Hendon Library saved - Barnet Council listens to residents (at last)

Local residents love libraries

I happen to believe that the biggest lie in politics is the statement that "all the parties are the same and it's not worth voting". If you think of it logically, the policies of the Conservatives rarely benefit more than a small minority of vested interests, so it is very much in their interest to propogate this myth amongst the majority of voters, who don't benefit from their policies. I have to say this because I've spent the last fourteen years campaigning against the policies of Barnet Council and the former Barnet Conservative administration. The new Labour administration is far from perfect, but I can, in all good faith, say that their policies and strategy are taking the Borough in a completely different direction from that set by the Tories and I have yet to come across a major policy that is bad enough to inspire me to write a blog. I am sure this will change, but if you are wondering where the blogs ranting about the council have gone, there hasn't really been anything to rant about. 

In fact the new Labour administration has been so sensible that even my old nemisis Brian Coleman is tweeting about how marvellous they are.

Blimey, even @briancoleman251 is a Fan of the new @BarnetLabour administration at @BarnetCouncil pic.twitter.com/7kBreTVwlp

— Roger Tichborne/Rog T (@Barneteye) October 19, 2022

Much as I may disike Brian Coleman personally (he was convicted for the assault of Helen Michael, a good friend of mine), I've never doubted for a second that he understands where the g-spot of local Tories is. He has been against the Hendon Hub project from the outset and especially the plan to destroy the Hendon library. Brian has correctly recognised that what his former colleagues in charge were doing was profoundly stupid. Local people of all hues had long ago twigged that the former Tory adminstration was in the pocket of big developers and addicted to bonkers grand schemes. Coleman had ranted against all of them, Brent Cross, North Finchley and Hendon to name a few. These schemes have been labelled 'regeneration' schemes but in truth much of what they are doing is simply destroying perfectly good areas of Barnet for the gain of developers. Of course there are some good parts, the disused railway yards at Cricklewood had potential for homes, but knocking down perfectly good houses for soulless, rabbit hutch tower blocks has always struck me as folly and Brian Coleman has always agreed with me. 

The Hendon Hub scheme was perhaps the most bizarre. It was mainly based in solid a Tory ward and it upset the parties local supporters. I fully understand the concept that Middlesex University needs to grow and there are benefits of consolidating on one site, but if this is at huge cost to local residents then it cannot possibly be deemed a good scheme. Of all the bits of the scheme that were dodgy, the plans for the library were the worst. I find it ironic that it was a Labour Council that saved the local Tories from the stupidity of their own Tory councillors, one of whom was formerly the leader.

The full details of the councils decision regarding the Library are contained in this press release

Barnet Council has decided that the historic Hendon Library will remain in its original location and be refurbished, preserving the library’s heritage and traditional features.

The council listened to hundreds of residents who expressed how important the building is to the local community and the history of the area.

Chair of the Community Leadership & Libraries Committee, Cllr Sara Conway said:

"Hendon Library is a public space cherished by so many people and is an important part of our shared heritage as a Borough. We have listened to hundreds of residents who urged the council not to go ahead with plans to move it from its historic home and are delighted to announce that we will now be retaining Hendon library within the listed building.”

Chair of the Housing & Growth Committee, Cllr Ross Houston said:

“Our plans will mean a newly refurbished and revitalised Library, with access to the archives through a Local Studies Service which will open-up a new window into Barnet’s history and heritage for Library users and visitors.

“Local residents have made it clear that they want us to work with them on the development of the Hendon Hub. I know from the North Finchley regeneration in my own ward just how important it is to engage local people in the regeneration of an area, and the partnership board model is the right way to do this.

“We have listened and will be establishing a Partnership Board to ensure local people are engaged with us on this project and can input and help steer its direction so that we work towards an acceptable regeneration in Hendon.”

The refurbished library will continue to hold its Local Studies Service, a unique collection of local historical documents, photographs and rate books dating from 1600 to the present day.

The refurbishment includes preserving the library’s heritage features such as the iconic central staircase and the glazed ceilings of the upper reading rooms. 

