Showing posts with label Brent library closures. Save Preston Library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brent library closures. Save Preston Library. Show all posts

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Bids open for Eurostar tickets sale to support community library

In honour of the rather fabulous Preston Community Library nestled in the doorway of our old one, Preston Library Campaign  have 4 single Eurostar tickets up for auction (That's either 2 x returns or 4 x one way if you fancy staying where you are!)

Bids start at £200  –
e-mail bids to:
bunce.linsell@virgin.net or  text to 07905 846483

Let your friends know and let the bidding begin!

NB: 1 week will be needed to transfer the tickets to the winner's name. The campaign will  contact the winner for further details.

In addition to Paris, Brussels, Lille Eurostar now have a special service in the summer. It is a direct train to Avignon on Saturdays, leaving St Pancras at 7.17am the return leaving Avignon at 16.27.  The last direct train from Avignon is on the 8th September.

Saturday 3 March 2012

Temporary reception classes at Preston Library?

The scale of the shortage of primary school places in Brent is set out in another report to the Executive:

The expansion of four primary schools is suggested plus a variety of other short-term solutions that will be controversial. The issue of providing new schools remains a low priority and is undermined by Coalition requirements that new schools should be free schools or academies in the first instance.

The four expanded schools are Barham from 3 to 4 form entry, Mitchell Brook 2-3 FE, Fryent 2-4 FE and Furness 2-3 FE. All governing bodies have agreed except for Furness which awaits the appointment of a new headteacher.

It is suggested that the closed Preston Library could provide one or two 'bulge' classes of 30 depending on adaptations and the Stonebridge Centre in Twybridge Way 120 places through provision of temporary classrooms.

Temporary expansion of existing schools include St Andrew and St Francis (30 places), Ashley Gardens (Preston Manor) 60 places, Wembley High (using 6th form provision for primary) 60 places, St Josephs Catholic Primary 30 places, Vicar's Green (an Ealing school on Brent border) 30 places, Curzon Crescent Children's Centre 30 places. College Green Nursery 25 places and Riverbank Nursery (Brentfield) 30 places.

The full report is HERE

Thursday 2 February 2012

Barry Gardiner MP drops into crowded Preston Library meeting

I was unable to attend the recent public meeting organised by Save Preston Library Campaign. There is an account of the meeting on the Harrow Observer website HERE

Thursday 5 January 2012

Brent Council lambasted in New York Times

Kamila Shamsie is the author of five novels, most recently “Burnt Shadows,” which was short-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction. She grew up in Karachi and now lives in London. She wrote this piece for the International Herald Tribune, the global edition of the New York Times.

LONDON — A couple of years ago, after a reading in Karachi, I told off a young man who was asking me to sign a pirated copy of one of my books. Piracy is destroying publishing in Pakistan, I told him. He said he understood but added that because pirated books are cheaper he could buy more of them. It’s not as if Karachi is filled with public libraries, he said.
 .
A few weeks later, back in London, I walked into my local library and felt immensely grateful for how easily available books were — crime-free. I had no idea then of the crisis facing British libraries (pdf). Over the last year or two, you’d have had to be living under several rocks not to notice.

The part of North London I live in borders the council of Brent, now the site of an intense legal battle to save local libraries that has become the vanguard for similar efforts around the country. On Dec. 29, police officers held back protestors outside Preston Library while local government officials removed all its books, impervious to the nearby poster of Santa, a speech bubble over his head saying “Don’t rely on me; give kids their books back.” Since April 2011, 423 libraries have either closed down or been slated for closure — that’s almost 10 percent of all libraries in Britain.

In Brent, the move is being sold to the public as the “Libraries Transformation Project.” Six of Brent’s 12 libraries will be closed, and the more than $1.5 million that will (allegedly) be saved will then be used to improve the remaining libraries, create a Virtual Library and open a “super library.” That new building will cost more than $4.6 million, an expense that should give pause to anyone who says that tough decisions have to be made in this Age of Austerity — pause that might turn into speechlessness once you realize that Brent Council paid out $460,000 to consultants in March 2011, the same month officials recommended closing down all the libraries. Goodbye Austerity, Hello Transformation.

Losing half the council’s libraries will be transformative, of course. But the word usually implies a change for the better, and however wonderful it is, the super library will do little for those who live miles away. Ninety percent of users who were surveyed during the consultation process at the start of 2011 said they walk to their libraries; moving those libraries out of walking range will obviously limit their accessibility.

