessary.

In the Camden Conservative’s alternative budget, we allocated extra savings from this financial year to protect libraries. Why wasn’t Labour able to do this? I fear that commitment has been lacking. 

The administration can show that they care about our libraries and their educational value by taking real action now – rather than hiding behind a consultation document.

CLLR DON WILLIAMS
Conservative, 
Swiss Cottage ward

Lobby date

• IT is good to see that a lobby of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport at 2-4 Cockspur Street, SW1 will take place on May 18 from noon. 

Camden residents wanting to protect libraries from the devastating effect of Tory-Lib Dem cuts will have the opportunity to join with the Lewisham anti-closure campaign and protest directly against those in government swinging the axe.

MAGGIE PETTIGREW, NW1 

Professionals

• WHERE oh where have all the librarians gone?

By “librarians” I mean those who chose the profession of librarianship as a vocation and after the usual three years attained a degree and eventually, after some “work” experience became “chartered”.

Have they all been “gagged”? (Remembering that farewell party at Swiss Cottage to which the New Journal was not welcome). Or simply given up on account of the Philistines now within the gates?

We have voices among the “Friends” like Alan Templeton, Lee Montague and writers of calibre like Alan Bennett and Danny Abse et al. 

The latest waste of money of £9,000 to hold a full council meeting (after all the waste – twice – of “consultants”) with Councillor Tulip Siddiq wanting more e-books – losing all credibility – rather than bringing back (surely the best equipped) librarians for the day-to-day running of the library. 

Our last Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, recently stated: “I owe it all to the public library.”  

Well, nobody is going to be able to say that any more. 

EILEEN EARNSHAW
Retired Chartered Librarian, NW3

Spirited!

• I READ the piece (Library campaigners invoke spirit of Bill [Budd], May 5) with great interest.

We are used to veteran politicians returning from retirement to offer their pearls of wisdom, but it is rare indeed to receive messages from beyond the grave. Chalk Farm library activists are evoking the spirit of the deceased councillor to support their view that all of Camden’s 13 libraries should be kept open. (Apparently Facebook – his chosen medium – is the new ouija board).  

Today’s Labour cabinet are fighting to protect our cherished local services: libraries, but also children’s centres and support for the elderly and vulnerable, in the context of the coalition government’s swingeing cuts.  

I hope that progressive voices living and dead would support the current Camden leadership in this difficult task and direct their opposition at Downing Street rather than their friends at the Town Hall.

DEBBIE MOSS, WC1