A consultation is in place but it is becoming very evident that the decision has already been made.
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Monthly Archives: Feb 2021
Reports on Sarah Jones MP’s meeting on ‘How do volunteer libraries work?’
Sarah Jones MP, the MP for Croydon Central, hosted a meeting, particularly targetting invitations to those who have volunteered before.
It was advertised as a meeting on “How do community-run libraries work?”
Did you attend?
Let us know your thoughts.
Reports from those who attended write,
Nish Kumar supports the campaign to Save Croydon libraries!
Thanks to the amazing, talented comedian, Nish Kumar, for providing us with this quote.
If you care about our public libraries in Croydon too, please JOIN US!
Save Croydon Libraries Campaign
Petition: https://www.change.org/p/croydon-council-save-croydon-libraries
Email: savecroydonlibraries@gmail.com
Email: savecroydonlibraries@gmail.com
Twitter: @SaveCroydonLibs
#SaveCroydonLibs
Comments on Sarah Jones MP’s meeting on ‘How do community-run libraries work?’ – 14 Dec 2020
Sarah Jones MP, the MP for Croydon Central, hosted a meeting, particularly targetting invitations to those who have volunteered before.
Image: Ken Baker – Used with permission
It did not go down well.
Here is a selection of comments, posted on Facebook:
“I can’t’ believe our local MP.
How insulting to our intelligence. Very quiet about cuts now supporting Labour Council who messed up. Helping them to replace paid qualified librarians with volunteers.“
“Our local Labour MPs have been more silent about the council bankruptcy than any library I have ever been in.”
Sarah Jones MP’s email to residents
Email sent to promote the meeting on community-run libraries, held in December 2020.
Our highlights in RED.
“Dear XXXXXXX,
I am writing to you because you have previously expressed an interest in volunteering in Croydon and helping the community.
We have all seen the news about the financial position of Croydon Council and we know that some very difficult decisions will have to be taken about the services that the council can provide. We know that the library service is considered and that some of our libraries will have to be run in a different way or closed.
With this in mind, I have organised a community meeting early next week (Monday, 14th December, 6-7:30PM) in order to bring us together to discuss how we can overcome the challenges we face. There will be people in attendance from all over the country who have experience of operating libraries on various different models, as well as representatives from Croydon Council and Croydon Voluntary Action.
Here is the panel:
- Simon Higgs – V22 a social enterprise, running libraries across Lewisham
- Stuart Lynd – The Place at Platt Lane, Manchester a volunteer supported library
- Steve Phaure – Croydon Voluntary Action
- Cllr Oliver Lewis – Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries
I would be delighted if you could come along to find out more about these models and what we all might be able to do to help. Please register here to secure your attendance on 6th December: 18:00-19:30. I look forward to seeing you there: https://parliament-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5MlcemrrzMtHdT0v6ejreF-_NirZjMyPanP?fbclid=IwAR2CkFQ-6TJgZx3VawBfff4wt31uf5QaPedeEtyLte5nrztDweYAydMZSzc
All the best,
Sarah
Sarah Jones MP “
Sarah Jones MP’s meeting on ‘How do community-run libraries work?’
Sarah Jones MP, the MP for Croydon Croydon Council had even begun to consult residents on the five libraries under threat.
This meeting was held on 14 December, 2020, a month before the libraries consultation was launched.
It was advertised, as follows, on Facebook:
“How do community-run libraries work?
We have all seen the news about the financial position of Croydon Council and we know that some very difficult decisions will have to be taken about the services that the Council can provide. We know that the library service is considered and that some of our libraries will have to be run in a different way or closed. This meeting will explore how libraries can be community-run. I have invited people from across the UK who are running local libraries to hear how it’s done. We will also hear from the Council. It will be an opportunity to listen and learn and perhaps begin to think about what we could do right here in Croydon:Simon Higgs – V22 – a social enterprise, running libraries across LewishamStuart Lynd – The Place at Platt Lane, Manchester a volunteer-supported librarySteve Phaure – Croydon Voluntary ActionCllr Oliver Lewis – Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries
Please come along to my meeting on at 6.00pm – 7.30pm on Monday 14th December to learn more – register here: https://parliament-uk.zoom.us/…/u5MlcemrrzMtHdT0v6ejreF…”
This is what others thought:
Comments post on social media, here.
Reports by people who attended, here.
Did YOU attend?
What did you think?
Email reports to SaveCroydonLibraries@gmail.com or add your comments to this post.
Croydon libraries proposals webinars – Feb 2021 – campaign tips
Croydon Council is running webinars for residents as part of the consultation. This includes a general Croydon libraries session, one on how to run a community library and one for each library under threat.
Campaign tips
JOIN US! Save Croydon Libraries Campaign Meeting – 10 Feb 2021, 6.30pm
Are YOU concerned about the five libraries under threat and the wider impact this will have on our much valued and well-used public library service in Croydon?
Join with others to discuss the consultation and what we can do to campaign to save our libraries.
This is the rescheduled campaign meeting from 9 February as it clashed with Croydon Council’s Scrutiny meeting that night which is to discuss the disposal of assets, including our much loved and well-used library buildings!
Email SaveCroydonLibraries@gmail.com for login in details, which will be sent out on Tuesday.
Download a copy to share: _Save Croydon Libraries meeting – 10 Feb 2021
Sign the petition here.
Why are we fighting for a properly staffed, stocked and funded library service in Croydon? – the importance of library workers
The staffing in Croydon libraries has been cut to the bone, following a succession of cuts to our library service.
A large number of qualified librarians and experienced library workers were ousted from the service, losing their jobs due to cuts or intolerable working conditions, over many years of cuts and restructuring.
Some libraries were not even able to open at some points in the past due to just one library worker not reporting for duty.
And our libraries have been left in an awful, unwelcoming state at times, again due to staff shortages and potentially other issues relating to management.
But Croydon residents, whilst mourning the loss of our librarians and so many skilled library workers, still very much value the existing staffing in Croydon libraries.
So, what do librarians and library workers offer that makes the public library service?
Reproduced here, based extensively on the original list Lauren Smith produced, used and altered with her permission, is our starter list of what library workers have to offer in Croydon and all the tasks they do, which many people will not even be aware of.
Is this really something volunteers could take on adequately and skillfully, or that they could continue to do if library worker numbers were cut even further?
POSTPONED! Save Croydon Libraries Campaign Meeting – 9 Feb 2021, 6.30pm
The campaign meeting planned for Tues 9 February 2021 is being postponed as Croydon Council’s Scrutiny meeting that night is to discuss the disposal of assets, including our much loved and well-used library buildings!
Email SaveCroydonLibraries@gmail.com to get involved with the campaign.
Sign the petition here.
Save Croydon Libraries 