To all candidates for Lewisham Mayor: An open letter

How will you reverse the trend of privatisation of Lewisham's public libraries?

The Council's handling of libraries over the last ten years has proved to be a disaster, destroying a well loved service, seeing one of the most severe drops in borrowing numbers across the country. 

The 'Community Library' scheme gave the third sector and business community the assets of our libraries; a complete waste, basically handing over the goods. Our Labour council now routinely boasts about the untrained, unpaid voluntary labour (often exploiting people who really want a good reference) in place of professional and accountable staff as if this is progress. 

Visit our so called community libraries now, you will not find the distinct studious nature of a library or the help you need. They are open buildings with information resources but no librarians. You will see signs begging you to volunteer, books for sale, I.T. equipment out of service never to be repaired, health and safety risks, rooms taken over by for-profit gentrifying 'co-working spaces'. That's if you can catch them when they are open. You can't reserve books, sign up or pay fines, printing is inconsistent, you can’t do much of anything of what a library is really defined by. By dividing the operation of the service you get fundraising and volunteer support that is unequal across the borough, worst where most needed, flying in the face of the ideal of egalitarian library service. It sends a significant message that the productive utility of libraries doesn't matter when actually it is integral and immeasurable: The authors and doctors and workers and readers that couldn’t have come to be without the service are forgotten; the next generation? Denied and lost.

In Lambeth, in the face of a similar scheme a librarian drafted and had costed an alternative saving plan that would have the least impact on the quality of the service. It was disregarded without due consideration, and in Lewisham the council also dismissed this course as if it doesn’t exist. Other London Labour boroughs under similar financial restraint from punishing Tory cuts have retained their libraries. We need a mayor and council with the political will and the plan to resist the Tory government's robbery, regain and sustain decent educational resources for the people of Lewisham.

As leader you'll need to spearhead this effort, using your position to inspire, to obstinately protest for the common good, opening space for more engagement from community activists and the rest of the public to win political struggles and grow them. The Lewisham hospital campaign proved movements make this difference, but we don't need controlling we need solidarity. Rather than abandon any school, college or service that runs into trouble, we should set an example of supporting them and that way we shall set the precedent that when we fight, when we do everything we can, all for one and one for all, we win. 

You'll need a sense of dignity beyond what the corporate media says about you. This will take sacrifice and compassion. These are desperate times and as mayor, you can't play a passive victim, it is not good enough.

What is your plan for libraries in Lewisham?

Perry Vale Branch Labour Party recently passed a motion requiring “The careful restoration of all Lewisham Libraries, including community libraries to being publicly operated, maintained and staffed by professional librarians who are council employees throughout opening hours.”
As Mayor of Lewisham will you support this and work to realise it?

If you don't have a plan, we kindly suggest that you come up with one ASAP, get it looked at by legal experts and your economic and political peers to be prepared for achieving it in power. Then please publish it and campaign on it, give some guarantee that you won’t renege on promises by backing libraries to the hilt now. This way we'll be assured you are a friend and ally of libraries. Otherwise you can't expect our votes or our respect.

Shocking Book Lending Stats for Lewisham Libraries

Lewisham Library statistics for attendance and book issues have just been released in response to a request to Rob Wilson, Minister for Libraries. These statistics show that book lending in Lewisham has decreased by a shocking 45%! 

2009/10 figures are important in that they show the library stats before any of Lewisham libraries were handed over to voluntary organisations and businesses to run.

These statistics demonstrate very clearly that volunteers cannot deliver the same professional, proactive and knowledgeable service as trained library professionals to library users, resulting in this dramatic drop in book issues.


