‘CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP’ OVER LIBRARIES
Best-selling author Kate Mosse, an early supporter of the Save Barnet Libraries campaign mentioning it on the BBC Politics show and in The Guardian (see http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/dec/11/kate-mosse-libraries-books), last week launched a scathing attack on the matter of library closures. She said, “There has been a naïve belief on the part of government and local authorities that after the initial objections, public anger would wane. Instead it is the precise opposite: the anger has simply exacerbated” adding that there had been “a catastrophic failure of leadership” from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, the Arts Council and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (see http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/fight-to-save-local-libraries-gets-its-day-in-court-2314964.html).
Friern Barnet Library Party
To emphasise Kate’s point, Campaigners for Friern Barnet Library channelled their anger over its threatened closure into the positive force of organising a party to celebrate this focal point of their community. Hundreds turned up, (especially children in fancy dress, many of them representing Hogwarts school – fortunately not thought to be one of the six local schools affected by the closure!) to enjoy a bookworm cake, send a letter to their councillor, make ‘save our library’ posters and listen to live music. If you were there you will know what a great time was had by all – if you weren’t check out the campaign’s website at http://sites.google.com/site/savefriernbarnetlibrary/ to join in the fun through ‘you tube’ and ‘flickr’.
Barnet Council’s cabinet meeting takes place on 26th July 2011, 7:00pm at Hendon Town Hall to discuss the Library Strategy Review. This is the meeting that will decide the fate of Friern Barnet, Hampstead Garden Suburb and North Finchley Libraries. Campaigners on behalf of the above libraries intend to be there and would welcome anybody to come along and offer moral support.
Contact your MP
Campaigners are also asking users of the affected libraries to contact their MP to let them know they do not want their libraries to close.
For Friern Barnet this is Theresa Villiers MP who can be contacted through:
http://www.theresavilliers.com/email/
For Hampstead Garden Suburb and North Finchley it is Mike Freer MP who can be contacted at mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk
As Kate Mosse has said, let them know your anger over library closures is not on the wane – but do it politely as we want them to take action not umbrage!