An urgent message from Friends of Haringey Libraries re proposed cuts to branch library opening hours

An urgent message from Friends of Haringey Libraries re proposed cuts to branch library opening, asking for your support on the current budget consultation:

Haringey Council is proposing to cut branch library opening hours, including at Stroud Green & Harringay Library, by 38%, in order to save £150k - not a huge saving considering that it needs to cut £20m this time around as grants from central Government are cut once again.

Councils across the UK are seeing huge cuts in their funding - and it is unedifying to be put in the position of arguing against the cutting of one vital service when it might impact on another service elsewhere - but the plan to save this amount by reducing such a vital service from 58 hours per week to 36 hours seems particularly harsh.

Libraries and parks are our communal free-to-access public spaces and, when it is raining, libraries are our only open public space where everyone is welcome.

Libraries take much of the hidden strain in society, and the Library Friends' groups across the borough believe it would be a false economy, as demand for other and more expensive public services will increase as a result.

Going ahead with this plan would mean all 6 branch libraries in Haringey would likely be closed when residents need them the most.

What can you do to help?
Haringey Council is currently running a public consultation on its proposed budget cuts.

You can respond to them with your thoughts by clicking here:
http://www.haringey.gov.uk/survey/budget-2017-18

Please mention the cuts to library hours in questions 2 and 4

Thank you for your support