This simple fact appears to have been lost on the Brent Council leader, Ann Johns, who justified closing the area’s libraries on the grounds that books don’t cost much and that everyone already has computers and is getting e-readers anyway. Soon, she claimed, all Brent council residents will have access to the Virtual Library.

Putting aside the fact that this ignores how many people go to libraries precisely in order to use the public computers, one wonders whether Johns really thinks it is desirable to read War and Peace or even Tintin on a screen. As for e-book readers: Brent is among the most deprived councils in Britain. The idea that people who are deterred from visiting a library by the cost of bus fare will soon be awash in Kindles and iPads is more fanciful than thinking that Santa Claus can save a library.

Protestors are now mounting a vigil outside Kensal Rise Library, the only one of the closed libraries in Brent that hasn’t yet been emptied. It was opened in 1900 by Mark Twain. He once wrote, “A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection; for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them.” Apparently it isn’t much respected by local councils and may not survive them.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Carry on campaigning for our libraries

Preston Library campaigners are continuing the struggle for Brent's Six Libraries to remain open and have issued the following bulletin:


The House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sports is holding an inquiry into library closures. You can see the terms of reference HERE  
 
Both the Preston Library Campaign and the Brent Save Our Six Libraries group will be sending evidence on what has been happening in Brent, but we would also like our supporters to write and tell them what impact the closure of the library has had on your family and your community. There is guidance on how to send in your evidence HERE 
 
You should email your contribution to  cmsev@parliament.uk and have 'Library closures' in the subject line. Submissions should be received by Thursday 12th January 2012.
 
As many of you will have seen, contractors pulled down the Brent 'Wall of Shame' hiding Preston Library on Tuesday. See the report  HERE  The Wall, with its popular support from local artists and schoolchildren, has become a major embarrassment to the Council over the last few weeks and they have finally decided that perhaps it was not such a good idea after all. It would be interesting to learn exactly how much this futile exercise of paying contractors to erect the Wall - and then take it down again - has actually cost Council Tax payers.
 
We have not yet heard whether our application to take our complaint to the Supreme Court has been agreed - but we will be continuing our fund-raising activities in the meantime. The next event: - return of the truly amazing Preston Pub Quiz with Quiz Mistress Extraordinaire, Frances, is on Monday 16 January, 7.30 for 8pm start. Poster will follow
  
We will keep you informed of any new developments - but stay in touch through our website http://brentlibraries.wordpress.com and the Facebook pages [see below]
 
 FACEBOOK - Join the discussion
TWITTER - follow us for the latest
FLICKR - see our updated photostream
www.brentlibraries.wordpress.com


ACTION TO DEFEND LIBRARIES - SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 2012 11am-1pm - Willesden Green Library -PLEASE COME ALONG 

Plans to close Willesden Green Library for two years ( for an as yet undeclared development) are due to be reported to Brent Council Cabinet early this year. The council initially proposed  to open a small room next to the library - but have now been forced to seek additional study spaces.

Brent SOS Libraries are petitioning and meeting outside the library from 11am on Saturday to draw attention to the closure and demand that Cricklewood and Kensal Rise libraries be re-opened during the two year period. Several Cricklewood supporters have already confirmed they will be present.

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Shell of Shame replaces Wall of Shame


The library foyer
Brent Council this morning removed the hoarding, known locally as the Wall of Shame, from around Preston Library. Although the Wall has now physically gone, the messages emblazoned by the local community, remain on various websites include this one.

The removal has revealed the empty shell of a once vibrant and welcoming building which was at the heart of the local community.  The haste of the removal of books is evident from the mess left behind and furniture remains. My pictures were taken in the wind and rain this morning but are a poignant reminder of Brent Council's vandalism.



Friday 30 December 2011

Video of yesterday's Preston Library seizure



Campaigners protest as Brent Council removes resources from Preston Library

Preston Library campaigners expressed disappointment this morning after Brent Council's  removal of books and other resources from the library yesterday. However they insisted that the situation was not irretrievable and they would press on with both the legal process and the mass appeal to the Culture Secretary for a public inquiry into the closure of half the borough's libraries. The latter appeal has been backed by Sarah Teather MP (Brent Central) in a letter to Jeremy Hunt.

