Friern Barnet Library - A Joint Bloggers Statement

Claiming credit for something you haven't done is an unappealing trait. When politicians do it weeks before an election, it needs to be brought to the attention of prospective voters. Set out below is a joint blog from the Barnet Bloggers regarding Friern Barnet Library.

Barnet Conservative candidates in Coppetts Ward have been distributing a leaflet claiming the credit for saving Friern Barnet library.

This indefensible attempt to rewrite history is something that cannot go unchallenged.

The Barnet bloggers have followed the story of Friern Barnet in detail, from the moment in 2010 when Councillor Robert Rams launched the strategic library review, making ludicrous suggestions about the possibilities of ‘pop-up’ libraries in Tescos, and Starbucks.

We supported the raising of a petition, gaining over 7,000 signatures, and the lobbying of council meetings, and councillor surgeries. This gave the Tories pause for thought and they relented from their initial plans.

When the review was announced, only two libraries were marked for closure: Hampstead Garden Suburb and Friern Barnet. As Hampstead Garden Suburb was in a staunchly Tory ward, it took little pressure from influential local resident groups for the council to grant a reprieve, and happily agree to subsidise the small branch library in this most affluent area of the borough. This left Friern Barnet library, in a largely Labour voting ward, as the sole victim of Councillor Rams’ axe. 

Community campaigners were invited to draw up plans to keep the library open. As later events were to demonstrate, this was a crafty ruse by councillors and senior officers, which meant the campaigners were working on plans in the period where they could have instigated a judicial review. Such time wasting slammed the door on legal remedy. It seemed clear to all involved that the council had acted in bad faith and the invitation to draw up proposals were never a serious proposition.

In April 2012, the council closed the library at short notice. A symbolic occupation of the building by residents took place, to register the sense of injustice felt by the local community. The same afternoon, valuers arrived to assess the building for future development. The library was boarded up, emptied of books, and left to stand until a plan of sale had been made.

The closure of Friern Barnet, as some have forgotten, was justified by Tory members on the basis of a new library to be created in the Arts Depot at North Finchley. This plan came to nothing.

Along with many other supporters and activists, Barnet bloggers were at the forefront of the campaign to reopen Friern Barnet library, helping to launch the People’s ‘pop-up’ library, not in Tesco, or Starbucks, but on the village green next to the building, beneath the cherry trees. It was an act of defiance from local residents and campaigners in response to the removal of a much loved local community centre, and it received an astonishing outpouring of support.

The pop-up library received donations of hundreds of books and kept the protest alive throughout the weeks that followed. The BBC One show came to film the event, the first of a wave of media interest in the issue.

Despite this clear evidence that there was enormous support for the library, Councillor Robert Rams and his colleagues continued to ignore the local community.

Through the summer of 2012, residents came down every Saturday, come rain or shine to swap books on the lawn. As we approached autumn, and weather conditions worsened, it looked as if the Peoples library may become unsustainable: but in September 2012, the Occupy movement took over the Library and the People’s Library moved back into its rightful home.

How did Robert Rams and the rest of the Tories react to this demonstration of "Big Society"? They refused to engage with the local residents, although ironically they were more at ease discussing terms of occupation with Phoenix and his collective of squatters who had re-opened the library on behalf of the community.

Within weeks, the library shelves were full and the library was back in business.

Council officers were despatched to meetings to see if a compromise could be reached, but the elected representatives of the Tory Party ignored residents, and refused to attend talks. The council then launched eviction proceedings against the people of Barnet, who were simply using a public asset in the way it was intended.

Despite spiralling costs, the Tories persisted in the war against their own citizens. When the case finally came to court - supported by legal assistance organised by Labour party councillors - it lasted 2 days. The council had originally claimed it was a simple possession case and asked for ten minutes. It was clear to all that despite the judge finding in favour of the council, there were strong grounds for an appeal. The judge herself brokered a deal whereby Occupy would hand over the keys to the community and the library would continue. The council had won the battle but lost the war. 

The sad truth is that there is no happy ending.

