Camden Council consulting on library spending

Camden Council is asking local people to fill in an online survey to tell decision-makers how to save £100 million from the budget over the next three years. The focus of Camden's current consultation is its library provision, which at the moment is a thriving service with 13 local libraries throughout the borough.

Camden's survey asks for views on whether up to five smaller libraries (Highgate, Heath, Belsize, Chalk Farm and Regents Park) should be closed and whether Camden should reduce its expenditure on staff or new book purchases. Other options for reducing Camden's library spending include closing fewer, larger libraries; keeping all libraries open but reducing opening hours across the borough; spending less on buildings maintenance and furnishings; or closing the mobile library service.

There's also a special version of the survey for children and young people asking about library usage and locations. Printed copies of the survey are also available at all Camden libraries.

"I know that libraries are hugely important to Camden residents," says Councillor Tulip Siddiq, Cabinet Member for Culture. "Libraries are where so many of us learnt to read, where young people study for exams and where older people can develop new skills. That is why we want to hear your views about how we can best provide the library services you value on our greatly reduced budget."

Highate authors Tracey Chevalier and Julian Barnes have already led one day of protest at Highgate Library to encourage the council to keep the service open. A further protest at the Town Hall against borough-wide cuts is planned in ten days' time.

Camden Council is keen to emphasise that no decisions have yet been taken and the consultation runs until 4 April. If you value your library service, read the consultation document here and take the survey here.

Is cutting our library service a false economy that will have educational repercussions for years and end up costing more in the long term, or are library opening hours the least of our worries right now? Let us know below!

Image: David Smith