The future’s in library users’ hands - Public to be consulted on whether they want to see branches shelved or open less often

A LIST of Doomsday questions asking library users about the future of the service in the face of swingeing government cuts will be made public today (Thursday).

Users will be asked whether they would prefer Swiss Cottage Library to shut down completely, five smaller libraries to close or a 40 per cent opening hour reduction across the board.

The suggestions are part of a consultation package, unveiled exclusively to the New Journal ahead of the launch today, aimed at finding where regulars think £2million worth of cuts should be made.

Labour councillors insist they have been forced into making cuts by government demands to cut between £80m to £100m of its overall budget.
 

The consultation package states that a further £500,000 could be saved if they reduced the new book budget by 40 per cent, and that a further £100,000 could be found by raising the levels of fines for overdue books.

Other suggestions include using volunteers instead of staff, handing over the management of the centres to Friends groups, and freezing spending on computers and furniture.

Leisure chief Labour Cllr Tulip Siddiq told the New Journal that her department had no option but to make dramatic cuts – but it was up to the library users how this was done.
 

She said: “The fact is there is less cash than before. We want to preserve the library service, and any changes will be based on the results of this consultation.”

The consultation will run for two months and then the results collated by pollsters Red Quadrant, with the results made public by the summer and the Labour cabinet deciding where the axe will fall  around June. 

Library user groups are gearing up to let their views be known – with many saying they will not accept any closures.

A public meeting, chaired by BBC veteran Sir John Tusa, is due to take place on Tuesday night at the old Hampstead Town Hall in Haverstock Hill, Belsize Park. Organised by the Camden Public Library User Groups, it is one of many demonstrations against the cuts.

On Saturday, libraries across the borough will see a “read-in”, where library card holders will swamp the libraries, browse the shelves and read quietly to demonstrate the depth of passion for the service. 
 

Camden Public Libraries Users Group chairman Alan Templeton said: “Unfortunately, the good library service of the early Camden years has been continuously eroded. The history of Camden has been punctuated by the closure and attempted closure of libraries. In 1998, Camden attempted to close three small libraries as the first phase of a larger closure programme. As a direct result of the 1998 battle, there has been enduring mistrust of Camden Council’s intentions with respect to its libraries. That battle was bitter and questionable tactics were used by the council. The wounds received, on both sides, have not really healed and the council has decided that it is time to put matters right – get the closures out of the way, once and for all.”
 

He added: “The 2011 council problem is exactly the same as that for 1998 – lack of money. Perhaps it is more accurate to say: lack of money to continue as before. However, in 1999, miraculously, the money was found to continue as before. Libraries cost a tiny proportion of the overall local authority budget and it is not difficult to sustain their level of funding, if the will is there.”

Haverstock ward Lib Dem councillor Matt Sanders accused the Town Hall of wasting £25,000 on outside consultants to monitor the results of the poll. He said: “Yet again we see Labour so short of their own ideas that they have to hand over thousands of pounds to a consultant to come up with some ideas for them. £25,000 could help pay for a full-time librarian, or even a member of staff to help organise volunteers.”

But Cllr Siddiq defended the decision, saying that a previous consultation had been met with fears that the council was biased and had already decided its policy. She added: “It’s a bit rich as the last Tory and Lib-Dem administration spent £53,000 on a previous consultation on library services.”

Meanwhile, at a meeting at the Highgate branch library on Thursday night, Cllr Siddiq told an audience of more than 50 people that no decisions had been taken – but warned there had to be new ideas put forward to keep the libraries open.
 

Friends president, actor Roger Lloyd-Pack who chaired the meeting, said the libraries had been threatened before and added: “The council have been put between a rock and a hard place, and we don’t want any cuts to frontline services. Closing libraries must not be seen as an easy option.”

Cllr Siddiq defended her role overseeing the changes. She said: “No one got elected as a councillor to implement cuts.”

During questions from the floor, library users demonstrated how they felt towards the Highgate branch by saying it is the hub of Highgate Newtown.

Friends chairwoman Linda Lefevre, former head at Brecknock primary school, said: “This library has long been the centre of the community. It has been here for over 100 years and is very well used.”