Library wars

Well - the consultation ended and we have now had the results - guess what ? All those thousands of pounds to consultants and we learn - wait for it - people love libraries! Reluctantly obviously people have stated they would prefer cuts in opening hours to library closures. However, there would have to be an approximate 50% reduction plus a lot of other cuts to make up the shortfall. The Labour Council are between a rock and a hard place here - how they will decide, we shall have to wait till June to see!

Meanwhile Labour Councillors refused to pledge no library closures when the Lib Dems called for a special Council Meeting to put this forward as a motion. They turned our motion into a pledge not to "privatise" them which was hardly on anyone's agenda and was somewhat of a red herring.

Here is our press release:
Commenting on Wednesday night's extraordinary council meeting, at which Labour voted down a motion ruling out local library closures, Camden Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said: "It is sad day for libraries in Camden when the ruling Labour party refuses to vote for a motion ruling out closures. We were right to call this meeting, so that all local councillors could discuss such a critical issue for the borough. But library supporters wanted more than just warm words: they wanted their councillors to vote against closures. The huge number of local residents who gave up an evening to sit in the public galleries shows just how passionately people in Camden feel about their libraries. We will continue to represent their views in the Town Hall and will not give up the fight to get Labour to rule out all library closures in Camden."

Liberal Democrat Libraries Spokesperson Councillor Flick Rea, who co-sponsored the motion, added: "Libraries are the heart and soul of our community, loved by young and old alike. If our local libraries are boarded up they will be lost forever. We must keep all of Camden's thirteen excellent libraries open!"

The extraordinary council meeting held on 27th April considered the following motion tabled by Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Keith Moffitt and seconded by Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesperson Cllr Flick Rea:
" This Council, recognising the value of the library service to the people of Camden and the high esteem in which it is held, resolves that any proposed service changes should not include any closure of the 13 libraries within the borough, and further resolves to explore in depth any reasonable alternative cost-saving measures in partnership with local residents, library users, library staff and voluntary groups."

Labour voted to amend the motion so that it no longer ruled out library closures. ENDS