Does anyone trust the council after their previous tactics? It would appear to be a mistake to do so. The election leaflet implies that the library was saved by the ‘fervent campaign’ within the Conservative party fought by Councillor Kate Salinger. In fact any success was entirely due to the fervent campaigning of local residents, and the occupation of the premises: and the library has not been saved. It still faces an uncertain future.

Barnet Council simply offered the re-named Friern Barnet Community Library a two year lease, to park the problem until after the election.

The Council has refused to fund a full time librarian. The Council has refused to allow the Library to access the council book stock. There are even allegations of other Barnet Libraries refusing to allow posters promoting events at FBCL. Most worrying of all, there is no long term lease, and Councillor Daniel Thomas, the deputy leader, has merely guaranteed that the building will not be sold in the next four years. What happens then? And even if the building is not sold, for how long will the community library be allowed to remain?

In truth the local community has preserved the building, and filled it full of books, which is a stunning achievement. It is a wonderful community enterprise, a victory of resistance against injustice, but it is not a public library.

Barnet’s Tory councillors have been outmanoeuvred by residents in their move to close the library and sell the beautiful, eighty year old building for redevelopment as a supermarket or flats. But it is only a temporary victory.

To ensure this library and every other publicly owned property controlled by this council remains in our hands and does not become the target of a ruthless agenda of sale and development, the only course of action is clear: use your vote wisely on May 22^nd, and do not return this Tory administration to power – or we will all live to regret it.

Derek Dishman

John Dix

Theresa Musgrove

Roger Tichborne

Friern Barnet Library - "This is what community looks like"

Yesterday was a triumph for community over Council. With the help of the occupiers, the community have been enabled to put their plans into action and take over the wonderful Friern Barnet Library. There was a great sense of warmth and community spirit that so much has been achieved in spite of the Council. There was a very moving poem and some passionate speeches. Set out below are some photos of the event. However, we must not forget that qualified and experienced librarians are being made redundant in Barnet. Libraries are still under threat!

Friern Barnet Library T Shirt

Rabbi Jeffrey Newman and Cllr Barry Rawlings

Add caption

Keith Martin

Any ideas for a caption?

Bookworm cake

Handing over the keys

Phoenix being interviewed by ITV

A brace of bloggers

Friern Barnet Library - Congratulations!

Friern Barnet Community Library issued the following statement last night.

The trustees of FBCL have now received an amended licence from LBB  to allow them to be in the library legally. They will have 2 weeks, with promise of renewal of licence if necessary, to negotiate a lease and other matters. LBB has shown a willingness to amend the licence to their satisfaction.
There was a meeting tonight at 7 pm where it was agreed that Occupy will hand over the keys to the building Tuesday 5th February 12 midday - EVERYONE WELCOME
The local residents thanked Occupy for a fantastic occupation.
Occupy encouraged Friern Barnet Community Library to continue to fight for a paid librarian and said this victory was not just about a local library but about the national campaign to save libraries everywhere.

 Whilst this library building has been saved, Barnet have still washed their hands of the responsibility and costs of running the library. Elsewhere in Barnet the libraries are still under pressure. Last week I was speaking with a couple of librarians who have worked in  the libraries for over 25 years. They have just been subjected to tests which will determine whether or not they keep their jobs. We risk losing a team of highly skilled and committed staff who have delivered a great service to Barnet residents over many years.  It is quite clear to me that Barnet Council wants to run the library service into the ground. They appear not to value the profession of librarians and simply want the cheapest possible service. I just hope that residents realise that all our libraries are still under threat

Congratulations to the Friern Barnet Community Library Group and the Occupy team. They should be praised for what they have achieved. We need more people like them running Barnet Council, people who represent the community in which they live not merely a political ideology.

Barnet's Landmark Library - It will never happen

The rationale behind closing Friern Barnet Library is that it will be replaced, along with North Finchley Library, with a new Landmark Library at the Artsdepot. This week I saw a copy of the feasibility study prepared by Capita Symonds (yes the company bidding for the two One Barnet Contracts)  and dated 3 July 2012 which shows the various options for relocating a library in the Artsdepot.

