Dear Library Lover
Please join us on Tuesday 11 June 2019 at 6:30pm at Hendon Town Hall. We are holding a short protest prior to speaking at the Communities Leadership and Libraries (CLL) Committee meeting at 7pm. Please invite your friends and neighbours to come along too - children are welcome!
As you may have heard, the Minister for Culture recently refused our complaint about the Barnet Library Service. Unfortunately, his decision shows a blatant determination to ignore the evidence of Barnet residents and let the Council off the hook. You can read our response here.
As you may have heard, the Minister for Culture recently refused our complaint about the Barnet Library Service. Unfortunately, his decision shows a blatant determination to ignore the evidence of Barnet residents and let the Council off the hook. You can read our response here.
In spite of this, the Council wasn’t able to get away completely unscathed: one important outcome of the complaint process is the Council’s long-awaited “Library Review”. In this, the Council must explore the impact of the library cuts on groups protected by the Equalities Acts – including children, older people, and those with disabilities. Not suprisingly, these are the groups most affected by unstaffed libraries, reduced facilities and locked toilets.
The process for the review is due to be announced at the CLL meeting. We need your support to put pressure on the committee to carry out a meaningful review that listens to residents' views and really looks at the impact of the cuts. Please help us to get all our voices heard.
The review is timely: you may have read about the recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty which finds "unheard-of levels of loneliness and isolation" and links this to austerity policies, including shrinking library services.
We will be organising speakers for the meeting – reply to this email by Monday 3 June if you want to participate. We are also collecting your stories about the library service - email us or share them via our facebook page or website.
Hope to see you there!
Best wishes
Emily Burnham
On behalf of Save Barnet Libraries
On behalf of Save Barnet Libraries
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