Paul Lorber, of the volunteer-run Barham library has challenged Brent Council over posters which appear to suggest that the council run ten libraries.
He wrote:
The posters about Borough of Culture at London Underground Stations has been drawn to my attention especially this item about 10 libraries in Brent.
The implication is that Brent Council runs 10 Libraries which of course is not the case.
Brent Council could have done so but Labour Councillors decides almost 10 years ago (2020 is the 10th anniversary) to close 6 (half) of its public libraries.
They also refused to hand over the 6 library buildings (many of them donated and free of rent commitments) to local people who volunteered to run them.
In the case of Barham every effort possible was made to deny the building donated by Titus Barham to the local community. It is only through our hard work that we managed to get back into a much smaller building in another part - for which (the only one if the 4 community libraries) Brent charges us a rent.
While we have agreed to participate with the Borough of Culture 2020 we are doing this for the benefit of our community.
We do not however want our position misrepresented or for Brent Council to imply that they are running or managing 10 libraries in Brent - which is clearly not the case.
In view of this can you please arrange for the Posters (and any other references to libraries in Brent) to be changed to reflect the true position.
The correct description is 6 Council run Libraries plus 4 Community Libraries run by local volunteers.
I would appreciate an early confirmation that this change will be made.
Thanks
Paul Lorber
The implication is that Brent Council runs 10 Libraries which of course is not the case.
Brent Council could have done so but Labour Councillors decides almost 10 years ago (2020 is the 10th anniversary) to close 6 (half) of its public libraries.
They also refused to hand over the 6 library buildings (many of them donated and free of rent commitments) to local people who volunteered to run them.
In the case of Barham every effort possible was made to deny the building donated by Titus Barham to the local community. It is only through our hard work that we managed to get back into a much smaller building in another part - for which (the only one if the 4 community libraries) Brent charges us a rent.
While we have agreed to participate with the Borough of Culture 2020 we are doing this for the benefit of our community.
We do not however want our position misrepresented or for Brent Council to imply that they are running or managing 10 libraries in Brent - which is clearly not the case.
In view of this can you please arrange for the Posters (and any other references to libraries in Brent) to be changed to reflect the true position.
The correct description is 6 Council run Libraries plus 4 Community Libraries run by local volunteers.
I would appreciate an early confirmation that this change will be made.
Thanks
Paul Lorber