16-11-2015, 02:34 PM
16-11-2015, 02:37 PM
Momentum are 30 years too late. And I don't expect they'll be prepared to foot the bill for the consequent surcharges.
18-11-2015, 01:04 AM
Councillors don't get surcharged any more. What happens is simply that the government takes over and sets a budget on behalf of the council.
19-11-2015, 08:39 AM
21-11-2015, 02:39 PM
Lewisham borough community library secured funding by putting the library up as collateral!!!
http://linkis.com/blogspot.com/PO4si
http://linkis.com/blogspot.com/PO4si
24-11-2015, 04:10 PM
The results of the consultation are now available on: http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/i...9&MId=3766
Do you agree or disagree that the changes to library services are necessary?
65% disagree
What is your preferred option?
54% said 'Other' !
Do you agree or disagree with the hubs and community model?
59% disagree
What impact would this have on you personally?
66% negative
Most common free text response:
"Don't do it"
Do you agree or disagree that the changes to library services are necessary?
65% disagree
What is your preferred option?
54% said 'Other' !
Do you agree or disagree with the hubs and community model?
59% disagree
What impact would this have on you personally?
66% negative
Most common free text response:
"Don't do it"
24-11-2015, 04:30 PM
Recommendations in the report from council officers to "Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee"
Quote:
The report to Mayor and Cabinet will recommend that:
- A saving of £1million from the Library and Information Service budget is approved.
- Staff consultation on the restructuring of the library service is undertaken
- The formal tender process to identify partner organisations to take on the management of Forest Hill Library, Manor House Library and Torridon Road Library buildings commences.
- A saving of £1million from the Library and Information Service budget is approved.
- Staff consultation on the restructuring of the library service is undertaken
- The formal tender process to identify partner organisations to take on the management of Forest Hill Library, Manor House Library and Torridon Road Library buildings commences.
The 2nd point can be read as selection for redundancy.
Quote:
...it is true that the issues of books decreased faster in the community libraries than in the council-managed buildings. This may be partially attributed to the reduced stock at community libraries and the accessibility of the self-service technology. The library service intends to take steps to address the drop in book issues across the whole service and is investigating changing the self-service technology to better support self-issue.
Why haven't they done this in the last five years? I think some more concrete details would be required for us to have any confidence in their ability to achieve this.
Quote:
Volunteers – Respondents expressed concern over the use of volunteers to “replace” council staff. Some stressed the lack of reliability that is inherent in the transient role of volunteers. Some were concerned about issues linked to the ability of volunteers to care for the assets and to safeguard visiting audiences, particularly children.
The council is not proposing to replace council staff with volunteers. During the consultation, the community library model was explained. This is based on the commitment by a third party organisation to support access to library service from a building that they are now responsible for. The council commits to sustaining the library service, e.g. through buying books, maintaining the IT-based self-service infrastructure, and providing a peripatetic library service. All the partner organisations maintain safeguarding policies.
The council is not proposing to replace council staff with volunteers. During the consultation, the community library model was explained. This is based on the commitment by a third party organisation to support access to library service from a building that they are now responsible for. The council commits to sustaining the library service, e.g. through buying books, maintaining the IT-based self-service infrastructure, and providing a peripatetic library service. All the partner organisations maintain safeguarding policies.
Library staff will be lost and volunteers will run the libraries, sometimes (from what I've heard) with little day to day interest from the third-party organisation.
Quote:
Use of volunteers at all libraries – The full integration of new volunteer roles in the structure of the library service might provide an option to sustain current provision. This would have to follow the reduction in staff, proposing the replacement of paid staff with volunteers. The council has always viewed the third sector as distinct, supporting it and valuing its input as additional and complementary to the council’s own. There is no indication that the council is minded to depart from the current position. This approach will also require the library service to develop an infrastructure to promote, recruit, manage, and develop volunteers. Such structure might further reduce the library specific staff, unless the new duties and skills are reassigned to re-trained staff.
This shows a terrible lack of imagination. The council would prefer to sack people rather than help them retrain to manage volunteers within the library service. The line in bold shows that this really is a realistic option that the council seem unwilling to investigate any further, even in the remaining hub libraries.
Quote:
Given the outcome of soft market test that resulted in eight organisations expressing an interest, it is reasonable to assume that a formal procurement will attract suitable partners interested in the transfer of the library buildings.
24-11-2015, 06:43 PM
Thanks for this Michael saves me digging around for it later, I'll have a proper read of it tonight.
I was expecting an answer to this today but so far no email reply.
Copy & paste of email I sent:
"Hello
I would like to address the mayor and cabinet and select committee at the Safer, Stronger Communities select committee meeting on 30th Nov.
I have already forwarded emails with my concerns to Mayor Bullock but this is the question I would like to ask.