Built in 1929, Hendon Library occupies an important place in the history of the development of public libraries, with pioneering librarian Eileen Colwell establishing a blueprint for children’s librarianship that is still relevant today.

The council is establishing a Hendon Partnership Board. The forum will provide an opportunity for members of the local community to meet with representatives of the council and work collaboratively to address local issues relating to the development of the Hendon Hub and make a difference on the ground.

The Partnership Board will bring together local people who are passionate about Hendon, would like to represent the views of the wider community and advise on how to best support Hendon’s growth.

It's quite dull writing blogs saying how you agree with stuff the Council are doing (especially if you are a member of a different party to the administration) but what else is there to say. In truth, the Barnet Tory administration was massively past it's sell by date. It would have been ousted in Barnet in 2018 if Jeremy Corbyn had not been Labour leader.

We are seeing the same stagnation in the country, I am not even sure who the Prime Minister or Chancellor will be when you read this. It seems to me that after an administration has been in for around 8 years, they start going bonkers. Sadly it often takes a term or two more of stupidty for the voters to realise. We had 20 years of the Barnet Tories, when they  started going completely bonkers after 8 years. That craziness gave us Capita, the closure of Church Farmhouse museum, the CPZ charges fiasco, the Metpro scandal, the freedom pass scandal, the Mapledown school respite care fiasco and the Catalyst cock up. These added together cost hundreds of millions of pounds to the people of Barnet for nothing but aggro in return. 

I think what happens is that for the first term, the council are edgy and eager to please. For the second term, they are competent and happy to build on the successes of the first term. When they win a third term, they forget why they were put there and start thinking they are better than the rest of us. If you've ever wondered why the USA only allow a President to have two terms, this is why. If you look at Putim, it becomes clear what the alternative is. 

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Update from the friends of the Hendon Midland Hotel concerning Hendon developments

 Hello Friends and Supporters of Midland Hotel Pub, NW4

Hope that all is very well with you.

Your full and timely support for The Midland Pub has helped save our beloved pub from demolition in 2018. 

We have been asked to share this news about proposed developments in The Burroughs and Church End NW4 and to seek your support if you are interested/affected. 

1. This website explains the imminent threat of losing our Grade 2 listed HENDON PUBLIC LIBRARY as Barnet's flagship library; it is to be gutted, extended to join with a new building at the rear and leased out to Middlesex University as their business school. 

It also explains why the Hendon Hub scheme's extensive building and expansion proposals are harmful and how residents have not been listened to regarding the future of the area. 

https://www.savehendon.org/

2. This Facebook page is dedicated to the efforts to SAVE THE LIBRARY and to SCALE DOWN THE DEVELOPMENTS so that it protects the heritage, character and community of the area and beyond. 

Some of you may already be in this group. You can see updates on what is happening in the civic centre of Barnet and follow the action. 

 https://m.facebook.com/groups/3701819566549833/?multi_permalinks=4396551017076681%2C4394211490643967%2C4393820887349694%2C4393689130696203%2C4382765181788598&notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1630581082256769&ref=m_notif

3. This link is for crowdfunding to pursue the legal challenge that was initiated by Hendon residents on 12 August 2021 to take Barnet Council to court. 

Any donation, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated to take the challenge to the next stage. 

The target to raise in the NEXT TWO WEEKS is £20k for this stage. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/hendon-residents-v-barnet-council

4. This link is for T shirt sales to help with the legal challenge costs and to raise awareness of the Hendon Hub issues. 

https://m.facebook.com/SaveHendon/?refid=52&__tn__=C-R

5. This link is for the Save Hendon Library petition which will remain active till the time Barnet Council moves it out to temporary accommodation.

https://www.change.org/p/barnet-council-last-chance-to-save-old-hendon-library

We really hope that, after looking through these informative links, you can support by donating and sharing this community action with family and friends.

Helping with this action will also mean that when we need help to save the pub, we have another group of residents ready to support us.

THANK YOU FOR READING. 

If you do not wish to be contacted regarding the Hendon Hub matters, please reply to this email to have your email removed.

Stay safe, 

Midland Hotel Community Group 

Building the library of the future in the London Borough of Barnet?

