Forum Topic

Libraries Consultation - Closes 03/05/11

Had no idea there was any consultation until I visited the library yesterday. The scheme of questions seems to me to be slanted to emphasise how terribly expensive libraries are and suggest we'd be better off without some of them.In a time when there's increased concern about child and adult literacy and buying books is likely to put family budgets under strain this is a dangerous tendency.Please seek out the consultation and save libraries.

Nina Thomas ● 5642d5 Comments

Nina,I posted this back on March 24 this year, but no one seemed interested.  Full details below:Hi, I just received this information from CARA (Creffield Area Residents' Association.  Hopefully Acton's well-used library won't be cut from services.  Please respond to the consultation if you can:From: Alison REYNOLDS [Alison.Reynolds@ealing.gov.uk]Sent: 23 March 2011 12:29Later this afternoon we're launching a public consultation on the future of the library service in the context of the overall financial situation facing the council.  The aim of the consultation is to help to shape the council's libraries strategy.The consultation will run for six weeks, closing on 3rd May 2011 and will be available on the Council's website at www.ealing.gov.uk/consultationsWe are asking whether community / voluntary organisations would be interested in providing library services and gauging the level of interest in volunteering.  The consultation also identifies some services as being least cost effective and raises a question as to whether or not these services should be continued. The consultation is supported by a background document which will be available later today. The intention is to provide residents with information to help them in coming to their own view on future service provision.It is anticipated that a report will be presented to Cabinet in June or early July.If you would like further details about the consultation, feel free tocontact Louisa Wood (020 8825 5758).Best wishesAlison ReynoldsDirector of Customer ServicesTel 020 8825 5329

Kim Bobsin ● 5641d

Oh! That would be disastrous if Acton Library closed, I don't even see the need for it as it provides much more value than it takes.If it is to be closed, can it be kept open if enough people protest, or have plans on how to run it?Not wanting to derail the thread, but I would like to know how the online Library works, so far I've had no success even though the Library gave me my PIN.Please contact me if you want to keep the library open and if I can help I will add my voice to this, though I have no more authority than anyone else.

John Pollastrini ● 5641d

There's a library being designed into the new town Hall scheme - which would seem bizarre if there is not to be one!

Sara Nathan ● 5641d

That Alison Reynolds has got attitude.Why she has not said that the Council wants to reduce costs but would give some financial support for a business case to a charitable/community type of organisation so as not to close libraries, beats me.That is what the consultation should be about. This Labour administration wants to evacuate on the future education of children in favour of a silly car park (cost £5M) in the middle of a recession, for which there is no business case. They think that an essential adjunct to learning (i.e. libraries) is second priority and a garage is top priority. I suppose now we shall see them cook up a shabby and underhand car park business case couched in spin. Watch out for the next dodgy dossier.Is it that the majority of the Labour councillors are so poorly educated that they cannot understand in a million years what education is all about?That is not to say that there are not some fairly odd non Labour Councillors, but that's for another time.

George Knox ● 5641d

It seems that the Mobile Library is particularly under threat.  As a user of it I feel that it would be a great loss - many housebound people would lose out on a very important service.  While the books they hold are limited, they are very good at getting books to order - I have benefitted from books from the British Library that I could certainly not afford.  I know this service would be available from main libraries, but for people like me, with slight mobility problems, the service is extremely valuable. The questionnaire can be found on the Ealing web site, with all the other consulations!

Nina Battleday ● 5641d