Tell Lambeth Council what you want from the Durning Library in the future

I've not posted on libraries since Vauxhall Civic Society began a campaign in mid-March to persuade Lambeth Council to provide facts and figures on budgets re. libraries in Lambeth.  Lambeth accidentally turned the Society's general correspondence/questions into a Freedom of Information Request, and Kate Hoey appeared to back the Vauxhall Society's request for information).  However, it transpired that the Council had made an "administrative error" re. the FOI request, and so reclassified their correspondence as a "General Enquiry" which would receive a response by 25th March.  On the 25th March (presumably no longer bound by the more stringent requirements of the FOI request), the Council promised to publish the requested information as part of a "general information hand out" promised for April.  The contents to be released would need to be confirmed at a 4th April meeting with the new Head of Libraries in Lambeth, John Pateman.  Unfortunately, John Pateman was in office for precisely... 1 day... before resigning on account of "a sudden family crisis".  So it must have been quite a surprise for the Vauxhall Society to receive last week (now May!) some of the information they requested.

Unfortunately, I'm not at all clear quite where the information they requested is located...  There are some general documents available at the bottom of "The Facts" page here.  Perhaps that's what's meant.  The Vauxhall Society say that the budget figures have still to go online, so that will be interesting and I await their analysis with interest.  Vauxhall Society have pointed readers to various pages on the Lambeth Council website that mention a new "Libraries Commission".  Lambeth  inform us that they've set up a Libraries Commission to "gather evidence" and "make recommendations" to the Council.  The Commission will be headed by Cllr Nosegbe, cabinet member for Culture, Sport and the Olympic Games. 


In the meantime, the Council note that they have to make "£1.2million of savings from the Cultural Services Division in 2011/12 and... restructure posts across the division".  It doesn't sound promising for the staff in question.  However, Lambeth also state on their website, "the intention... to continue staffing the nine existing libraries with their current opening hours".  One wonders how fewer staff (or perhaps less experienced staff) will continue to provide the same level of service.  It would be possible to cynically conclude that they will be unable to do so, which could result in worse "customer service" (since when are library users customers??), which will provide good reason to actually close a few libraries.  As I say, that would be cynical.  We will await the results of the Commission.

I saw it asserted back in February (in a variety of places) that the Durning Library (our local in SE11) was on a list for potential closure.  The Council denied the speculation was true and quashed the rumour hard, but not prior to it being printed in the South London Press.  The Vauxhall Society noted back in March that Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council, promised a "review of the options", and it appears the time has come.  I'm slightly unclear why, in light of the promise to keep the nine libraries open for the same hours, a commission is actually needed, but perhaps it's sensible, given the fact that Lambeth's libraries appear to be underused, causing visits per head to be very expensive.


So... time for action.  There will be two "open space sessions" (Saturday 4th June, 10am-1pm, Lambeth Town Hall and Tuesday 14th June, 6:30pm-9:30pm, Lambeth Town Hall) where residents will be able to "design their own working agenda". That should prove very interesting, and is presumably a Co-operative Council working method.

To write to the Commission, giving your views (in case an open space session is not your thing), you can email: LibrariesHaveYourSay@lambeth.gov.uk .  The consultation closes on 1st July 2011.

Friends of Groups in Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall (includes SE1, SE11 and SW8)

If you ever visit one of the SE11 fetes, fairs, festivals, events in the park etc. there are always numerous tables, staffed by a number of determined looking people, who run "friends of..." groups in the area... If you've only just arrived, you could do worse than joining one of the groups. However, you should be cautious in your choice as if you're persuaded to join all of them, you could find yourself without any time whatsoever!

I've made a list of the current "Friends of" groups in SE11 (and a few on the borders in SE1 and SW8) that I currently know to exist, and a little about what they're currently doing. I don't quite know who is still operating and whether the "friends" are historical remnants or currently active. Please do leave a comment if I missed your group and want it added or have furthur current information:

Friends of Kennington Cross - (Website is a shell at prseent (Sept 2010). They're currently working on the ArtsLav project - reviving the disused lavatory on Kennington Cross).

Friends of Spring Gardens -   An old site from 2004 which was replaced in 2010 by the Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens (the original name for Spring Gardens)

Friends of Lambeth Open Space (SE11) - The website/blog has not been updated since 2005. I don't know whether they are still active.

Friends of Durning Library (SE11) - The link is generic and takes you to a library website with contact details for all of the "friends of" library groups in Lambeth. I know that there are regular talks which are put on by the Friends of Durning Library, but there are currently no details online. If you're local, the best thing to do is check the library notice board.

Friends of Roots and Shoots (SE11) - A direct link to their website. Joining provides a newsletter, pre-arranged access to the garden etc. The website provides a calendar for up and coming events.

Friends of Kennington Park (SE11) - A very active group who support and look to improve Kennington Park.

Friends of Imperial War Museum (SE1) Lots of information on their website.

Friends of Archbishop's Park (SE1) - New(ish) website.  I updated this post in September 2010.

Friends of Vauxhall Park (SW8) - Website is back up again.

Friends of Lollard Street Adventure Playground (SE11) - (No web site as yet, but much of their activity is co-ordinated in conjunction with the Kennington Association

Friends of Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground (SE11) - Formed approx. March 2010,

United Friends of Oval (SW8) - This group appears no longer to be active (September 2010).  Website (July 2008) reports that they're actively attempting to resist the development of badly thought out plans for a hotel at The Oval, but would welcome better a thought-out hotel

Friends of Kennington Green - (Doesn't currently exist, but has been mooted according to Google, July 2008)

Farmers Market & Photos

Because it was such a sunny day, we decided to visit the Farmers' Market in Oval. I've added the photos to the map, and included them here too:





We managed to find some purple sprouting broccoli (a favourite food of the SE11 lurker's partner) for £1, which was great value considering that it was a huge bag. In addition, I shall definitely be returning for freshly squeezed apple (and pear) juice, and some goats cheese. If we'd arrived earlier, I imagine that we might have purchased some bread - all of the bread stalls looked rather empty (which is definitely a good sign!)

We only visited briefly, but the market is open from 10am until 3pm every Saturday. Expect more on this, as we're definitely going back.

In other news, I've also started adding some of the other Kennington photos that I've taken. After the market, the next photo I've added is one of The Ship pub. Adding the photos takes a while, as I'm just sorting out universal formatting ideas. I've photos to add of some of the green squares, and a few shops, and a rather nice one of Durning Library. Watch this space.