Libraries debate on letter page continues...

Whilst the letters page of a local paper may not the ideal place to conduct a conversation it does indicate the extent residents need to go to seek clear information. As yet, despite requests, not one notice of the decision to market test all thirteen libraries has gone up in any Croydon library.


There has been an exchange of letters in the Croydon Guardian which you can find here, here and here  This was followed  by a response from Cllr Sara Bashford on 10th August 2011 in the Croydon Guardian which is reproduced here:

Tracie Parry is back on the case this week.  She writes in today's Croydon Guardian letter page, which you can find on page 18 of the E-edition here, with the full version of the letter she submitted reproduced below (omissions highlighted).
   

It is all very well for Councillor Sara Bashford (All information on library changes is but just a click away, Your Say, 10th August) to say that residents have had several notifications of “the process we are going through” – referring to the council’s library market-testing exercise. However, despite what she says, the council have not gone out of their way to keep residents informed. Moreover, whilst the letter page is not the place to conduct a conversation it does indicate the extent residents need to go to seek information.

As far as I can see at no stage has the council made a clear and concise announcement about the market-testing exercise which affects all 13 libraries and not just the six that were previously being consulted upon.   and in fact would have made a valuable and more inclusive contribution to the process. And where she says the decision to carry out this work came as a direct result of listening to the views of thousands of library users – is she not forgetting that these thousands were the ones responding to the original consultation i.e. only the six libraries threatened with closure. How and when were the views of residents who use the other libraries going to be gathered and considered? Hence the suggestion of a cross-party commission which would have allowed all residents a say and in fact would have made a valuable and more inclusive contribution to the process.

Perhaps any future information should also be put clearly in print in the libraries. I still find it hard to believe that the responses from the initial consultation led the council to conclude residents had such little faith in them that the only option was to insist it be taken out of their hands and run by another authority or organisation rather than look at other income-generating ideas like on-site cafes or advertising. 

If it does turn out that the library service is put out to tender then I can only hope the council chooses wisely and does not just look at profits before ensuring a comprehensive, professionally-run and efficient library service can be made available to all.

We are thankful to Tracie for sharing the full text of her letter with the campaign group.  Probably due to space the Guardian were unable to print the letter in full but in editing it, cut out several important points that she raised.

Chance to have your say on Croydon libraries...

With a decision imminent many Croydon residents are still unaware of the market-testing undertaken on Croydon libraries, with a view to progressing outsourcing them ALL to a private company, other local authorities or other interested groups. Campaigners regularly meet with people who are not only unaware but laugh at such a prospect in disbelief. Unfortunately it is not a joke. A recent spate of correspondence in the Croydon Guardian here, here and here illustrates the point of the council's coyness to make an announcement.

Perhaps part of this reticence to announce the plans clearly and proudly to residents is that it would appear to be a admission by Croydon Council that they are unable to effectively manage their network of thirteen libraries.

Croydon Labour councillors challenged Croydon's Conservative Council to agree to an Independent cross-party library review.  This would have afforded all residents an opportunity to have a say on Croydon libraries and to explore ways to keep Croydon libraries locally owned and accountable to local people. This was rejected by Conservative councillors and the market testing exercise was launched.

Croydon Labour councillors are still keen to hear your views so that they can represent the views of Croydon. There is further information here. There is a survey which takes only moments to complete. Please take a moment to have your say.

There is also an opportunity to send a message using the contact tab or to sign up to email updates.

Please help spread the word!

Residents comments disregarded and many denied a say on libraries

We are very thankful to the Croydon Guardian who has raised the issue of the silence over Croydon libraries in their letters page over the past few weeks, which you can read here, here and here .


What may not be clear to residents though is why campaigners would be claiming that many have been denied a say and that residents' comments have been disregarded.  We are happy to set out our justification for this:

• Despite admitting that the responses to the Libraries consultation were predominantly from the users of the six libraries listed, the council are now happy to deny giving all Croydon residents an opportunity to have a say by consulting the users of the other seven libraries or agreeing to Labour's cross part commission on libraries. 

• The council are equally happy to disregard Question 6 in the consultation, which allowed residents the opportunity to indicate they did not wish any changes to the library service by prioritising the ‘do nothing’ option over any closure of any library, which campaigners know was the preferred option of the majority.  

• They are also happy to deny requests under Freedom of Information for a breakdown of the comments that informed the decision, claiming it would be too costly, which is surely an admission in itself that even the most rudimentary analysis of responses received has not been undertaken. 

Library campaigners certainly did not get the message that residents wanted the council to find an alternate organisation to run the libraries.   

By refusing to provide a breakdown of the 412 responses  that Cllr Sara Bashford claims informed this decision  it is very unclear how many well intentioned responses of adding a cafe or other money generating venture, suggestions of sponsorship, advertising and so forth have been used to indicate a vote for outsourcing to other organisations.   

• Many residents are completely unaware of the 'market sounding' exercise as the council has denied residents clear information, not advertised the decision and has failed to make clear ALL Croydon libraries are included, not just the original six under threat.  

• Despite assurances, Campaign groups and Residents' Associations continue to be denied any official update on the situation or any information since the decision to market test was taken on 13th June.

The lack of openness, lack of clarity and lack of information naturally raises suspicions that, come September, the fate of Croydon libraries will be presented, fait accompli, denying residents any say on the matter.

Library users have been denied say on future

A local resident wrote to the Croydon Guardian to express concern at the complete lack of information available to Croydon residents on libraries, Kept in the dark over Croydon Libraries. This was responded to by Councillor Eddy Arram, reproduced here, who refuted Ms Parry's claims, so the campaign group responded and are pleased to be included in the Croydon Guardian letter page this week:

I was very surprised by Councillor Eddy Arram’s letter (We have listened and are responding over libraries, July 20) which was written in reply to Ms Parry’s excellent letter.  

Like Ms Parry I share the concern that residents are being kept in the dark over libraries. The decision to market test involves all 13 libraries and not just the six that were the subject of the original consultation. 

Residents are yet to see one official notification of this decision so many are still unaware.  Not even a simple A4 notice has been spotted in any Croydon library. 

Even national campaigners, such as Public Libraries News, point to Croydon’s reticence to be proud of the decision and note that the market sounding exercise was almost impossible to find on the council's website, and there was only a fortnight for private companies to register an interest in any case.  

The cross party commission into libraries offered by Labour would have been a productive move and have given all residents a say in the future of libraries and the opportunity to explore all options yet Coun Arram seems to think to do so would disregard the views of all those who have already responded. It would not have meant disregarding what has already been said - as surely this would be a major contribution to the process - but would allow those who had not responded, and particularly users of libraries not subject to the original consultation process, an opportunity to have their say.

Residents spoke up in their thousands and the council is ‘listening’ by disregarding what they said, denying users of the other seven libraries a say and hiding their decision.  I think that certainly counts as keeping residents in the dark! 

Elizabeth Ash 

Sanderstead Library Campaign Group

www.savesandersteadlibrary.co.uk

But why do campaigners believe that many residents are being denied a say and the council is disregarding what residents have told them?  We'll be following that up in our next post...