To sacrifice library archive would be vandalism

Published: 19 May, 2011

• THE consultation questionnaire about Camden’s libraries has been criticised for many reasons. 

Your report (Friends groups are poised to rescue threatened libraries from shutdowns, May 12) of the analysis of the responses to it reveals one more weakness: the inclusion of the Local Studies Archive in the list of libraries covered by the review.

You report that 38 per cent of respondents said the archive “could be sacrificed”. This is an alarmingly high figure, but hardly surprising given that the archive is unlike any of the borough’s other libraries and has a highly specialist function. 

Those who do not or have not used it most probably under-rate or are unaware of its value and importance. 

Camden’s Local Studies Archive is one of the most highly regarded borough archives in the country. 

The records and artefacts that it contains are of the greatest historical value, covering as they do the centre-stage of London’s development from its start, and the staff who work there have specialist skills without which the collection would be lifeless. 

It would be an act of extreme vandalism to “sacrifice” the archive in order to meet the current demands for cuts

MICHAEL POUNTNEY
Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1