CAMDEN LIBRARIES IN THE NEWS

'Ministers want to shelve your library' – Rachel Cooke | Camden ...

24 Jun 2010 ... AWARD-WINNING journalist Rachel Cooke has warned library users over the future of the service and the need to fight to keep the “precious” ...

www.camdennewjournal.com/.../‘ministers-want-shelve-your-library’-–-rachel-cooke -




‘Horrible’, ‘horrid’ - Friends of Heath Library hit out at revamp
Published: 20 May, 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2010/may/

A GRADE II-listed library is at risk of resembling a child’s bedroom because of ugly new corporate branding.

That is the warning from the Friends of Heath Library who this week warned the Town Hall that they will protest against the changes made to the building.

The group say they are opposed to new features including turning teal walls into a clinical white, and painting a green border around a the library’s glass dome. Pastel-coloured animal stickers and computer symbols plastered to the wall have also caused concern.

Ruth Gorb, a Friends of Heath Library committee member, said: “We’re trying to be reasonable but there are a lot of things we’re not happy about. We’re all very distressed.

“Why change something that has been such an asset to the neighbourhood and has been much loved for many years. We’ve spent 15 years keeping that library lovely, we have looked after it with such loving care, and they seem to have rubbed all of it out. The atmosphere has been destroyed. It’s very upsetting.”.

The Friends group say they are finding fewer books and the new ­“quiet” area has been placed next to the children’s library.

As in other Camden libraries, staff now ask, “can I help you?”, and wear names badges.

“It’s all part of this corporate image – I think it’s appalling,” said Ms Gorb.

A show of hands at a group meeting last Wednesday revealed barely anyone approved of the changes, which were unveiled last month as part of a council scheme launched this year, called Growing Your Library.

Judith Allen, who worked at Heath Library in the 1970s, said: “It was lovely. It had such a lovely atmosphere. Now where do people check out books? The wooden desk is gone. You walk in and the first thing you see is videos and machines. It’s not cosy anymore.”

Others shouted out, “it’s horrible,” “horrid,” and “rubbish”.

Peter Gorb, a professor in design and corporate identity, said: “Libraries have a sufficiently strong identity. Where else can you walk into a room full of books and know you’re not in a library? It looks like a children’s bedroom now.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Linda Chung, who met with the Friends last week, has written to Mike Clarke, Camden’s head of libraries, to ask what went wrong during the consultation process ahead of the changes.

She said: “I was told [by Camden] there had been consultation. But if there had, these mistakes shouldn’t have been made and it should be rectified.”

The backlash means Councillor Tulip Siddiq, Labour’s new leisure chief, will have to hit the ground running.

Cllr Siddiq promised to meet library user groups and said she could not comment until she had met with council officers.

A Camden Council spokesman said: “Heath library was recently refurbished to create better services and we made a number of improvements to deliver a service that meets the needs of library users.

“New signage and branding has been installed into all libraries across Camden to make use and navigation easier for visitors even when visiting an unfamiliar library.

“At Heath library we preserved and enhanced its unique character and the number of books and other items available is the same as before the refurbishment. As with any customer-facing services, our staff wear name badges so that customers can quickly and easily identify them.

“The council has a strong history with the Friends of Heath library and we widely recognise their support.”.. [CONTINUES]

KEATS FESTIVAL - Poet in residence Rommi Smith celebrates John Keat's life - Until June 13

Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 5 November 2009 (3 LETTERS)
Library services are being cut behind people’s backs

• I ATTENDED the little-publicised committee meeting on Wednesday where the council’s new plans to Grow Your Libraries [by shrinking them] were under consideration.

Councillor Flick Rea did her best, and asked a few sharp questions, but it is frightening that a decision of such importance should be decided by a single individual and in the space of less than one hour.

The three skilled delegations – from Unison, Holborn library users and Camden History Society – got three minutes each! This was a travesty.

And now we see (Library consultants’ £2,000-a-day bill, October 29) that consultants planning the library cuts – that’s “Invest to Save” in council newspeak – were paid £2,000 a day, totalling £47,000 which would have paid salaries for some of the 14 skilled library workers whose jobs are to go.

These plans are being rushed through before new machines are even in place to see if they work, let alone if they can adequately replace experienced staff.

Unison was not given a sight of the new staffing grades and plans until just two hours before the meeting.

The council’s assistant director of culture and environment Fiona Dean continued to repeat that her plans would “flatten management layers” when, in fact, the plans expand into three tiers of senior managers [with pay upgrades too], while 30 per cent of the most expert library staff will be lost and two of the lower posts will face a pay cut.

I attended the meeting as a concerned user of Camden’s brilliant local history collection.

