Red67 no offence taken and I hope likewise. I'm in the process of lots of emails flying around at the moment and also working with a couple of others to try and work out a way to make SOMETHING work if we need to go down this route later on. It's hard to try and find something that will work so all suggestions and help are very welcome.
Here's my main but not all concerns if FH Library becomes a community library:
- If enough volunteers can't be found or just don't turn up then the opening hours will be reduced and at worst the library will close. As far as I'm aware Sydenham, Crofton Park and Grove Park nearly closed earlier this year as the holder of the lease who I believe is Eco Communities wished to return it, and New Cross is currently displaying posters threatening closure if more volunteers can't be found.
- How will this effect vulnerable people such as kids, people with learning difficulties, disabled people and the elderly. It worries me that volunteers may have access to sensitive confidential information, and how do we know that the volunteers are responsible people.
- The local kids use the library after school for many reasons including doing homework, revising for exams, using books and texts for research. What will happen if they go to the library and it's closed and their parents are not back from work yet?
Community libraries don't seem to be working in the borough as lending has gone down by at least 50% at all community libraries and in some cases 70-80%.
The problem is that once a library is gone, it's hard to replace it. As it is the FH library does not have enough books; what it needs is an expansion of its service, not a downgrading.
Another point which councils should consider is that libraries are often the only place that the unemployed can use computers which they are required to use to find and apply for jobs. Not having a local library will have an important knock-on effect for people who perhaps can't afford to find a computer further away.
A library service fulfills many needs for the community and it is vital to keep it.
Pauline, thanks for what you're doing. I know we have knocked heads before but I applaud your community spirit.[/b]
One of the issues when we have a situation that all but one Cllr on Lewisham Council is represented by one party is they can approve policies by stealth without proper opposition politically, which leaves it to us to be the real opposition to any council plans.
Sorry for being dumb, but please could someone link to stats on what budget the council get, how much it's being cut, and how much gets spent on each thing?
I reckon £77,000 for Steve Bullock and £50,000 for his deputy is rather generous, but the figures for most other councillors I found seem fair, if that's their only income for their work. 2014-2015
Maybe less money wasted on messing with lamp-posts? (personal bugbear)
A lawyer I know is checking with her colleagues to see if anything legally can be done to keep our library council run. I know it's a long shot but everything is worth a try at this stage.
I think a few people that post on here are quite up on legal matters so any suggestions are more than welcome.
Here's the petition link again which now has 888 signatures, it also has a link to the blog at the bottom.
The fight to keep our library run by Lewisham Council is starting to heat up now so please sign the petition if you haven't already if you agree with it, and please share it with others.
Parents of local Schools are now sharing the blog and petition with other parents and I'll contact all FH Schools after half term to make them aware and ask if they feel strongly about this to write a letter of support.
If you feel strongly about this and are on social media please share it, and if you want to make Lewisham Council aware of it you can add @LewishamCouncil
Please only do all or any of the above if you agree.
This has made the front page of South London Press today and I was also interviewed by another today.
Once our library has been handed over to another organisation Lewisham Council will not take it back on!
As well as being an established local curmudgeon, I am a publisher of academic books and journals. My company participates in the 'Access to Research' pilot project which means that anyone can read material in the online editions of any of our journals for free.
The pilot appraisal is now underway, and I would be interested to know whether anyone has taken advantage of this scheme.
Secondly, I notice that libraries which are 'community led' are not included in the scheme, obviously because of publisher concerns about management of access. Would be interested to know whether anyone has any views on this. Also, is anyone aware of any other areas where access to material in community libraries is likely to be similarly restricted, besides issues of inter-library lending of print material.
I'm not surprised about this not sharing with "Community Libraries" as I'm not sure who the volunteers would be and also if they would be responsible people or not. This worries me a lot as a parent.
I think we need professional Librarians to keep our community safe especially for the kids and vulnerable people.
Here's the petition link again if anyone wants to take a look
I want to sign the petition, but when I open it it's in a mixture of German and English. Is there a fully English version available? Or can I contact whoever is organising the petition (i.e. put it on change.org) to find out?
I want to sign the petition, but when I open it it's in a mixture of German and English. Is there a fully English version available? Or can I contact whoever is organising the petition (i.e. put it on change.org) to find out?
I get an Italian version of Change.org when I click on petitions.
Forest Hill Traders Association oppose Lewisham Councils proposal to cut £1million from Lewisham Libraries budget.
The executive committee for FHTA (including myself) are all in agreement with this and we will be drafting our letter this week which will be sent to all appropriate parties.