2015/16 Visits:    2,078,294
              Issues:     635,063

2014/15 Visits:    2,081,986
              Issues:     770,898

2009/10 Visits:    2,028,350
              Issues:  1,146,461


It is the young people of this borough who are being let down most. Research has shown that there is a direct correlation between reading for leisure and academic achievement in young people, so with this drop in professional library staff and book issues, is it any surprise that Lewisham does relatively poorly on education indicators. 44% of 19 year olds have no qualifications, the third highest of any London borough. 63% of pupils receiving free school meals do not get five good GCSEs (5 A*-C grades, including English and Maths), compared to a London average of 54%.
http://www.londonspovertyprofile.org.uk/indicators/boroughs/lewisham/

We believe the Mayor and Lewisham Council have badly misled the public in presenting the alternative 'community library' system as being as efficient and comprehensive as the council-run library service.  These statistics are a stark reminder of what we have lost. We must guard against any further downgrade in our public library services!

V22 wins Manor House library contract

Sadly, last week, Mayor and Cabinet agreed to hand over Manor House Library to an arts business, V22,  in spite of community and campaign efforts to keep our library run by trained council staff. 

We have serious concerns about V22 and its subsidiaries, as do other people working in the art world who have been tracking its directors and their links to mining companies and property development, using artists and cheap studio provision as a way of regenerating an area, which profits who? Mainly the property developers...

Read the following article by Stephen Pritchard
http://colouringinculture.org/blog/complexwebsofartinvestors

Is it ethical that a private company listed in the Isle of Mann, who will not be paying any tax on its profits, gain from running a beautiful listed building owned by the council?! We say NO! 

The campaign will continue to monitor all the 'community libraries' that have been handed over to third parties, making sure that they do actually comply with the 1964 Libraries Act by providing 'an efficient and comprehensive library service.' 

 ...

TODAY: Don't forget to join the Re-open our libraries now! PROTEST for Defend the Ten on the anniversary of the occupation on the steps of Carnegie Library in Lambeth today at 1pm!

Library Protest 5pm this Wednesday

Join our last-ditch protest this coming Wednesday, 22nd March, when the council will announce which enterprise will take over Manor House Library.

The council is willing to allow a host partner the privilege of leasing the building (for twenty-five years!) and pay no rent, have a special discount on the business rates, to rent out the rooms with the rents going to the host partner, while the council tax-payer still funds the mortgage and some maintenance, loses the business rate and makes no money from the publicly funded investment. What genius came up with this? The preferred community organisation of the council is V22, but the public's choice by consultation was Arts Network. Why is the council ignoring public wishes, if the consultation was genuine?

2 out of 3 of V22's subsidiary companies are profit-making. If and when their position on the stock market collapses, this will bring a wrecking ball to our library service. The foundation may have charitable aims but is not a charity as yet, but has been 'in the process of registering' for more than a year. Handing over public services to a private company is scandalous!

Come along to the protest at 5pm outside the Town Hall on Wednesday 22nd March when Mayor and Council rubber stamp this calamity.
http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=199&MId=4442

Alongside our protest will be parents and pupils and teachers from Forest Hill School, where they have been forced to take strike action. The Mayor and Head say the cuts imposed as conditions of the council's loan, 20% cut to staff budget, sacking 15 teachers in the next term, will produce a 'lean', mean, teaching machine. The reality is it would put the school in a tailspin. The library campaign stands in solidarity with this campaign.

There will be a social in the Catford Constitutional Club after the protest.

Manor House Library Protest

A campaign stall was set up outside Manor House Library last Saturday to protest against the outsourcing of services and the forthcoming decision by Mayor and Cabinet as to its future.

The decision to hand the library over to a private company will most likely be approved next Wednesday. The company will be benefiting from what belongs the people of Lewisham, making a profit, while paying the Council a peppercorn rent. Meanwhile, our library service is downgraded.

Below you will find a letter sent from The Users and Friends of Manor House Library to the Mayor weeks ago outlining their concerns. They have yet to receive a reply. Perhaps he is too busy fending questions from the public and media regarding the rather dodgy Millwall housing development...

Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham                                              24^th January 2017

Mayor’s Office, 

Civic Suite,

Lewisham Town Hall, Catford,

London SE6 4RU

Dear Mayor Bullock,

Thank you for your letter dated 11^th January 2017 relating to Council budgets, Council funding, Income & Spend and Central Government’s spending assessment.  We appreciate the gravity of the overall situation.