The study, disclosed under an FOI request, runs to 123 pages and considers 19 options and sub options. These options range in size from a very small 505 sqm (which is discounted as being too small) through to the largest option at 1,005sqm. To set this in context, the floor space of the Chipping Barnet Library is 1,650 sqm, more than three times the size of the smallest option and 50% bigger than the largest option. That tells us that any landmark library at the Artsdepot will be modestly proportioned.

The feasibility study identifies that the minimum space requirement is 750sqm and that the ideal is 1,000sqm. There are numerous visuals which give a feel of how the Artsdepot might look with the new library added.

However, it is when the study considers the costs that things start to go horribly wrong. The cheapest option is £1.2 million for the 505sqm space, one that has already been ruled out for being too small. The most expensive option comes in at £5.4 million for a 960 sqm space, very close to the "ideal" size requirement, although still 690 sqm smaller than Chipping Barnet Library. These are simply the capital costs and take no consideration of rental cost. The current temporary library is costing £34,000  and takes up a space of 94sqm. the ideal sized option would be ten times that at roughly £350,000 per annum in rent.

So there you have it. Close the Friern Barnet library that has minimal running costs (before library staff are considered) and has a capital value of £400,000 and replace it with a library costing £5.4 million and £350,000 in rental. I know you have to take into consideration the value and savings at North Finchley Library but they are never going to come close to making up for the additional costs of the new Landmark Library.

Sadly the obvious conclusion is that the Landmark Library will simply not get built.

Now anyone with half an ounce of common sense could have seen this coming a mile off. Leaving this feasibility study until after the Friern Barnet library was closed seems to me like a cynical ploy to remove library capacity Was there ever any real intention to build a new library or was this the anticipated outcome all along. Perhaps it is also a reflection of the culture of the flawed One Barnet programme, take something which is meeting a need and ticking over cost effectively and replace it with something new and shiny and, oh dear, a lot more expensive. I don't know how much this feasibility study cost (yet) but it will not have come cheap. Barnet please stop wasting our money and just focus on delivering services that the residents want. Give up on this stupid idea of selling the Friern Barnet Library now and give it back to the community.

Friern Barnet Library - Meeting Two

Today was the second meeting at Friern Barnet Library between, the squatters, community representatives and council officers. Sadly neither Cllr Rams or Thomas were in attendance. Craig Cooper, the council's commercial director  was replaced this week by Bill Murphy who is in charge of libraries.

The meeting kicked off with a statement from Phoenix that he and the other squatters want a properly run and resourced library, a statement which I personally was very pleased to here. He then said that the New Carnegie Foundation may be willing to help provide funds towards keeping the library open. Keith Martin, who has been a long time community campaigner for the library, also read out a statement he had received from Carnegie UK saying they hoped the library could be kept open.

During the discussions Bill Murphy made the point that the Artsdepot Landmark Library may or may not go ahead something which came as a shock to most of those present. He also noted that although they had saved £300,000 so far there was still another £1.1 million to be saved.

The one thing he did do was clarify that actually it doesn't matter how little the Friern Barnet library could be run for, it still doesn't matter because the council must sell the library to fund investment in other libraries. So there you have it. Friern Barnet Library is being sacrificed to fund improvements in other libraries. That seems awfully tough on Friern Barnet residents.

Roger T of the Barnet Eye then discussed the elephant in the room. "Are the council still pursuing the eviction proceedings?" Julie Taylor seemed to hedge around the subject but didn't deny proceedings were still going ahead. After some discussion from Phoenix, a promise was made by Julie Taylor that the officers would at least report back the request to suspend eviction proceedings. We will have to see what happens in court tomorrow.

Dr Julia Hines suggested that in order to save money now, the council should shut the temporary library at the Artsdepot. Although it is costing around £34,000 in rent, it is getting only between 4 and 5 visitors a day whilst the squatter library is getting 50 -70 people a day and costing the council virtually nothing.

Eventually the meeting finished but I remain left with the clear view that Barnet will off sell Friern Barnet Library no matter what alternatives are proposed or residents want and that is nothing short of a disgrace.