We learned from the chair of the Camden History Society that this collection had achieved 16 per cent more users in the last year – just about unique in London boroughs.

But the council’s reward for the manager whose work over decades helped make this success possible? Planning to eliminate his job and “restructure” the post in a way that would effectively cut staffing to the local history department itself.

Shockingly, both the council officers and Cllr Rea maintained that the public had no need to be consulted on any of these plans because staffing the libraries is “an internal matter”. [CONTINUES]

LETTER TWO
One word!

• ONE word comes to mind concerning your report (Library consultants’ £2,000-a-day bill, October 29) about the absurd amount of money paid to the American firm of GYL Library Consultants, £47,000 just to go around looking at a few libraries and come up with “ideas”, and then the council’s refusal to disclose the outcomes of this operation on the grounds that they have not yet decided how to act on it.

That word is privatisation. [CONTINUES]



LETTER THREE

• COUNCILLOR Flick Rea, Camden’s executive member for culture, was reported in the October 29 New Journal as suggesting that there was “no evidence that the library service will improve as a result of the changes” about to be implemented.

This is refreshing honesty from a senior member of Camden’s ruling coalition. [CONTINUES]

Library reform squad don’t use book service, survey reveals
Camden New Journal  - By CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 6 August 2009
....The New Journal asked each councillor on the Culture and Environment Scrutiny Panel, [circa 2009] and few of them had troubled their borrowing accounts in recent months or years.

As the boxes above show, Lib Dem councillor Nick Russell has not borrowed a book in more than 10 years, while his colleague Linda Chung mainly uses libraries for calm contemplation.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article4783690.ece
2008. From The Times
September 19, 2008

Public libraries open way for drinks, snacks and mobiles
by Fiona Hamilton, London Correspondent

.... In Camden, North London, the council’s library strategy is being overhauled from next month [October 2008}. A ban on mobile phones is to be lifted and users will be allowed to bring in snacks and drinks. Initiatives being considered include providing computer games.

Mike Clarke, head of libraries at the council, said that some of the changes were based on retail models, such as Virgin’s megastores, that encourage people to stay for long periods. He said: “It is all about improving the atmosphere of the libraries. We want to make them into a more relaxed space that people can feel more comfortable in. I don’t feel that they have to be totally silent.”

Seats of learning

— Forty libraries closed last year (2007)

— Overall spending on books fell by 0.6 per cent last year

— The number of qualified librarians employed in British libraries fell by 4.1 per cent last year. A further 6.6 per cent decrease is expected this year

— In the past 10 years, book borrowing fell by 34 per cent

— Early libraries were associated with the Church, and were silent places. When public libraries began in the Victorian era serious learning was regarded as a serious activity that needed to occur in a quiet environment



2010  Camden Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee : details

Name sort by name in alphabetical order (A-Z) sort by name in reverse alphabetical order (Z-A) by name Political partysort by party in alphabetical order (A-Z) sort by party in reverse alphabetical order (Z-A) Role sort by role in alphabetical order (A-Z) sort by role in reverse alphabetical order (Z-A)

Birch, Sean Labour Committee Chair

Knight, Chris Conservative Committee Member

Robinson, Roger Labour Committee Member

Chung, Linda Liberal Democrat Committee Member

Khatoon, Samata Labour Committee Member

Eslamdoust, Maryam Labour Committee Member

Katz, Mike Labour Committee Member

Leyland, Claire-Louise Conservative Committee Member

Rea, Flick Liberal Democrat Named Substitute

Roberts, Kirsty Conservative Named Substitute

Gould, Georgia Labour Named Substitute

Nuti, Milena Labour Named Substitute

Revah, Larraine Labour Named Substitute

Apak, Meric Labour Named Substitute

Director of Culture & Environment
Ms Rachel Stopard
rachel.stopard@camden.gov.uk Tel: 020 7974 5621
Town Hall Extn Argyle Street London WC1H 8EQ


MEETINGS:

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee 18.10.2010

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee 22.11.2010

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee 20.01.2011

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee 30.03.2011

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee 20.04.2011

ALL LONDON COUNCILLORS
http://www.directory.londoncouncils.gov.uk/search/?bid=&name=&party=8&pos=

CAMDEN COUNCILLORS
http://www.directory.londoncouncils.gov.uk/directory/camden/councillors/


PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN CAMDEN: JOIN A FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY!
FORM A FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY!