Why are Lewisham Council proposing more community libraries when clearly this model is not working in the borough with figures in borrowing having gone down by 60-90% in existing community libraries?
I look forward to your reply
Regards"
Hopefully I get a reply before the meeting!
I was expecting an answer to this today but so far no email reply.
Copy & paste of email I sent:
"Hello
I would like to address the mayor and cabinet and select committee at the Safer, Stronger Communities select committee meeting on 30th Nov.
I have already forwarded emails with my concerns to Mayor Bullock but this is the question I would like to ask.
Why are Lewisham Council proposing more community libraries when clearly this model is not working in the borough with figures in borrowing having gone down by 60-90% in existing community libraries?
I look forward to your reply
Regards"
Hopefully I get a reply before the meeting!
24-11-2015, 06:54 PM
Just sent another tweet with link to this thread!
Not expecting any replies but at least someone will have to take notice.
Can someone please look at this & #SaveLewishamLibraries @David_Cameron @MayorofLondon @mayorbullock #SE23 Library ln.is/www.se23.com/f…
Not expecting any replies but at least someone will have to take notice.
Can someone please look at this & #SaveLewishamLibraries @David_Cameron @MayorofLondon @mayorbullock #SE23 Library ln.is/www.se23.com/f…
24-11-2015, 10:28 PM
So 215 peeps said "Don't Do It" I tend to agree with the biggest majority on this!
26-11-2015, 10:06 PM
Hey all that are following this thread
Please come along to the meeting next Monday 30th at 7pm at the Civic Centre in Catford.
We only have one chance to save our library and this is one of my final steps, but not the last!
Please please come along so we can stop this stupid madness from Lewisham Council to make our library a community library.
The more support I have the better for people listening to me.
Glad to see they have taken my emails in to account but my emails say so much more than I have shared on here.
Come along if you can and if you think it's as important as I do.
Thanks so much
Pauline
Please come along to the meeting next Monday 30th at 7pm at the Civic Centre in Catford.
We only have one chance to save our library and this is one of my final steps, but not the last!
Please please come along so we can stop this stupid madness from Lewisham Council to make our library a community library.
The more support I have the better for people listening to me.
Glad to see they have taken my emails in to account but my emails say so much more than I have shared on here.
Come along if you can and if you think it's as important as I do.
Thanks so much
Pauline
27-11-2015, 11:30 AM
27-11-2015, 02:46 PM
It was very good of "Sir Steve" to provide his email address, direct line and fax number.
P1971, do you think of Sugar Mountain as a Sir or a Madam?
P1971, do you think of Sugar Mountain as a Sir or a Madam?
27-11-2015, 06:32 PM
No Ligersaur I don't 
28-11-2015, 10:30 PM
Over the past few days I have been asked for answers to questions for a few news articles via email about our and other libraries in Lewisham borough. Hope I've done all justice, sorry all if I haven't as I'm not the best with words but I tried my best.
Reminder of the mayor and cabinet & safer, stronger communities meeting next Monday 30th Nov at 7pm Civic Suite, Catfiord.
The more the merrier to try and keep our library safe and run by Lewisham Council.
Reminder of the mayor and cabinet & safer, stronger communities meeting next Monday 30th Nov at 7pm Civic Suite, Catfiord.
The more the merrier to try and keep our library safe and run by Lewisham Council.
29-11-2015, 09:50 AM
P1971,
I think you need to ask others who have already saved their local libraries for hints.
You could try Sarah Sackman a labour Party candidate for Finchley at the last election.
I will email her and ask for campaign strategy and tactics.
I think you need to ask others who have already saved their local libraries for hints.
You could try Sarah Sackman a labour Party candidate for Finchley at the last election.
I will email her and ask for campaign strategy and tactics.
29-11-2015, 10:51 AM
Thanks so much Sherwood, much appreciated.
If you could email me any responses they would be great.
Thanks again
If you could email me any responses they would be great.
Thanks again
03-12-2015, 08:49 AM
03-12-2015, 10:56 AM
I think the two statements:
Quote:
Lewisham Council has acknowledged that the issue of declining book borrowing
and
Quote:
Greenwich Council has recently approved plans for a new library with the potential to attract 100,000 visitors a year
should not be compared.
I used my local library service (over near Clapham Junction) extensively a few years ago while studying for professional exams. I did not borrow any books; I witnessed a large amount of library visitors visiting everyday without borrowing any books: elderly people reading the newspapers, teenage students coming to study after school, and adults coming to use the computers.
The library is not just a place for book borrowing, but also a place for reading and adult learning.
03-12-2015, 11:06 AM
There may be people who use the library who don't borrow books.
But book borrowing is probably a good indicator of how much the library is used by all users.
But book borrowing is probably a good indicator of how much the library is used by all users.