Promoting libraries - Marking #NLD15 in Croydon

National Libraries Day is a national celebration of libraries, but not so in Croydon, and Carillion is continuing the tradition in spectacular style.

We've pulled together the history and collated the details of what is going on today, so you can join in, and we've summarised the details here.  But for the history and full details, read on.

#NLD12

In 2012 we had Croydon under fire, caught out by the press for doing nothing to celebrate the event, including a report in The Bookseller. http://www.thebookseller.com/news/croydon-under-fire-over-national-libraries-day

With news out and the campaign highlighting this, it lead to hastily cobbled together displays by staff in libraries, presumably under instruction,  in order to cover up the Council's omission.

Children's display on the day

Main entrance display in a library

#NLD13

Clearly lessons were not learnt, and Croydon Council chose to ignore National Libraries Day again 2013.

In order to avoid a repeat of the previous year, where staff were further burdened to cobble together a promotion at the last minute, no one mentioned a thing until on the day.  There was no celebration.

 #NLD14 

was lost in the blur of changes after libraries were outsourced to Laings then rapidly passed on to Carillion. 

Labour wins the Council elections in May 2014 and all wait for them to act on their pre-election promise to rip up the contract.  And they wait, and they wait....

The Campaign met with the Leader and have made attempts to meet with the Labour lead of Libraries. We are still waiting.....

And Croydon library service spiralled ever downward, with bare and disappearing shelves, IT problems, health and safety issues, odd study pass systems put in place, and staff visibly stressed and leaving in number. Staff numbers were so depleted that the main entrance to Croydon Central Library, one of the busiest libraries in the country, was closed off in order to close off areas of unmanned desk space. A handful of posts sum up the year... , and that's not the full depressing story...

We are actually open but you are not welcome here.
Main entrance of Croydon Central.
People turned away, believing it to be closed.

Just one trolley of unprocessed books - often banks of these
were seen in libraries.

Slightly misleading as these service desks, including the one
in the children's libraries and on certain floors, were never staffed.

Finally, with tape.  Eventually removed.
This sharp metal shelf was in place for at least
6 weeks, possibly longer.  

Standard display, promoting new books.

Shelving, Croydon style.

The terms of the contract remain hidden. Promotion of libraries continues to be sporadic and haphazard in the hands of Carillion.....

#NLD15

But surely they could not miss marking National Libraries Day.

No doubt plans will be in place for Ealing libraries, where national library campaigners understand Ed Vaizey MP is due to visit on the day.  Watch this space....

But Croydon, again,  suffers under a maze of misinformation and lack of promotion.  A lot has been teased out by library users, residents and campaigners....

We have -

Just one event 

promoted in the expensive full colour 'What's On' brochure, promoting events in Croydon Libraries.... released in January and still available, hard copy in libraries and also online.

Norbury Library 
9am to 5pm
Write a love letter to your favourite book and libraries, and display it on the graffiti wall.
If you aren't a library member, join free today.

This will have had the greatest reach, and was replicated online. Many will be unaware of anything going on in other Croydon libraries.

But two events

promoted in the online Events calendar, promoting events in Croydon Libraries....  recently updated and available online.

Sanderstead Library
9am to 5pm
Scavenger hunt for the children, where they win a badge for completing it.

"I love libraries because..." hearts, for all ages to complete.

Norbury Library
9am to 5pm
Write a love letter to your favourite book and libraries, and display it on the graffiti wall.

If you aren't a library member, join free today.

No.  Wait... 8 events

promoted late this week on 5 February, and only to those who signed up to the newly created email alert.

Norbury Library
Write a love letter to your favourite book and libraries, and display it on the graffiti wall.

[But not promoting that if you aren't a library member, you can join free today.]

Croydon Central
Contribute with reviews of your Best Reads

Bradmore Green Library
Coulsdon Library
New Addington Library
Purley Library
Sanderstead Library
Selsdon Library

Library scavenger hunt for children

Love Libraries board with paper hearts for adults

If you are not already a member you can join free today

BUT there is more...

Coffee at Bradmore Green

A campaigner has advised that Bradmore Green are running a coffee morning for National Libraries Day, although those who regularly visit were not aware of this, and we have not details of time.  It is assumed it will be in the morning. Please post if you have further details.

AND.... an author event at Central Croydon Library

The campaign was aware of an author promoting an event in Croydon Central library but, until tonight, we did not have any confirmation this was genuine as it was not listed anywhere.

Reading of The Adventures of Obi and Titi 1-2pm  - It is difficult to read the details from the post so do call if you are interested in attending.

And the mystery bonus!

It is also clear from this photo that there is another event going on... See bottom right of the photo. A Reader's Community Stock Selection event.  Not sure when or what it actually involves, but if anyone gets details of this, or any other event, please let us know.

Presumably there will be something going on in other Croydon libraries, including libraries in Broad Green, Ashburton, South Norwood and Thornotn Heath....

Help us to celebrate #NLD15 in Croydon

It's easy..... 

Send us details of events not listed so we can promote them

Visit your library

Join if you aren't already a member

Send us reviews, photos or comments on events you attend by posting here, via email or tweet us @SaveCroydonLibs

Tell us why you love libraries!

And keep an eye on your library, and feed us your views....

We will follow this up with a post summarising all details and comments received. 

Email SaveCroydonLibraries@gmail.com

Thank you!

AND, we will be tweeting and retweeting, using the hashtags #NLD15 and #Croydon.  

Join in!

Local Council’s ‘Big Society’ Betrayal

Conservative led Croydon Council withdraws funding from its most cost efficient library resource leaving it under serious threat of closure after 111 years community service.

