York Gardens Library (Battersea, Wandsworth) is going to be the location for a read-in on 'Save our Libraries Day' (1) 5th February 1300-1500. This is in response to the planned closure by Wandsworth Council despite the fact that the library serves the most deprived area in the Borough. This will be a community event for everyone in the area- before the only community resource for the attached estates is taken away.
The afternoon will start with children joining in the library's regular rhymetime [half an hour of action rhymes and dancing for the under fives] 12.30-13.00 before our event starts. In between the entertainers members of the public will talk about what the library means to them.
The closure of York Gardens Library will have a devastating impact on the community that it serves. It is the only communal space in the local vicinity and is a vital resource for those living in the area. In order to close York Gardens Library, Wandsworth Borough Council needs to provide reasons for choosing this branch. We do not believe they have done so.....
They say:
York Gardens Library is the most expensive library per issue/ in relation to its visitors (2)
We say:
Wandsworth Libraries' report into the closing of the libraries admits that actually Battersea Library is the most expensive (3) Also, this report doesn't take into consideration that York Gardens Library costs so much because it needs to pay to heat halls which are then rented out, earning the council approximately £1000 per month.
They say:
Wandsworth libraries would not be so closely placed if the borough was founding them now. Users of York Gardens Library should just walk the extra distance to a neighbouring borough. (4)
We say:
York Gardens Library was only opened in 2000! It is the only communal resource and community space for the attached estates and serves a higher density of people in its catchment area than any other Wandsworth Library (5) There is another library nearer Battersea which is not facing closure.
They say:
The number of children who took part in the CIPFA survey (which asks them their opinions about the library) was too small to successfully show what the library means to the community. (6)
We say:
208 children participated in York Gardens Library's survey over 1 week in September- this was more than two other libraries in the borough and the same number as those answering the the larger Battersea Library . The results of the CIPFA survey showed that:
When children were asked to answer the sentence: ‘I come to the library to’:
Highest in the borough for ‘Use the computers’
Highest in the borough for ‘Meet friends’
Highest in the borough for ‘Read’
Highest in the borough (twice as much as any other library) for ‘Do my homework’.
Why do you borrow books?
Highest in the borough for ‘I want to get better at reading’
Highest in the borough for ‘Library staff say they are good’
Why do you go to the library?
Highest in the borough for ‘There are computers to help me’
Highest in the borough for ‘There is a homework club’
Highest in the borough for ‘It is somewhere to sit and work’
A stunning 59pc of children say using YGL has ‘helped me to do better at school’, this is a much higher figure than any other library in the list.
Highest in the borough for ‘Use the computers’
Highest in the borough for ‘Meet friends’
Highest in the borough for ‘Read’
Highest in the borough (twice as much as any other library) for ‘Do my homework’.
Why do you borrow books?
Highest in the borough for ‘I want to get better at reading’
Highest in the borough for ‘Library staff say they are good’
Why do you go to the library?
Highest in the borough for ‘There are computers to help me’
Highest in the borough for ‘There is a homework club’
Highest in the borough for ‘It is somewhere to sit and work’
A stunning 59pc of children say using YGL has ‘helped me to do better at school’, this is a much higher figure than any other library in the list.
Also, by some distance it was the library that was top for serving children in the categories: ‘female‘ ‘black‘ ‘African‘ and ‘Caribbean‘. (7)
3 http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=12533&ISATT=1#search=%2210-830%22 (page 5)
4 Councillor Sarah Mcdermott- Council meeting. December8th 2010.
5 . http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=12533&ISATT=1#search=%2210-830%22 (page 5)
6. Councillor Sarah Mcdermott- Council meeting. December8th 2010
7. CIPFA survey results- as broken down on http://saveyorkgardenslibrary.com
