-Resources

Suggested Action That Helps Save Libraries
Write to elected leaders, show them saving libraries is critical to their political support

Address your local ward councillors and MP easily using using Writetothem.com.
Then pass on the message using your own email software to other key contacts: Councillor responsible for libraries, the Lewisham Mayor and the Chair of Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee, and UK Government minister with responsibilities for Libraries:
cllr_jonathan.slater@lewisham.gov.uk, damien.egan@lewisham.gov.uk, cllr_Juliet.Campbell@lewisham.gov.uk, michael.ellis.mp@parliament.uk

Move this model motion in your political party or union
https://savelewishamlibraries.blogspot.com/p/save-libraries-motion-8th-april-2019.html

Useful information and documents

Lewisham information

The results of the Feasibility Study are in the meeting papers for the Mayor & Cabinet meeting taking place on the 26th June (skip to page 74)

Proposed cuts to the library service when last detailed in 2018 (Library cuts proposals Appendix 2 pp.45-48)

Information about the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee - this is the council committee that oversees libraries

Healthier Communities Select Committee - 9 October 2018 Mayor & Cabinet Savings Report

Information about the Public Accounts Select Committee

Lewisham Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - demographic data and service profiles re. health & wellbeing

Poverty and inequality data for Lewisham - Trust for London

Lewisham demographic facts & figures - Voluntary Action Lewisham

In the news:

BBC Local Democracy Reporting Services - scroll through for various reports on Lewisham budget cuts

Questions raised over scrutiny at Lewisham council - details on 2017/18 overspend

National Information

National Government petition to ring-fence funding for public libraries

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/228742

Public Libraries News list of local library service legal challenges

http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/library-closing/legal/legal-current-uk-situation

Reading Agency - Library Facts (demographic data etc)

https://readingagency.org.uk/about/impact/001-library-facts/

Libraries can help improve wellbeing

https://readingagency.org.uk/news/blog/libraries-can-help-to-improve-health-and-well-being.html

National Literacy Trust - public libraries improving literacy

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED515944.pdf

Problems with unstaffed libraries

http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/about-public-libraries-news/unstaffed-libraries

Carnegie UK Shining a Light Report

https://d1ssu070pg2v9i.cloudfront.net/pex/carnegie_uk_trust/2017/04/England-Shining-a-Light.pdf

London Data Store https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas

LISU UK library usage and spending stats (unfortunately this research body was disbanded around 2015 and it is now impossible to gather this data without paying large sums of money to CIPFA) https://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/infosci/lisu/lisu-statistics/lisu-uk-library-statistics.pdf

Arts Council England - Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Public Libraries - Full Report

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/The%20health%20and%20wellbeing%20benefits%20of%20public%20libraries.pdf

Libraries Taskforce Research Spreadsheet

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libraries-taskforce-research-programme

Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/integrated-communities-strategy-green-paper