In October 2011, Croydon Council announced that it would withdraw its share of funding for the unique Upper Norwood Joint library based purely on a falling out with its partner of 111 years, Lambeth Council. 


Only last week our Prime Minister showed his support for libraries: 

"Reading matters for two simple reasons,…"If we don't learn to read properly, then everything else in education is a closed book.  But above and beyond that, reading is a joy and a pleasure and it is for life"…"I hope that one day you will look back and think about this school and this great library and everyone who has supported it", he told pupils.  "Because actually there is a huge problem with some kids not having access to books.  And having a library like this……..is a really great start in life."

But  why are Croydon Council being so difficult and so keen to renege on their responsibilities for this much loved and well used community library?  It is a question the entire community has been asking itself and Croydon Council for some time now but it all came to a head in October 2011.  The only response received from Croydon Council is beyond staggering – that its partner of 111 years has breached a legal agreement which was put in place to ensure a secure future for the library until 2014. Where is the public mandate for this?   

Campaigners state that Upper Norwood Library

• is the only independent jointly funded library in the country and it has been that way since it opened to the public 111 years ago – Lambeth and Croydon Borough Councils.

• is widely regarded as a fine example of the independent model 

• is at least 50% more cost efficient than libraries in the funding boroughs. 

• and serves residents from 5 London boroughs (Upper Norwood is on the fringes of these 5 boroughs) 

Budget cuts forcing library closures is a familiar story with 10% of the 4500 UK libraries under threat or already closed.  But the reason for the likely closure of this community library is nothing to do with cuts, or not according to Croydon Council. 


Croydon Council is in the process of outsourcing its entire library network but this does not include Upper Norwood Joint Library. Campaigners for Upper Norwood Library claim that everything that the community now knows, points to a carefully played exit strategy by Croydon Council; Croydon have clearly been planning to outsource their libraries for some time.  


Campaigners are naturally angered at Croydon's handling of the situation, the lack of negotiations with Lambeth and the ultimatum placed before them, which absolves Croydon of any responsibility for the library, as we outlined here.

Despite repeated attempts by Lambeth Council and the community to ask Croydon to co-operate to commit to secure a future for the library, Croydon Council has not been willing.  Rather, it seems resolute in realising its 50% share of assets.

A statement released by Upper Norwood Library Campaign states,

"So if the Government wants to realise its ambitions of putting Britain back at the forefront of innovation and expertise through nurturing vocational learning, fixing our broken society, improving levels of literacy, tackling the exponential problem of rising unemployment for young adults  etc. etc. why allow local Councils to facilitate the closure of community library?  And in this case, one which is well on the way to being an exemplar of what Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, and his colleagues aspire to. The Community of Upper Norwood is a Big Society and at the moment, it is being crushed by the actions of a few councillors who think it acceptable to walk away from their responsibilities rather than facing them; the irony here is that the challenges that make their responsibilities harder are of their own making.

We call for Ed Vaizey and Chris White, Chair Local Government Group, to take the matter up personally with Jon Rouse, Chief Executive and Mike Fisher, Leader Croydon Council as a matter of urgency.  They need to be held to account on this matter and to reverse the decision if they cannot substantiate it within the mandated guidelines.

It is high time that these paid officials were called to account by their Westminster colleagues and by the media. They also need to be brought out from the apparent safety of their castle kingdoms and put to the sword by the communities they are breaking.

The Upper Norwood community is passionate about keeping its library and, as fully paid up members of ‘Big Society’, we have to ask, is the current Croydon Council Cabinet?"

To see the history of the crisis click here:

You can follow the campaign.


Twitter: @saveUNlibrary 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/269577509754920/

Website: http://www.unlc.org.uk

And please show your support for Upper Norwood by attending the EGM this Friday to have your say.

Joint Open letter to Ed Vaizey - Croydon contribute

Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries (FOGL)  produced a joint open letter to Ed Vaizey. The letter, which you can view here, is now closed for signatures, but well worth reading, along with the comments made by authors, campaigners and library supporters from across the country.

The letter wide attention and support during the short time it was open and is still being reported in the press.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/15/library-closures-writers-ed-vaizey-letter
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Library-campaigners-letter-minister-backed/story-14142700-detail/story.html
and the latest article just this week http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/9443457.Library_campaigners_hit_out_at_culture_minister/

Croydon library supporters and campaigners contributed.  We produce the entries here. If we've missed your entry please let us know!

contribution from Old Coulsdon resident

Contribution of the Save Croydon Libraries Campaign group

Croydon library campaigner

The link in this post is  http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/breakdown_of_responses_to_librar#incoming-191819 .

The request was denied because:

Quite extraordinary that the information is not readily available if it has really already been fully collated and analysed.


FOGL have delivered the letter to Mr Vaizey.  Will it have the desired effect?  We hope so!

If you want to follow any updates on this letter you can follow FOGL on their blog at http://foclibrary.wordpress.com/ or on twitter at @FOGLibraries

Ed Vaizey via Number 10

Yesterday Lewisham library campaigners led a demonstration outside DCMS. They had rallied campaigners from Brent, Camden, Croydon, Lambeth and others from outside London to attend, but Ed Vaizey failed to meet with them as requested.


Campaigners and library supporters will not be deterred. Ask that the minister intervene, using his powers under the Public  Libraries and Museums Act1964, to prevent the destruction of the public library service.


But how?

• Go here
• Select Contact the Prime Minister's Office from the drop down menu and hit GO.

                                                    You have 1000 characters.


                                          Make sure you have your say!