Campaigners throw book at politicians over Camden’s library closures

Published: 7th April, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

COUNCILLORS are bracing themselves for a stormy meeting on Monday night when a deputation of library supporters hands over an anti-closures petition with more than 2,500 names.

This week, the council’s consultation on the future of Camden’s 13 libraries ended after a month – and now the Town Hall has to sift through more than 5,000 responses. 

The deputation, headed by Hampstead novelist Deborah Moggach and actor Lee Montague, treasurer of the Friends of Heath Library, will demand councillors guarantee every library in the borough is kept open. 

The library budget of £8million has been cut by 25 per cent, a reduction the Town Hall blames on a £100million cut in its budget by central government.

The deputation will say:

• they believe the consultation, costing £25,000 and using a private company to collate findings, was flawed because it gave a narrow list of options;
• that the council should be proud of its “strong library provision rather than using it as an excuse to reduce the level to that of less successful councils”; and
• they believe Camden has “not fully explored efficiency savings and the full business case, and the dire effects on the community if libraries were to close”.

A report will be drawn up based on the consultation by the end of May, with recommendations for the Labour cabinet to consider.  

Labour library chief Councillor Tulip Siddiq said: “I am pleased we have captured the opinions of a diverse range of residents. The consultation has shown just how important libraries are.”

The Conservatives and Lib Dems have called for a pledge not to close any libraries. While lacking detailed alternatives, they say they would slash staff and management costs.

Conservative group leader Councillor Andrew Mennear said: “It is difficult to look at the libraries on their own. It is part of a much bigger issue. 

“They have already decided they need to make cuts but that is the wrong way of going about this. 

“It might be that it is easier to make savings elsewhere.”

Lib Dem councillor Matt Sanders wants libraries to make better use of unpaid staff. He said: “They could save money by using more volunteers.”

He would not be drawn on how this could work, but added: “This needs to be talked through. 

“Different libraries could work in different ways.”