please empty your brain below
Coincidentally, I was reading this history of Bethnal Green Library just before I read your blog entry:

MartinO'Holcombe | 15.12.20 - 8:01 a.m. | #

My first thought is that a library open 15 hours a week is not much use. But I suppose it might be beneficial for people who are time-rich but mobility-poor.

Any idea what saving (if any) would be made from moving the Canary Wharf library south?

Alan | 15.12.20 - 8:05 a.m. | #

A lot of new buildings are being built just south of Canary Wharf, so it shouldn't be difficult for Tower Hamlets to get a developer to build them a new library space.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 15.12.20 - 8:29 a.m. | #

The London Library Consortium allows anybody with a library card to electronically download ebooks and audiobooks or whatever to a device. Not everyone's cup of tea, but probably where we're going.

Running_Correspondent | 15.12.20 - 8:49 a.m. | #

Why does cutting libraries make the Thames disappear? I think we should be told.

Sarah | Homepage | 15.12.20 - 9:04 a.m. | #

In an ideal world a consultation would be about: 'This is the problem. Please help us solve it.' In reality, it's: 'We've got a problem and this is how we've decided to solve it. What do you think?'

David Cook | 15.12.20 - 9:19 a.m. | #

I have just been reading the life of John Passmore Edwards, benefactor of Cornwall, who sought to bring 'improvement and happiness to the toiling population' at a time when there were limited opportunities for reading (and healthcare).

He shared his wealth by providing free public libraries (and hospitals) in London, as well as his home county, before such services were assumed by the state.

According to the book, between 1892 and 1900, he built libraries at Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Hoxton, Hammersmith (Uxbridge Road), Kingsland Road (enlarged library), Dulwich, Edmonton, Southwark, East Ham and Acton.

In addition, he built a number of art galleries, convalescent homes and workers' institutes.

It would be interesting to map how many of these pioneer libraries have survived the cull over recent years.

Petras409 | 15.12.20 - 9:49 a.m. | #

Random thought: I wonder how many subscription, university and specialist libraries are in every borough. Yes I know not all are freely open to the public, but some are not expensive and some may be available on request to consult books on the premises

Westminster will have quite a few (The London Library plus various professional bodies plus some London clubs like the Athenaeum), and the BL in Camden (plus more professional and universities)

Also I wonder if there is any data available on national interlibrary loans. Anecdotally and historically, Berkshire has thin bookstacks/back stocks so is a net importer, Hampshire has/had especially extensive backstocks so is a net exporter.

MilesT | 15.12.20 - 10:28 a.m. | #

DG I'm quite happy with the preamble as it explains the thought processes you go through to get to the nitty gritty. The devil is always in the detail and you are excellent at digging it out, thanks 🤓

Kevin Too | 15.12.20 - 11:05 a.m. | #

Very interesting. I wonder how many of the libraries in each borough were set up by charitable foundations? I'm aware in Lambeth of Tate libraries in Brixton and Streatham, Carnegie at Herne Hill, and (I believe) Minet at Myatts Fields.

cau1khead | 15.12.20 - 11:15 a.m. | #

I wonder how many libraries that were set up by charitable foundations such as Passmore Edwards are now in private hands - well the buildings at least!

Cornish Cockney | 15.12.20 - 11:57 a.m. | #

O for an Andrew Carnegie who funded several libraries in Richmond. The Conservatives would be very happy with fewer libraries for the working poor. And don't tell me everyone has access to books. Look at the work of Book Trust who run the Book Start scheme. Never trust a Conservative with education or literacy when they are in power.

Tones | 15.12.20 - 5:07 p.m. | #

Thank goodness you're not a journalist. I find your thought processes much more interesting and informative.

Caz | 15.12.20 - 7:25 p.m. | #

I'm always impressed by library provision in South Africa, and how (almost) everyone values it, particulalrly in the Township areas, where education is widely seen as a ticket out of poverty. Sadly that ethic seems not to be widely accepted over here. It was years ago... I wonder when/why it all went so wrong?

Doesn't Cubitt Town actually have the best 'real library' stats? 1:1 visit to loan, with little space and few staff.

Truly, I am appalled by this planned cut to library services here. There must be other ways.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 15.12.20 - 8:12 p.m. | #

One reason Hillingdon still has so many is that not long ago there was a programme of refurbishment works which involved temporary closure of at least some of them, then building a dozen flats above and around. For example look at the Streetview timeline photos of Hayes End Library: 2008 - non-descript, one-storey library, 2012 - building work in progress, 2014 - ugly flats completed, steel'n'glass library on the ground floor.

I don't know if each developer's contract included refurbing the library at the same time or if the council used some of the sales money to DIY. The main one in Uxbridge town centre has no flats above but was also heavily refurbed.

Bob | 15.12.20 - 8:14 p.m. | #

Ilford library used to have junior and adult sections and I used to cycle there several times a week as a youngster. When I progressed to the senior room, the frequency of visits reduced and consisted largely of technical manuals (haynes etc), so I made full use of the well-equiped library in my time. Nowadays, it all seems to be available online, but how many get into the habits of researching a subject beyond google? Thanks for another great article DG

IanJ | 15.12.20 - 9:21 p.m. | #











TridentScan v2.10.0 | Privacy Policy