Manor House Library Opening Hours Slashed

Reports are coming in about the cuts hitting Manor House Library. 

Two of our activists found some sad scenes on Saturday as the library shut earlier than usual at 3pm. Previous to this there were no library staff to assist library users apart from the security guard who could not meet people's needs leading to disappointment.  It has fallen to the security guard to help members of the public this week.  She even did the baby bounce session. 

At the nearby cafe, a woman introduced herself who ran the child minding group. She was eager to support the campaign and told they had cancelled their childminding group, because it's a community group and doesn't pay. Tuesday was unavailable and so was any other day. It had been a regular and important part of the local community for parents to share their labour sensibly. Before we left, a car was locked in to the library grounds leading to great anxiety, all because of confusion over new opening hours, which haven't been publicised properly. 

Many families and individuals came after 3pm and left disappointed, wondering about the simplest of matters, such as where to return their library book. 

It's clear the service is invaluable but this current service is inadequate. 

Significant Reduction to Manor House Library Opening Hours

Last week, many fantastic librarians and library assistants left the library service due to service restructure and redundancies. The campaign would like to thank them for their years of dedicated service to our communities and wish them well in the future.

This week marks the transition of more Lewisham's libraries over to the community model, leaving only three libraries run by the Council.

There are still many uncertainties – after a year of planning by the Council.  Users and Friends of Manor House note that opening hours have been significantly reduced and are still in the dark regarding its future.

"There was some confusion amongst users about what exactly was happening and what exactly they could expect and how they would manage their own services.
We have 2 e-mails on the hook with council staff, with no answers, and we all need to know who is now responsible for the building at the council, now that the library service has abandoned ship.
It was incumbent on that service, while still in charge, to have made clear what the future offer would be, in advance of abandonment.  Instead the staff present on Saturday and Sunday were doing their best to fill the gaps by providing changes to official noticeboards, gates etc.
The Lewisham council website did not seem to have an advance message of these changes on its library pages.  Even today the opening hours shown are the former hours."

National Libraries Demo 5 November 2016

Save Lewisham Libraries campaigners will be supporting the National Libraries, Museums & Galleries Demonstration

Saturday 5th November, 2016

Meet 12noon outside the British Library, Euston Road.

March to House of Commons for a rally.

We have been making placards...

Support for Libraries from the Labour Party

“I want to give my 100% support for the National Libraries, Museums, Galleries demonstration on Saturday 5 November 2016.
“The Tories have devastated our public services using austerity policies as justification. I promise that a Labour Government will act to ‘in-source’ our public and local council services, increase access to leisure, arts and sports across the country.
“The next Labour government will reverse the damage the Tories have done to our communities in the cities, towns and villages. Libraries, museums and galleries are public assets which help to celebrate and promote the rich cultural diversity of our communities.
“I want to thank the organisers of this event for bring together this social movement to resist the attacks by this Tory government and for promoting these precious public services.”
Jeremy Corbyn Leader of Labour Party

“I want to give my 100% support for the National Libraries, Museums, Galleries demonstration on Saturday 5 November 2016.
This is the kind of social movement Jeremy is talking about, we all need to mobilise, to fight back against austerity policies that are blighting our communities.
The Tories ideological obsession with austerity policies to destroy public services is clear for all to see. They have waged a six year war on our Libraries, our Museums and our Galleries. These valuable public services which reflect, support & celebrate the rich diversity of our communities should be nourished not destroyed.
I give this commitment that under a Labour Government we will reverse the brutal destruction of Libraries, Museums, Galleries.
I will be marching with you on 5 November.”
John McDonnell Shadow Chancellor