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Laureate upset over library closure
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| Author and Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen seen telling a story to children at Joseph Clarke School, Highams Park is backing the campaign to reopen St James's Street Library |
CAMPAIGNERS battling to get St James's Street Library re-opened have gained the support of the Children's Laureate.
Michael Rosen, who is also a children's author, said he was upset and angry when he heard the library in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, was closed.
"I live in Hackney, not far away, and I know very well how important libraries are to the people of east London.
"I've seen how people of all ages and backgrounds use libraries and if our councils close them down, we are cutting off the chances of thousands of people being able to get their hands on information, ideas, stories and poems to make their lives interesting, fulfilled, endurable and enjoyable."
The protestors petitioned an overview and scrutiny management committee meeting at the town hall on June 14 and cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, Cllr Geraldine Reardon, is expected to reply to their questions at the next committee meeting on July 4.
Library users are angry that what they see as a valuable local resource has been closed and angrier that they were not first asked for their views.
Campaigner Sarah Kinson said: "The council should have allowed local residents the chance to put the case across for keeping St James's Street library open, before they closed it.
"The first local residents knew of the closure was when they saw the library doors locked after the Easter bank holiday weekend."
It is a far cry from the flourish with which the library was opened on September 13, 1963, after councillors had spent three years looking for a suitable site and gaining planning permission.
The Waltham Forest Guardian reported the event, quoting the Mayor of the time, Mrs W.M.Palthorpe.
Cllr Palthorpe said the library represented a long held desire to provide a library in the St James's Street area so as to save borrowers the long walk to the Central Library in the centre of Walthamstow.
The building was converted from three shops at a cost of £12,000 but was meant only to be temporary. Councillors originally hoped to build a permanent new library for residents.
6:15pm Tuesday 26th June 2007
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CommentPosted by: Knowledge is Wisdom, London on 10:08pm Sun 1 Jul 07
Local libraries are important to communities. It is the meeting place for people from all ages and culture. To close it means depriving the people of their source of academic & social resources.
Local libraries are important to communities. It is the meeting place for people from all ages and culture. To close it means depriving the people of their source of academic & social resources.
Posted by: Anna on 1:06am Mon 2 Jul 07
Dear Council,
It is with great sadness that we see you destroying the cultural & intellectual heritage of LBWF.
Sadly, history tells us that once something is taken, it is all too often lost.
However, the people of your borough do not accept the wholesale destruction that you seem determined to bring about, be it public conveniences or Libraries, Museums & Galleries.
It is patently obvious that you are not in communication with the people who elected you.
Today young people, mothers of young babies, fathers, grandparents & unattached men & women, all told me how distressed they were about the council’s policies.
One very new young mother was already worried about what future her child would have with no library books. She had always used the Central Library, but could no longer, due to the depletion of book stocks. With the James’ Street Library closed to her, what options does she have?
I read today about the wonderful changes that you have made to Leytonstone Library. I read this too, with regard to the Central Library. The reality was, as so many have said, very different. I wonder, what would be the reaction of people in Leytonstone? Friday Hill Library has already gone & Friday Hill House is to follow? The Louisa Oakes Centre has gone, as have other Adult Education venues. Now I understand!
If we don’t allow children to read at a young age, if we don’t give their enquiring minds the ability to grow in our local libraries, then we won’t need Adult Education Centres in the future so we might as well start scrapping them now!!
How much did you get for The Louisa Oakes Centre? How much will you get for Friday Hill House? What would Lady Heathcote have had to say about your actions & how will the people of Chingford benefit from these sales?
Sadly for you, libraries with books are still needed & will be needed. However you try to limit the minds of your voters by depriving them in this way, there will always be somebody who will speak out & condemn you-whether that be someone who has like myself, benefited from the forward thinking of previous local councils, or a child who grows up in a system that thwarts all of its desire to learn.
You cannot stop minds that really want to flourish whether they live in what is fast becoming the barren landscape of Waltham Forest- both literally and figuratively-or in one of your more vibrant neighbours.
It is your names that will be remembered. Your names that will be despised & rejected. Children grow up loving those who nurture them. The young people of Waltham Forest & their carers will not wish to see you survive as councillors or as possible future MPs etc.
Dear Council,
It is with great sadness that we see you destroying the cultural & intellectual heritage of LBWF.
Sadly, history tells us that once something is taken, it is all too often lost.
However, the people of your borough do not accept the wholesale destruction that you seem determined to bring about, be it public conveniences or Libraries, Museums & Galleries.
It is patently obvious that you are not in communication with the people who elected you.
Today young people, mothers of young babies, fathers, grandparents & unattached men & women, all told me how distressed they were about the council’s policies.
One very new young mother was already worried about what future her child would have with no library books. She had always used the Central Library, but could no longer, due to the depletion of book stocks. With the James’ Street Library closed to her, what options does she have?
I read today about the wonderful changes that you have made to Leytonstone Library. I read this too, with regard to the Central Library. The reality was, as so many have said, very different. I wonder, what would be the reaction of people in Leytonstone? Friday Hill Library has already gone & Friday Hill House is to follow? The Louisa Oakes Centre has gone, as have other Adult Education venues. Now I understand!
If we don’t allow children to read at a young age, if we don’t give their enquiring minds the ability to grow in our local libraries, then we won’t need Adult Education Centres in the future so we might as well start scrapping them now!!
How much did you get for The Louisa Oakes Centre? How much will you get for Friday Hill House? What would Lady Heathcote have had to say about your actions & how will the people of Chingford benefit from these sales?
Sadly for you, libraries with books are still needed & will be needed. However you try to limit the minds of your voters by depriving them in this way, there will always be somebody who will speak out & condemn you-whether that be someone who has like myself, benefited from the forward thinking of previous local councils, or a child who grows up in a system that thwarts all of its desire to learn.
You cannot stop minds that really want to flourish whether they live in what is fast becoming the barren landscape of Waltham Forest- both literally and figuratively-or in one of your more vibrant neighbours.
It is your names that will be remembered. Your names that will be despised & rejected. Children grow up loving those who nurture them. The young people of Waltham Forest & their carers will not wish to see you survive as councillors or as possible future MPs etc.
Posted by: Walthamster, E17 on 2:22pm Thu 30 Aug 07
The closure of St James Street is bad enough. It will prevent hundreds of children from picking up the habit of reading outside school, which is one of the biggest factors in doing well at school and in later life.
But even the 'refurbishment' programme is harming libraries in Waltham Forest: the council is wasting a fortune in faddish makeovers but the libraries are reopening with few books than before and a much reduced selection, mainly the sort of paperback you can pick up for 20p at the many local charity This has happened, and been complained about by readers, at central Walthamstow and Hale End so far. How many more of our surviving libraries are going to be 'improved' to death?
The closure of St James Street is bad enough. It will prevent hundreds of children from picking up the habit of reading outside school, which is one of the biggest factors in doing well at school and in later life.
But even the 'refurbishment' programme is harming libraries in Waltham Forest: the council is wasting a fortune in faddish makeovers but the libraries are reopening with few books than before and a much reduced selection, mainly the sort of paperback you can pick up for 20p at the many local charity This has happened, and been complained about by readers, at central Walthamstow and Hale End so far. How many more of our surviving libraries are going to be 'improved' to death?
Posted by: caroline, walthamstow on 12:25am Sun 4 Nov 07
the campaign to re-open st james st library is getting stronger - visit www.stjamesstlibrary
.wordpress.com
to find out more
the campaign to re-open st james st library is getting stronger - visit www.stjamesstlibrary
.wordpress.com
to find out more
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