A packed house, a front row full of decision makers, a library devotee and government advisor in the hot seat, elections, a clock unveiling, speeches, a cake and... a pledge
'Over my dead body'
Camden's Head of Culture and Communities pledges an end to library closures in front of a packed house at FoWHL's 2018 AGM
'Over my dead body'
Camden's Head of Culture and Communities pledges an end to library closures in front of a packed house at FoWHL's 2018 AGM
Watched on by Tulip Siddiq MP and a packed and often passionate meeting of library users, former West Hampstead Councillor Jonathan Simpson made a rousing return to his old patch by announcing at FoWHL's recent AGM: 'It will be over my dead body that libraries in Camden will close.'
Simpson, who is now Camden's Head of Culture and Communities, was speaking as a part of an open debate on the future of West Hampstead Library attended by an array of local politicians, Camden officials and representatives of local community associations. They were addressed by special guest, Sheila Bennett, a member of the Government's Libraries Taskforce, as part of FoWHL's lively AGM and 20th Anniversary celebration on February 15. The evening also featured an empassioned speech by FoWHL founder Cllr Flick Rea, the retirement of longstanding committee member Alan Templeton, and the unveiling of a new library clock. The Chair and Treasurer's Reports FoWHL Chairman Simon Inglis opened the evening by recalling the night twenty years previously when, at the prompting of Flick Rea, the Friends group was formed to fight off the latest threat to the library's future from Camden Council. A count of hands showed there were dozen or so people who had also been there on that night. FoWHL now has over 500 people on its mailing list, an increase of 25 per cent in the last twelve months, largely owing to a bumper year for events. Treasurer Simon Mulliner then reported that donations received as a result of the five events, three of which had been full-houses, totalled £1,159.98, and that as a result, the Friends account was currently nearly £1,600 in credit. These funds, it was emphasised, were to be put to good use this year. FoWHL are planning to pay for one extra Baby Bounce session per week in the Children's Library (details to be announced soon), and are also proposing to lay on a second monthly early evening Monday group meeting, to add to the library's existing book group (which meets in the Children's Library from 6-7pm on one Monday a month). A motion to amend the FoWHL Constitution was passed, and there followed the annual election of officers to the Committee . Both Simon Inglis, as Chair, and Simon Mulliner, as Treasurer, were re-elected unopposed. Christine Marchant was also elected, unopposed, to the post of Secretary, taking the place of Jeannie Cohen. Paying tribute to Jeannie's efforts, Simon Inglis was pleased to say that Jeannie was not leaving the Committee – of which she also had been a founder member – but will be focussing her efforts on other elements of FoWHL's work. Simon also paid fulsome praise to Alan Templeton, another founder member, who was leaving the Committee after 20 years of wonderful service, not only to West Hampstead Library but to libraries across the borough though his efforts as a leading light behind the Camden Public Libraries Users Group. Simon then thanked outgoing Committee member Phil Rosenberg, who was standing down as a Councillor and leaving West Hampstead, but whose efforts in 2015 had done so much to re-galvanise the library campaign locally. Simon concluded his report by appealing for more members to donate magazines to the library, and to announce that FoWHL will soon be sending out a membership survey. Cake and a clock It was now the turn of Flick Rea to deliver a powerful and heartfelt speech, recalling all the times during her political career that she had had to fight against Camden's various plans to close libraries. Flick was then joined by Tulip Siddiq MP to pull an invisible thread that, at the far end of the room, unveiled a new clock (right), donated by FoWHL to mark our 20th anniversary. We hope it will be enjoyed by library users for many years to come. Slices of a delicious 20th anniversary cake, baked by another FoWHL stalwart, Janet Pedder, were then distributed and much enjoyed. Thanks Janet! Present tense, future perfect? Next up was Sheila Bennett from the Government's Libraries Taskforce, to face questions about the work of the Taskforce and the future of public libraries in Britain. Sheila, it transpired, had been a fanatical library user all her life, and was clearly delighted to be in the company of some many library supporters. For those interested in finding out more about the work of the Taskforce, click here. However the aspect of the Taskforce's research which was of most relevance to West Hampstead concerns the growing numbers of public libraries around Britain that are now run by volunteers, either wholly or partly. As Simon Inglis reminded the audience, Camden still have on the table a proposal that, as a cost cutting measure, West Hampstead will be run in the future along similar lines to that of Highgate Library, where the Council still own, maintain and operate the library and control its stock, but volunteers take over much of the work of its day to day operation in conjunction with a community organisation. This organisation would, in addition, try to bring in other sources of funding. Sheila described, for example, how libraries could bid for funding in the forthcoming drive to combat loneliness, and how they were already accessing funds from such sources as the heritage lottery money, Sheila was also able to cite several examples of libraries where such a partnership arrangement has had beneficial results, although she made clear that the Taskforce was not in favour of handing over complete control to voluntary groups. A lively Q & A session followed, during which Cllr Jonathan Simpson made his rousing pledge to end all library closures in the Borough. Libraries Team Leader Nick Durant, meanwhile, emphasised how much Camden had learned from the first two years of its experiences at Highgate, where there had been teething problems but where the partnership arrangement was now working much better and bringing about higher user numbers. The evening thus ended with a genuine buzz, most people agreeing that we had all learned a great deal, but that, at the same time, FoWHL needs to stay strong and vigilant as the local elections approach and we all await the next move from Camden. One thing was for sure – no sitting councillor or candidate in the forthcoming May election should every underestimate the support of the local community for West Hampstead Library. Here's to the next 20 years! |
![]() Local MP Tulip Siddiq (right) listens intently as Camden's Head of Culture and Communities, Jonathan Simpson, pledges that he would not stand for any more library closures in the borough. Also taking a close interest in proceedings are Camden's Head of Communities, Jessica Gibbons (second left) and Camden Libraries Team Leader Nick Durant (second right) - photo by Janet Nabney
![]() Sheila Bennett from the Libraries Taskforce credited public libraries with getting her to Oxford University. 'I was a "six books a week" sort of girl' she recalled, in a fascinating account of her team's research, much of which may well be relevant to West Hampstead Library in the future (photo by Janet Nabney)
![]() After 20 years of wonderful service, many of them as Treasurer – as well being a leading light in the Camden Public Libraries Users Group (CPLUG) – Alan Templeton signed off from the FoWHL Committee with an empassioned plea for more focus on numeracy in Britain's public libraries (photo by Janet Nabney)
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