Camden public libraries (13):

* Belsize Library

* Camden Town Library

* Chalk Farm Library

* Heath Library

* Highgate Library

* Holborn Library

* Kentish Town Library

* Kilburn Library Centre

* Queens Crescent Library

* Regents Park Library

* St Pancras Library

* Swiss Cottage Central Library

* West Hampstead Library

CONTACT DETAILS:

Belsize Library
Tel: 020 797465
[central number 020 7974 4001]
18 Belsize Branch Library
Antrim Road
Hampstead London NW3 4XN
Tue-Wed 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Mon, Thu-Fri, Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members. Free WiFi. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. CDs. Adult and childrens videos and DVDs. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.

British Library
Tel: 020 7412 7332
96 Euston Road
Camden Town London NW1 2DB


Camden Town Library
Crowndale Centre
218 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1BD
[central number 020 7974 4001]
Fax: 020 7974 1582
www.camden.gov.uk/camdentownlibrary
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults. CDs, DVDs and videos for adults and children. Talking books on cassette/DVD for adults and children. Language courses for adults. Newspapers and periodicals for adults. Special collection of books, DVDs and videos in Bengali. PCs for hire. Under 4s Rhyme Time sessions Tue 11am-12 noon term time only. Under 2s Baby Bounce sessions Wed 1.30pm-2.30pm. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. UK Online Learning Centre providing internet access and computer learning packages. There is a wheelchair accessible toilet in the building.

Chalk Farm Library
Sharpleshall Street
London NW1 8YN
www.camden.gov.uk/chalkfarmlibrary
Fax: 020 7974 6502
Mon, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Tue-Thu and Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults, CDs for adults, DVDs for adults and children, DVDs and cassettes for children, talking books on cassette for adults and children, language courses on cassette for adults, newspapers and periodicals. Computers with wordprocessing facilities. Under 5s Rhyme Time weekly. Exhibitions. Meeting space for hire. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Foreign language classes run by Westminister Kingsway College, when library is closed. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.

European Documentation Centre
Tel: 020 79557273
10 Portugal Street
Lincolns Inn Fields London WC2A 2HD

Heath Library
Tel: 020 79746520
Heath Branch Library
10A Keats Grove Hampstead London NW3 2RR
fax:  020 7974 6618
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults, CDs for adults, videos for adults and children, DVDs for adults and children, talking books on cassette and CD for adults and children, language courses on cassette for adults and children. Newspapers and periodicals. PCs for public use. Display space. Meeting space. Friends Group. Reading Group. Next to Keats' House. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.


HIGHGATE LIBRARY
Chester Road
London N19 5DH
www.camden.gov.uk/highgatelibrary
Tue-Thu 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Mon, Fri, Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to computers, including wordprocessing, and the internet for library members. Prior booking advised. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults, CDs for adults, DVDs for adults and children, talking books on cassette and CD for adults and children. Newspapers and periodicals. Learning centre. UK Online centre. Friends group. Under 5s Rhyme Time sessions. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.

Holborn Library
32-38 Theobalds Road
London WC1X 8PA
www.camden.gov.uk/holbornlibrary
(central number) 020 7974 4001
Fax: 020 7974 6356
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun closed.
Friends group
Public library. Free WiFi, public access to the internet. Information about Council, local services and organisations, access to the Cindex databases, a collection of self-help leaflets, photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books, CDs for adults; videos, DVDs and talking books on cassette and CD for adults and children. Newspapers and periodicals. Bengali collection for adults and children. Small law Collection. UK Online Learning Centre. Exhibitions. Over 50s activities one Thu a month at 2.30pm. Reading group one Tue a month at 1pm.. Under 5s Rhyme Time Wed 11am-12 noon in term time. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Meetings rooms for hire, wheelchair accessible public toilet.

Jette Librarians Ltd
Tel: 020 74825714
First House
Dartmouth Park Road
Kentish Town London NW5 1SU


Kentish Town Library
Tel: 020 79746253
262-266 Kentish Town Road
Kentish Town London NW5 2AA
Fax: 020 7482 2498
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun closed.
Public library. Normal service includes: computers for public use, including free access to the internet. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database, a collection of self-help leaflets, photocopier and neighbourhood notice board, large print books for adults, CDs for adults, DVDs for adults and children, playstation games for adults and children, talking books on cassette and CD for adults and children, language courses on cassette and CD for adults, newspapers and periodicals for adults and children, study guides (Key Stages and A level), children's library. Learning Centre. Meetings room for hire (12 persons maximum), 12 pc Learning Centre for hire. Rhyme time for under-fives Wed 10.30-11.30am. in term time. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.



Kilburn Library
12-22 Kilburn High Road
London NW6 5UH
www.camden.gov.uk/kilburnlibrary
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members (one session available to non-members). Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier, CDs, DVDs, XBox 360 games, graphic novels. Children's library. UK Online Learning Centre. Meetings space for hire. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. 40 computers for public use, and study area. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.

