Camden Council’s library consultation has been launched. The consultation document should be available in libraries and community centres across Camden. It is also available online here. Along with other budgets, the library budget in Camden is being cut. Critics have attacked the consultation as lacking imagination and being front-loaded on the assumption that the library budget can’t be protected and that some libraries will have to close.

Frustratingly with the online consultation you have no choice about answering the first 3 questions about closing libraries, if you want to progress to the more open questions further on. Local campaigner Anne Ward said “It is sad that the consultation is loaded towards the idea of closing libraries to meet the budget deficit. There are ways of saving money without closing the libraries; Camden should be exhausting all options before talking about actual closures. How about exploring ways in which the buildings can be used for other community activities as well as library services, in order to make keeping them open financially viable?”

Belsize Councillor Tom Simon said “While I think this consultation is flawed and that the results will be skewed in favour of closing libraries, it is still worth completing it. I would urge residents to make the most of question number four and explain why they think libraries should NOT be closed and that the council needs to do more to find alternative solutions”.

The consultation runs until 4^th April. If you are having trouble getting your hands on the consultation or feel you don’t have enough information to complete it, please do get in touch.

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