So Barnet Council are in the process of reviewing their library service. This is the second time in five years that they've done this. The Councillor who is "in charge" of the process is Reuben Thompstone. Oddly "Rubes" as he is lovingly known, seems to have learned nothing from the 2010 debacle. One supposes that this is partly because the last bloke to try it, Robert Rams, got thrown out by the electorate at the last election.

When they tried it ast time, I lead the campaign to save the libraries. This was sparked by crass comments by Robert Rams, such as that people could order books online from Amazon if they wanted one. I immediately realised that Rams knew nothing about what a library was or the type of people who used them. Realising that if I was to do the job properly, I needed to make sure that I wasn't like Rams, totally ignorant of the subject. So the first thing I did was a tour of every library in the Borough. I went at times when I thought they'd be busy and I had a routine. I'd go in and read the paper. Whilst I did this I'd observe the customers and the staff. What immediately struck me was the fact that the libraries all reflected their communities. The customers reflected what was going on. Hendon library, being near Middx Uni had far more students using the space for study. Burnt Oak had a very ethnically diverse custom. Mill Hill had young mums and old ladies. Each library had its own feel and just from watching, I realised that there was far more to what libraries do than simply lending books.

The next thing I did was some research as to what other authorities were doing. I also realised that every council has a different view of what a library service should be. Some value, develop and cherish it, some want shot of it and some, such as Barnet Council are simply clueless. 

By doing my homework, when I addressed councillors and the council, I was able to talk with authority and raise points they hadn't thought of. I realised that the authorities that loved and cherished libraries had empowered communities to build friends groups who raised funds and helped the team of qualified librarians out. They realised that librarians are qualified professional people and that they should be treated as such. Any volunteer services are simply there to extend and improve the services and to help raise funds. My research showed me that good friends groups can raise up to £30,000 a year, which can be ploughed back into the service.

I also realised that there are hundreds of authors in our city, all of whom have books to promote. They are all keen to share their work, so good libraries arrange book readings. Many people enjoy book clubs and what better place to run these than the library? One group I spoke to organised book readings. People would bake cakes to sell and bring wine for the evening, pay aing a few pounds on subs to be a member. Some libraries organise reading based activities for tots, whilst the mums have a chinwag and a coffeee. Others have coffee mornings for pensioners, where councillors would attend and give seminars on local history and environment. This would also allow the councillors to get to know people and their issues. Then there are students. Good library services have special opening hours and study times, in association with local schools. These are promoted as an opportunity for local youths, who have no private study place at home, to do homework in a quiet and studious environment.

Then there is the question of library design. As the needs of library users have changed, so has the design. People like a touch of privacy, so reading areas can be more secluded, not closed off but designed so that you can read in peace. Many modern libraries separate shelves from reading space, so the space can be reused in the evening for events. Good libraries also have good IT services, many run courses for older people to help them become IT literate.Many run other courses, especially English language courses for the many immigrants we have in our community and also foreign language courses for the locals. Some have services to help peoplewrite CV's and some have film nights and even live music.

Perhaps the most interesting thing I saw was libraries that team up with commercial sponsors, who recognise the value in engaging with the community. This helps the company to be recognised as part of the community and the library to pay its bills.

There is also the issue of running costs. Some libraries have gone green. They use solar panels to provide power (libraries are largely open in daylight). Some use other green technologies. All of these make the proposition more sustainable.

Every single one of the the things I've mentioned above, I suggested to councillors in 2010. Sadly they were not interested. Every single one would help us to build a better and more harmonious community. It has been estimated that every hour an adult spends in education or training results in approx 100 times the cost benefit to the economy. If Barnet and the UK wants to be a successful modern nation, we need education and skills at our heart. This can only happen if we recognise the value of our library service.

UPDATED **** Look what Councillor Robert Rams is doing to our landmark libraries

Empty shelves at Hendon Landmark library

**** Updated - See end of blog ****

 If you read what Councillor Robert Rams (cabinet member responsible for libraries) says about Barnet Council Library services, you would think that Barnets libraries are thriving and well funded. He states that one reason Friern Barnet library is being closed is to "safeguard" our other libraries.