Lincolns Inn Library
Tel: 020 72424371
Lincolns Inn
Lincolns Inn Fields London WC2A 3TN

Marylebone Library
Tel: 020 76411037
109-117 Marylebone Road
Camden Town London NW1 5PS

Queens Crescent Library
Tel: 020 7974 6243 | 165
Fax: 020 7974 6252
Queens Crescent
Kentish Town London NW5 4HH
www.camden.gov.uk/queenscrescentlibrary
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address plus one other form of identification. Free public access to the internet/email. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database and Camden's online reference resources. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults, CDs for adults, DVDs for adults and children, talking books on cassette for adults and children, language courses on cassette and CD for adults, newspapers and periodicals. Small collection of Somali books. Learning Centre. Meetings room. Computer courses. Children's library with toys and games. Under 5s Rhyme time session weekly. Homework club on Wednesday and Friday evenings in term time. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.

Regent's Park Library
Robert Street
London  NW1 3QT
Tue-Thu 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Mon, Fri, Sun closed.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults, CDs for adults, videos for adults and children, DVDs for adults and children, talking books on cassette for adults and children, language courses on cassette for adults. Newspapers and periodicals. Material in Bengali. Learning Centre for use by library users only. A UK Online Centre. Meeting space for hire. Under fives Rhyme Time sessions and under twos Baby Bounce sessions weekly in term time. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Public toilet.

St Pancras Library
Tel: 020 79745833
Fax: 020 7974 5963
Town Hall Extension
Argyle Street
St Pancras London WC1H 8NN
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun closed.
Public library. Free public access to the internet for library members. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books and talking books on cassette and CD for adults, Talking books on cassette and CD for children. Newspapers and periodicals for adults and children. CDs for adults, DVDs for adults and children. Language courses on cassette and CD for adults. Books and CDs in Bengali, DVDs in Hindi. Books, DVDs and CDs in Chinese. Occasional exhibitions. Weekly Rhyme Time sessions for Under 5s during term time, babies under 18 months especially welcome. Family Rhyme Time one Sat in four for children and accompanying adults. Book Bugs, a book and craft session for children aged 4-11 on alternate Sat afternoons. Story time for children and families first Fri of the month 4pm-4.30pm. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. There is a wheelchair accessible toilet in the building.


Swiss Cottage Central Library
Tel: 020 79746522
88 Avenue Road
Hampstead London NW3 3HA
Fax: 020 7974 6532
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am-4pm.
Senior Officers: Abul Kashim, Chris Davies, Sally Davies and Maureen Nichols. Camden Council's central public library. Free membership on official proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members, with range of assistive technology for computer users with visual impairment. Wi-fi pilot in operation from August 2009. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. Self-help leaflets. Reference and information services. Separate Children's Library with weekly Rhyme Time session for children under 18 months and older(Fri 10:30 in term time). Baby Bounce for babies and children under 18 months (Thurs 10:30 in term time) Family Rhyme Time (Sun 11:30 when advertised). Photocopier, Older People's Information board and neighbourhood noticeboard. Fiction and subject books with a browsing and quick choice service. Large print books for adults; CDs, DVDs and videos for adults and children; talking books on cassette and CD for adults and children; language courses on cassette and CD for adults; music scores. Special collection of philosophy and psychology books; material in Albanian, Urdu, Somali, Spanish, German, French and Italian for adults and in Somali, Spanish, Urdu, French, and German for children. Maps, statistics and EU collections and Government publications online. Cafe and toilets. Exhibition Gallery managed by Camden Arts Services. Meetings rooms for hire. Library items may be reserved or renewed online or in person in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilets.

West Hampstead Library
Tel: 020 79746610
West Hampstead Library
Dennington Park Road
Kilburn London NW6 1AU
020 7974 6610.
Fax: 020 7974 6539
Mon-Tue 10am-7pm, Wed closed,
Thu 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Public library. Free membership on proof of name and address. Free public access to the internet for library members. Information about Council and other local services and organisations and access to the Cindex database. A collection of self-help leaflets. Photocopier and neighbourhood noticeboard. Large print books for adults, CDs and DVDs, talking books on cassette and CD, language courses on cassette and CD for adults, newspapers and periodicals. Wordprocessing facilities. Small exhibition areas. Meeting space for hire. AM Club for over 60s and Rhyme time and Baby Bounce sessions for under 5s. Friends group. Library items may be reserved or renewed online in the library or over the internet. Wheelchair accessible public toilet.

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