Thursday 29 December 2011

Kensal Rise campaigners 'on watch' after emptying of Preston Library

From the Bookseller website LINK

Library campaigners on watch outside Brent's Preston Library cried "Shame on you" as books and computers were cleared from the building by council workers today (29th December), with police in attendance.

Vans arrived at 9.30am to begin clearing the library of its contents. Local campaigners had been on intermittent vigil outside the library building over the Christmas holiday, with a Christmas tree on display decorated with children's book characters.

"We campaigners are still standing here with our signs, which say, 'Children need to read,' and 'Save our libraries,'" said local campaigner and literary agent Geraldine Cooke, today. "We don't think any library should be closed."

Fellow campaigner Samantha Warrington told the Harrow Observer: "We have put an application in to the Supreme Court so while that is happening Brent should not be taking any further action to decommission the libraries. We are trying to obstruct the way but the police are moving us. I feel that Brent Council is showing contempt to the legal process and the community who have shown how much they need their local library by doing this."

Protesters are "on watch" today outside Kensal Rise Library, now the last remaining closed Brent library, which still has its books in place.

Brent council had undertaken not to clear the libraries, or board them up further, until after judgment was given in the Court of Appeal about the lawfulness of the closures. Judgment was given in the council's favour shortly before Christmas. Lawyers acting for the campaigners have now approached the Supreme Court for leave to bring a last appeal against the closures.

Christmas images from Preston Library Wall of Shame







Coverage of Brent Council's emptying of Preston Library by Max Walters of the Brent and Kilburn Times can be found HERE

Protests as Council remove books from Preston Library

Brent Council is attempting to remove books from Preston Library while police hold back library campaigners.

Friday 4 November 2011

March on Saturday to the Democracy Wall and Kingsbury Library



Preston Library Campaigners will be calling in at the Democracy Wall (also known as the Wall of Shame) when they march on Saturday from South Kenton Station to Kingsbury Library. They will leave South Kenton at 1.30pm and will call in at the Democracy Wall about 1.50pm.

You are invited to join in and dress up as your favourite story character.


Thursday 3 November 2011

Many characters in search of a library - March on Saturday


Preston Library campaigners are staging a protest march on Saturday to draw attention to the distance residents will have to travel to their nearest library now that Preston has been closed.

The march will begin at South Kenton station at 1.30pm and go to the 'Wall of Shame' at the boarded up library to arrive around 1.50pm. It will then proceed to Kingsbury Library. 

The campaign says:
We’re going to walk to our "nearest library" - Kingsbury.  Join us and show the politicians just how close it really is. Everyone is invited - come dressed as your favourite book. there will be water stations and helpers along the way. See how far you get!

Show Jeremy Hunt why Brent’s 21st Century library service is miles out.
Kenton, Preston and Barn Hill ward councillors have been invited – let’s hope they join us and show where they stand/walk!
Campaigners have been infuriated by the chutzpah of Brent Council's statement in the current magazine that every resident lives within 1.5 miles of a library.  It is a measurement that only seems to apply to bats, birds and Brent councillors.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Weighty message delivered to Jeremy Hunt

From Save Preston Library Campaign:


At 10 am, on October 26th,  we went to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in central London to present 12,000 signatures and hundreds of letters to the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt.  400 were by kids alone. We demand he fulfil his responsibility to.investigate whether Brent’s new library service is “comprehensive and efficient” (as it should be under Museums.and Libraries Act 1964).

He met the council in June, but has he heard our side? Nope. The sheer volume of complaints to him should persuade him to do so.

Monday 24 October 2011

Children miss out on half-term library activities

Half-term holiday and time for children to take part in the much publicised 'Word Up!' events at their local library. Except of course for those who use one of the six libraries closed by the Council.  These are the events that should have happened this week:
  • Monday 24 October: Create your own heritage collage – Tokyngton Library
  • Monday 24 October: Create your own rangoli patterns – Barham Park Library
  • Tuesday 25 October: Handa’s surprise: create your own basket – Kensal Rise Library
  • Tuesday 25 October: Create your own Diwali diya lamp – Neasden Library
  • Thursday 27 October: Create your own Diwali diya lamp – Tokyngton Library
  • Friday 28 October: Create a 3D firework picture – Preston Library
  • Saturday 29 October: Create your own scary Halloween mask – Tokyngton Library

Sunday 23 October 2011

The limitations of being 'nice'

Direct actions, from the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest at St Paul's and anti-war protests outside Parliament to the vigils at Kensal Green and Preston libraries, are sometimes criticised as not being very 'nice' because they  look untidy, embarrass passers-by and may involve inconvenience or even confrontation.

