From SAPL (Supporters of Alexandra Park Library):
General Meeting held by SAPL (Supporters of Alexandra Park Library) 24 February 2024 Alexandra Park Library Minutes:
1. Report on FORE Deputation to Haringey Council and developments since
Jane Larter reported on the FORE Deputation to the Haringey Council on 6 February. Many SAPL and others emailed the councillors before the meeting.
Councillor Arkel had a prepared statement. She also sent a detailed email response to the original email from the community ahead of the deputation.
The 1st tranche of cuts would be 15% of the library budget and would focus on library operating hours. This would take place in 2024.
The 2nd tranche of cuts would be 16% of the library budget for 2025.
The idea of volunteer run libraries and self-service have been dropped for the time being.
FORE has made inquiries about further details on the budget cuts but hasn’t received a reply.
FORE is utilizing Freedom of Information sources to figure out themselves about data and information that Haringey is using in its budget process.
Currently, FORE and SAPL would like to understand what information the council have regarding current expenditures, projected budgets and sources of revenue. No information is currently available.
Haringey announced a new library strategy, but it has yet to be published or shared publicly.
SAPL and other libraries will work through FORE to negotiate about library issues. Haringey Council has suggested co-production but it is unclear what this means.
Library staff are unaware of the budget cuts and what they mean. Library staff uses lots of temporary workers and they would need to rely on their unions. Librarian jobs are in steady decline.
SAPL has decided to participate in discussions via FORE and will not be holding individual conversations/ negotiations with the council but in tandem with all libraries with the view that it is a stronger and more equitable position to act as one library system versus individual libraries.
2. Strategy for SAPL and library users moving forward
Jane opened the floor for questions and suggestions about next steps.
There was significant concern about not having any real data from Haringey about the budget and lack of data about library usage.
There were questions about what does the 15% budget cut mean and unfortunately SAPL/ FORE don’t have a response to that now.
There was also a question to clarify what co-production meant and no one could answer that.
The budget will be voted on on 4 March and so there is a realization that there isn’t much time or much opportunity to stop library budgets from being cut.
There is the opportunity to demonstrate how important libraries are to the community in both the short and long term.
Short term
Email to councillors on or before1 March to re iterate the importance of libraries
Outreach to schools and the wider community about the library offerings:
- Bounds Green Primary School
Muswell Hill Primary School
Rhodes Avenue Primary School
Coldfall Primary School
Alexandra Park School
Heartlands School
Scout Groups
Norfolk House
Rosemont Nursery
Robbie at Tambo Rec
Longer Term
World Book Day (March 7)
Election Hustings
Also discussed was a demonstration at the council on Monday 4th March but there seems to be little appetite to pursue this.
3. AOB
No other business
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