Hounslow Council published an announcement on 18th Jan 2011: "Council asks residents to decide the future of their libraries"
"Hounslow Council is to consult with residents about the future of the borough's libraries after the impact of government cuts could result in branch closures. The libraries at risk of closure are Beavers, Bedfont, Brentford, Cranford, Hanworth, Heston, Isleworth and Osterley, with the council agreeing to consult on library savings up to a value of £870,000....."
This, unsurprisingly, set off an emotional reaction in Brentford.
The background to this is that on the one hand, we have a new central Government policy to reset the Library service to better meet the needs of communities in the 21st century. This was started in December 2009, when the Government's Department of Culture (DCMS), headed by Margaret Hodge, launched an initiative to formulate their policy on 'Modernisation Review of Public Libraries'. This was published in March 2010 and can be found on the Department of Culture's website.
"The Public Library Modernisation Review Policy Statement provides a blueprint for England's public library service, to help ensure it is fit for purpose in the 21st century. It aims to help libraries adapt to the internet revolution, grasp the opportunities of digital technology, and to respond to the decline in use of existing services, the current economic climate and the public's expectation of more customer-focused public services."
It has some positive and interesting recommendations, but unfortunately, this is now set against a climate of overall cost cutting and local council budget cuts, where the library service is one of the options to contribute to reduced budgets. Libraries are now inevitably part of the political football of budget cutting between central and local Government.
Libraries have a strong emotive tie with most people, who were brought up using them and the announcement by Hounslow Council has triggered groups to express their objection to any closure of Brentford Library as one of 8 branch libraries which could possibly be closed by Hounslow Council.
Jill Allbrooke, of Brentford Dock, has asked us to let people know that she helping to set up a 'read-in' at Brentford Library for Saturday 5th February. See the discussion on BrentfordTW8 Forum Read-in at Brentford Library.
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Petition to: Keep Brentford Library open.
Borough-wide Consultation on the future of the library service.