Malvina Reynolds, an activist in the US who wrote many well-known children's songs such as 'Magic Penny' and 'Morning Town Ride', looked like a sweet old lady but defied stereotypes with her powerful political songs.  This song of hers, about direct action during the civil rights struggle seems particularly appropriate and has been sung at some of the American anti-capitalist demonstrations:



The theme of 'niceness' was taken up by anti-nuclear activist and paediatrician Dr Helen Caldicott at a recent demonstration in New York when she accused people of being "too damn polite" about the nuclear industry. The following video starts with her passionate speech and includes footage of other demonstrations often accompanied by protest songs, including at 12 minutes a children's choir singing "It isn't nice".



It takes courage to go out on the streets and expose yourself to derogatory comments and ridicule, but if the alternative is acquiescing to injustice, then I know where I stand. Thankfully, on the ground, whether at St Paul's or Preston library there is plenty of support.

Keep on keeping on!

Saturday 22 October 2011

Poet Laureate Supports Libraries Campaign



The Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, has indicated her support for the Libraries Campaign by signing a copy of her children's poetry book with the slogan 'Save Our Libraries!'.  Support continues to build as the community begins to realise just what they have lost.

A quote from J.F. Kennedy seems appropriate for Brent Council to ponder:
When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When poetry narrows the areas of man's concerns, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.



Friday 21 October 2011

Prestonians devastated by library closure

I did a three hour stint outside Preston Library yesterday and had many chats with local people who were aghast at what had happened to their local library.  I met pupils from Preston Manor and Claremont high school and from Preston Park, St Joseph's and Mount Stewart primary schools.

The secondary school students were very concerned about the loss of their local library as a place for studying during the forth-coming half-term holiday. With six libraries now closed they expect the Town Hall and Willesden Green libraries to be over-crowded with queues of students wanting to use the computers for research. Last summer the students spilled into the Town Hall itself due to the shortage of space when the libraries were all open. If Willesden Green closes for rebuilding the situation will be even worse.

Some of the students also mentioned that the libraries were places where they could meet up with their friends to study but also to socialise. Congregating elsewhere, in cafes etc, would cost money, and in addition was often seen as threatening by older people. The library was a place where different generations could feel comfortable with one another.

Preston Manor students have organised a petition and Claremont students expressed an interest in doing the same. One student expressed concern that it was older people who were standing out in the cold and asked, "Aren't the youth helping" and of course we said their support would be more than welcome and we may see more joining the vigil over half-term next week.

The conversations with younger people were often heart-rending as they struggled to understand why anyone would want to take away their library. Even after long patient explanations they would turn to me hopefully and ask, "But when will it open again?"


A pensioner echoed the youth in arguing that the library was a warm, welcoming place that encouraged him to get out of the house and meet in a congenial place where he knew the staff and some of the other users. It kept him walking as it was a manageable distance from his house aided by his walking stick.  "Where can I go now?" he asked plaintively.   Other older people were worried about books and DVDs they had borrowed and could not return and the possibility of large fines which they could not afford.

I won't go into a big diatribe against the Council but do wonder if they really realise how much pain and worry they have caused to people they promised to protect from Coalition cuts.

Thursday 20 October 2011

Update from Save Preston Library Campaign

Brent Council have given an undertaking NOT TO  take any steps to dispose of any of the library buildings, and that the stock at Preston will not be disposed of now - nor will any steps be taken to that end. We expect the Council also to agree not to do anything that will prevent the reopening of any library should the appeal succeed. However, we are not yet clear whether this is also an agreement not to remove stock from libraries which are still intact - Preston and Kensal Rise. We will pass on more news when it is available. The Appeal is likely to be heard around November 10-11.
 In the meantime, we are maintaining our presence outside Preston Library. Although it is a breezy corner, it is becoming quite cosy - with lots of support, tea and cake from neighbours. If you can spare some time tomorrow to join in - that would be great. Today there was a children's reading circle after school. Please bring candles if you come after dusk.

 
Take a look at the Preston Library Democracy Wall on YouTube - courtesy of Brent Greens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gXrRARePks&feature=player_embedded
 
. Lots more photos of Brent's Wall of Shame and up to date news at http://brentlibraries.wordpress.com/