However, in relation to the Library & Information Service, downsizing to a “preferred model” system of “Community Libraries” we have to ask where is the value for money and where is the provision of a decent Service?

 We know this is not what Lewisham’s public library customers are experiencing.

The Interim Management provision for Manor House Library has flagged up a regular occurrence of machinery breakdown – yesterday, a fault arose with the heating boiler such that the Children’s Centre in the basement was unable to heat the space.  Regular breakdowns with the Self Issue Self Return machines occur as do the on-line facilities. And the breakdown in lights continue apace.

The customer is unable to pay for regular library services such as fines, reservation fees, and is unable to use a pay-only photocopier/printer as there is no facility for payment for any of these services.

Furthermore, there is the ridiculous system that reserved books/media are unable to be collected by the customer at Manor House Library who is thus obliged to collect the item at The Age Exchange branch in Blackheath or at Lewisham Central Library (whichever is the nearest for the customer.)

Under these conditions, is it any wonder users would be discouraged from using the Manor House Library thus contributing to the idea that nobody uses libraries any longer. Is this the reason our request for up-to-date CIPFA statistics from January 2015 have been officially refused by the Library and Information department?.

In fact, Manor House Library is not, and has not since 21^st October 2016 operated as a functioning Library and Information Service outlet.   Frankly, it discourages users and even deters some laptop computer owners because of its weak Wi-Fi links!

In terms of the anticipated transfer of responsibilities to the incoming ‘Host Partner’ who may engage a volunteer force to work the library space, will these people be required to undergo DBS checks?  We understand that paid Public Library Staff are not required to undergo these checks.  This was an issue that both Cllr Mallory and yourself were surprised to learn.  Has any form of clarification been sought?  Patricia asked Ms Buckton about this at our meeting on 10/12/2016 at the Manor House and was assured the council would take responsibility for this.  Is this the case?

We assume the Host/Partner will be required to provide the volunteers with Induction training for all the aspects that may involve, including Fire drills, Evacuation techniques, Health and Safety matters, and Public Liability responsibilities as is required in good practice/management of Public Spaces.

We have recently been made aware of the input of other money from other departments to assist this kind of ‘outsourcing’ of once-public services.  So-called “Small Grants” and other ‘free rides’ have been provided for some Community Library management organisations.  As for the internal structural damage highlighted by The Pinnacle Report this is intended to be rectified by the Host/Partner. It is hoped the selected Host/Partner is able to fund these requirements.

However, we refer to the Pinnacle Report; Introduction, (p2 of 12) in particular paragraphs 7 and 8 which although advisory are pertinent to the long-term sustainability of such a valuable Grade 2-star listed building.  Did any of the prospective Host/Partners understand this responsibility or were they blinded by the comfort of a rent-free Grade 2-star-listed building and a Business Rate holiday until May 2018?  We have just discovered, today in fact, that the Council has employed a company to be responsible for various works.  Will this be another cost to tax-payers, in spite of the building not being managed by the Council?

A great deal of public money was invested in the building, as you yourself remarked.  Is this investment now to benefit a private company?

Yours sincerely,

Patricia and Peter Richardson.

Cc   Heidi Alexander M.P.

Decision Delayed on Manor House Library, Protest Postponed

Lewisham's Mayor and his Cabinet has yet again delayed its decision as to which bidder our wonderful Manor House Library will be handed over to - giving no reason for the delay. Perhaps the council are becoming more nervous of rushing through decisions after criticism over the Millwall fiasco...

Save Lewisham Libraries was due to lobby the Mayor and Cabinet this Wednesday before the crucial meeting, but this will now be postponed until we have yet another date.

Meanwhile, the campaign will organise to protest against the Council's plans, starting with our regular planning meeting - 7pm Wednesday 8 February at the Catford Constitutional Club.  

Join us at this crucial moment in time to save Manor House Library!