Well I'm sorry to report that the other libraries are being run down, neglected and starved of cash. Rams claims that there is  a policy to "build up" the landmark libraries. The truth could not be more different. Tonight I visited Hendon Library at 7pm with my daughter. The purpose of the visit?

 She is studying English GCSE and is studying "To Kill a Mockingbird". She had been told at Mill Hill Library that it wasn't in stock, but it would be at Hendon, as this is the local Lanmark library. Off we went to Hendon, the premier library on this side of Barnet. What I found shocked me. It could not be clearer that the book stock is being run down. I snapped a few pictures of empty shelves, just to prove a point. Even more worrying was the fact that this "landmark library" didn't have the book we wanted in stock.

Thousands of children across Barnet are studying GCSE English as we speak. Of course there will be quite a few wishing to withdraw the book, but the Libraries must know this and should be geared up to cope. Councillor Robert Rams is the man in charge. It is clear to me what he wants to do. If the libraries have a poor book stock, footfall will decline. If this happens, then he can justify closing the libraries and flogging off the buildings, as he is doing in Friern. Since Friern reopened as the "Peoples library" footfall has shot up. There is a stock of 8,000 books now. There are no empty shelves, in fact more have recently been delivered. Nothing could be clearer to me. Rams is vandalising the Library service. He shut Church farmhouse museum and is trying to flog it off. He cannot be trusted with our heritage.

Even more disturbing is the fact that local MP, Matthew Offord lives around the corner from Hendon library. He clearly doesn't care either. He let Rams shut the museum, now he's letting him run down the library. In 20-30 years, I have no doubt that this current regime in Barnet will be viewed rather like we view the cultural revolution in China or the Taliban fanatics who destroyed 1,000 year old buddha's in Afghanistan. They care nothing for the culture and traditions of Barnet.

If your local library is being run down, send me the pictures, I intend to name and shame these B****rds. Robert Rams claims to support "One Barnet" if it is left to him, there will be "No Barnet" left.

By the way, we had a chat with a helpful librarian who advised us that Mill Hill library had a copy of the book.
************************ Updated 4th December 2012 ******************************
Councillor Robert Rams is clearly rather embarrassed and humiliated by the fact we've exposed his inefficiency and lack of commitment to the service. He claims that this post is an attack on the Library service. It isn't, as any sensible person will see, it is an attack on the way he is running the service. He has posted a panicked response on his blog. It says 
(http://robertrams.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/a-sign-of-a-successful-library)

I read an attack on Hendon Library this morning http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/look-what-councillor-robert-rams-is.html

The truth is very different to the picture painted in this article. We actually have 26 copies of To Kill a Mockingbird for general loan, plus 15 copies in the Barnet Book Club collections for reading groups. So, a total of 41 copies in the system. A study guide to the book is also available on Barnet Digital library.

Hendon Library has very high stock figures: – 69,036 items in stock, of which 62,617 are books and 7,651 new items have been added. There are high numbers of books on loan at any one time in Hendon so it’s not surprising that shelves are not fully stocked at all times!
It is a sign of a successful library!

If we analyse what Rams has to say in detail, it paints a far less rosy picture. According to Rams there are 26 copies of the book in the system. This implies that there are only 26 copies for 14 libraries in Barnet, that is less than 2 copies per library for a standard text. As to the Book club collections, these are clearly not designed for GCSE students to use (who one must assume will be the primary borrowers). I had assumed that such a popular text would have a far greater number, five or six copies for larger libraries and two or three at smaller ones. You do not have to be a genius to work out why it isn't currently available. 

Rams then goes on to claim that the reason shelves are not fully stocked is down to the library being successful and the books being borrowed. If there were gaps in rows on shelves that would be a plausable explanation. As you can see from the pictures, there were whole rows missing. It is simply not credible that whole rows have been cleared out by avid readers whilst other rows are fully stocked. If I'd taken pictures of a few gaps, Rams may have had a point. 

As ever with Rams it is all down to trust. You have read his response, do you believe he is credible and his response means that the library service is being well managed by people who understand what it is supposed to provide. Alternatively, do you agree with me and think Rams has proven (yet again) that he simply is unfit to run libraries and museums in Barnet.