Alexandra Park Library

Posted by Giles Christian on December 11, 2016 at 1:26am in Community News, Info, Issues

It looks like there is a serious proposal from the council to reduce the opening hours at AP Library by a third, to cut costs. They have always said libraries were something they would protect. I live closer to Wood Green Central Library, though it would be better renamed Mini Library as they sold off so much stock to make room for council services. I admit I benefitted from this as I bought a lot. But still.

The LGBT section was a full bay and is now a shelf and a half. This is important. As a young man I depended on the library to help find my way through. I assume the stock was sold off based on fewest loans - but that hits minority groups hardest. The fewer of you, the fewer times a book is borrowed.

I hope they change their mind

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Replies

Liz McShane December 23, 2016 at 12:12pm

George, on a purely personal level, my sister is a librarian (in the US) and she would kill me if I voted for this!
George Danker December 23, 2016 at 10:56am

Thank you Liz. Do you think other Councillors will be willing to speak out? I think local residents are well aware of Government funding cuts, but the damage done to the community from this plan seems completely disproportionate to the potential savings.
Liz McShane December 23, 2016 at 10:48am

This is one of a number of proposals being considered as part of more cuts to LA funding. Just t.o let you know that I will be voting against this proposal and will urge councillor colleagues to do the same.
George Danker December 18, 2016 at 9:50am

Haringey Council are engaging in cultural vandalism. There is no other term for it. They wasted £450k on setting up a lettings agency (who wants another one of those!) which has only 3 properties on its books. They swanned off to Cannes at taxpayer's expense and had fancy dinners with PR firms employed by private developers and staffed by Councillors.

And now they want to "save" £150k - pennies to them - by slashing access to this crucial public service.

Shameful.
Annabel Gregory December 11, 2016 at 1:05pm

I can't find the document on the LBH website - can you see any usefully searchable words in the tweet? Absolutely agree with what you say about the reduction in opening hours.
- Giles Christian > Annabel Gregory December 11, 2016 at 1:22pm
  
  I've managed to enlarge it so hopefully it wil be readable Annabel
- Annabel Gregory > Giles Christian December 11, 2016 at 2:24pm
  
  Thanks for this, Giles - still can't find it!
Susie Holden December 11, 2016 at 9:40am

Oh no, that's terrible news. Where did you hear it from?
- Giles Christian > Susie Holden December 11, 2016 at 10:48am
  
  I saw it on Twitter - someone had scanned and uploaded the council document though it's too small to add a copy here. It will affect 6 of the libraries and will save money through reduction of staff. It becomes self fulfilling as smaller opening hours means lower footfall (obviously). Lower footfall means under-used service, and in turn means eventual closure as it looks like money spent on something nobody wants

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