Friern Barnet Library-What is the Council up to?

Yesterday I paid a visit to Friern Barnet Library to visit the campaigners and get sight of the squatters who have occupied the vacant building.

Frankly, when I read in the on line version of the Barnet Times that Barnet Council had immediately offered the squatters an opportunity to take over premises at Friary Lodge, I thought it must be a joke. However, in Barnet, reality is often stranger than fiction and sure enough the leader of the squatters, Phoenix, not only told us about the offer but read out a long email from the council setting out their conditions.

There is a meeting tomorrow (Monday) morning at 10am between the squatters and senior council officers to talk further.

 Now I'm sure Phoenix and his comrades are jolly nice people and they have been clean and tidy  but they are not Barnet residents or Council taxpayers. The honest, genuine and law abiding and council tax paying local residents who form the Save Friern Barnet Library Campaign have been ignored completely by the Council.

Personally I find the Council's approach to this situation utter reprehensible but what is does show is that being reasonable with the Council doesn't work and that direct action pays. I think the Council have made a fundamental error of judgement  that will copme back to haunt them, but there again that comes as no surprise whatsoever.

Local Labour Councillors, Pauline Coakley Webb and Barry Rawlings were in attendance but remained outside the Library. Other campaigners came inside to see what was going on. Seeing the empty library in the heart of the community that could be use now whilst the £35,000 broom cupboard up at the Artsdepot, is nothing short of tragic.

It is quite clear the Council has turned it back on the people it should be listening to. The Council shouldn't therefore be surprised when, at the next election the local, decent, community spirited people of Barnet turn their backs on this utterly rotten Conservative regime and vote them out.

Call this a Library? Barnet's new ABC (Artsdepot Broom Cupboard)

This afternoon I paid a visit to the lovely new replacement for the Friern Barnet library at the Arts Depot. It was good to see some familiar faces; Keith Martin of the Save Friern Barnet Library Campaign and Phil Fletcher of Friends of the Earth were both in attendance. Sadly it is a small room tucked away on the fourth floor of the Arts Depot. You need to take the lift to the second floor and then cross the large atrium cafe area to another lift which takes you up to the fourth floor.

I am not an expert but I suspect it will be difficult to navigate for people who are visually impaired.

Sadly it is a small room with limited capacity.

I didn't notice any computer terminal but I may have missed them.
The plans for the new "Landmark Library" still haven't been drawn up so this replacement looks like it will be here for some time to come. This is not an adequate replacement for Friern Barnet and an insult to local residents.

Save Friern Barnet Library Protest Pictures

While I was outside the Library today a chap walked up looking rather concerned. He asked what was going on. When I explained that the library was closed he seemed quite upset. I asked if he had come to bring back some books but he told me that he was unemployed and in receipt of jobseekers allowance (JSA). He used the internet access to look for jobs, a condition of his JSA, but now he would have to go to another library. With nothing in place yet at the Artsdepot he would have to go to Bowes Road Library and off he trudged. Councillors whizz around in their cars and assume everyone else enjoys the same privileges. Sadly they don't and for those people local libraries are an essential lifeline. Cabinet members are completely out of touch with the people they are supposed to represent and that is a big problem.

Cultural Demolition - Why Barnet Has Got It's Priorities So Wrong

Last night Barnet Council once and for all killed off Friern Barnet Library. Cultural demolition all to save a £100,000. Some people may say that is a lot of money and yes it is. However, in the first two months of 2012 Barnet Council paid over £500,000 to one set of consultants to advise them on the high risk One Barnet outsourcing project. This illustrates the just how misguided the Council's priorities have become.

Thousands of people have opposed the closure of this library. The community have come up with a real alternative for the library as a Community Hub. Barnet should be proud to have such a responsive and constructive community but sadly all they care about is money. Friern Barnet library will be sold and a capital sum generated. Will the landmark library at the Arts Deport ever get built? who knows, but one thing for sure is that as of 4pm today the residents of Friern Barnet will have been cheated out of their local library and that is a disgrace.

Sadly Barnet's Conservative Cabinet members place no value on community or culture - just money.