Barnet Council library consultation events

Barnet Council are consulting on the future of Barnets Libraries. The events are as follows:-

Location	Date	Time
Hindu Cultural Society, 321 Colney Hatch Lane, London, N11 3DU	Monday 2nd February 2015	7-9pm
Stephens House and Gardens, 17 East End Road, Finchley, London, N3 3QE	Tuesday 3rd February 2015	7-9pm
Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, Hendon, London, NW4 4AX	Wednesday 4th February 2015	7-9pm

These events will be run by Opinion Research Services, the independent research organisation supporting Barnet Council with this consultation.  There will be an opportunity to learn more about the proposals, followed by group discussions about the current proposals and any alternative suggestions for the future of the service.

These events are free to attend and open to all but places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please contact Rhys Elliott at Opinion Research Services (email: rhys.elliott@ors.org.uk or telephone: 01792 535315) to register your interest, indicating which of the three events you would like to attend.

Barnet Council will be publicising the consultation through Barnet’s three Residents’ Forums on 15th January 2015, and members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings. These are public meetings and there is no need to register to attend. There will be an opportunity to sign up through the Residents' Forums for one of the three public consultation events being held in early February. Click on these links for more information about the Chipping Barnet, Finchley & Golders Green and Hendon Residents' Forums and the format of the meetings.

For any other information about these events or the wider library consultation please visit engage.barnet.gov.uk, email libraryconsultation@barnet.gov.uk or telephone 0208 359 7100.

 The Barnet Eye suggests that you attend these events and you email your councillor, telling them in the strongest possible terms that maintaining a library service is vital to maintain a community. Some local right wing commentators (mostly single, white, middle class males) have suggested that libraries are outdated. The Barnet Eye knows from personal expience how important libraries are for the local elderly population and for those with children. Giving children a love of books is part of building an intelligent and happy child. In the final years of my mothers life, as her health failed and she became housebound, her weekly trip to the library was her lifeline. She would read 3 large print books a week. Whilst running the 2010 save Barnets Libraries campaign, I met many similar people. Sadly these people are not on twitter, don't attend council meetings and go about their business quietly. Some elederly people spend time at the library to keep warm as they can't afford to heat their flats. The siren voices claiming libraries are outdated are simply out of touch with the reality of the situation. You can find your councillor email here http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0