‘Friends’ groups are poised to rescue threatened libraries from shutdowns

Published: 12th May, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

VOLUNTEERS will be asked to become more involved in running Camden libraries to prevent closures in the face of swingeing 25 per cent budget cuts, the New Journal has learned.

The idea of voluntary groups taking a bigger role was supported by the results of a consultation survey carried out by Camden Council to determine readers’ views on how £2million cuts can be made.

One of the key findings to emerge is an appetite among “Friends” groups to take control of libraries. Figures show that 2,500 people, out of 6,000 replies, said they would be interested in volunteering. 

Council officials will now look at how librarians could use book-lovers to help cut costs. This could affect Heath, Belsize and Chalk Farm libraries, which have active Friends groups, with council-employed librarians acting as managers.

Camden Public Library User Group (C-Plug) chairman Alan Templeton said that, while consultation responses highlighted the lack of approval for library closures, a publicly-run library service was still under threat. 

He added: “I think they will push the idea of a voluntary-run library service, as it would relieve them of an embarrassing asset. 

“It has been said the council has received two business plans [from volunteers], but this is just not possible. The information needed to produce such a detailed plan has not been available: they could have said they were interested but not much more than that.”

Mr Templeton added that C-Plug would be happy to help with volunteers – as long as the future of libraries was assured. He said: “What I am worried about is any push to unload the libraries onto community groups. This could be divisive.”

The results of the consultation held “very few surprises”, he added. “It restricted itself to what the officers wanted to achieve, which is a response to their preferred options,” he said.

If the consultation questionnaire, which will be used to form policy, is followed to the letter then libraries across the borough could see opening hours cut by about 40 per cent, but closures avoided. 

In the controversial opening question, which asked how to make the first tranche of savings worth £1m, 57 per cent of respondents said they would back a 40 per cent reduction in opening times. 

Twelve per cent said they would rather the flagship  Swiss Cottage library shut, while another 13 per cent thought five smaller branch libraries should be sacrificed.

A mixture of Town Hall rumour, answers from the survey and views from user groups suggests no libraries will close outright. 

But the survey results mean councillors will have leeway to offer library services in different, controversial ways.

The King’s Cross branch – in council offices due to be sold – will be rebuilt in a new Town Hall complex on the railways lands site. 

The Crowndale Centre, which also hosts a library, is up for sale – and it is rumoured its library will be moved to a new site in Camden High Street. 

Users at Regent’s Park library have asked that their branch be turned into a resource centre offering more study space. Officers are looking at a purpose-built home for the library, alongside plans for a new Netley primary school. 

The popular Camden Local Studies Archive could be under threat, leading to job losses. Some 38 per cent of respondents said it could be sacrificed. Previously, councillors  suggested merging it with Islington’s to safeguard its long-term future. 

Respondents to the questionnaire said the mobile library service could be scrapped. It is likely to be merged with a home delivery meals service for the vulnerable. 

Labour leisure chief Councillor Tulip Siddiq said she was heartened by the level of replies and would now use the answers to take a plan to the council’s cabinet in early June. She said: “Some people gave a response that said ‘none of the above’ when asked if they’d close libraries or cut opening hours. But I do have to achieve these savings.”