Forum Topic

Ealing's 'socialist' Philistines

Creating a self-fulfilling prophecy by selling off the book stock for pennies which will result in fewer books to borrow, fewer people to borrow them and, surprise, surprise, no need for libraries.No, not Tory cuts, just another example of the utter contempt for the people of this, once proud, borough by its, supposedly Socialist, council.https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/council-selling-books-libraries-ealing-16361161

N V Brooks ● 2499d14 Comments

I fully concur.The joy of a good public library is the opportunity to browse along the shelves often selecting a book or books totally unassociated with that for which you originally entered.The diversity of opportunity to learn and expand will be a thing of the past should these Philistines proceed with their plans.

N V Brooks ● 2496d

What utter twaddle!Go to the libraries, when they occasionally open these days, and look at the people in there. Northfields is full of young children and pensioners. It would have people of working age in there too if it was open later in the evening (as it used to be).Then there are the people who have no internet access who rely on the facilities at the library for job applications or to claim benefits. I suppose they don’t matter.If you live in Northfields or South Ealing you can walk to that library, as I do with my children. We’re supposed to be walking more, so why close the most convenient and accessible library? I doubt I’ll be taking the bus up to the Broadway to use the dire new facility there.It’s also well documented that people are moving away from downloading onto Kindles and the like and are moving back to proper books.As for the disposal of old stock, yes it’s always happened but not on this scale and not with any apparent effort at keeping a breadth of material to keep all library users happy.People browse the shelves of a library, usually finding some undiscovered gem lurking there. That’s always been my experience over many years. This country has a superb literary tradition but this Council appears to think that’s not important. Some viewpoint from an administration that laughably applied to become London’s borough of culture a couple of years ago!

Simon Hayes ● 2496d

We are fast being taken back to times where only the well-heeled have their own libraries. Since just about everything can be downloaded to read on the internet there is not the same need for printed books.  What proportion of people are using libraries for borrowing books and what are the age groups?  With both parents now expected to work with very little time off for child-care there will be fewer children being taken to the library and with the pension age continuing to increase there will be a decreased number of those able to travel to libraries and an increased need for them to be truly accessible.  It would be better if it was more obvious what was happening to books.  I remember a long time ago Graham Weeks commenting of the fact that Council books were appearing for sale.  Lots of books are shredded or burnt.  What is important is that charities as well as Councils make sure that books are sorted so that nothing valuable and unusual is lost but there are so many that charity shops often say - no books please.  Time is money.There is a need for supervised study areas for those who don't have room or enough quiet to study at home.  Sitting on each other's laps amongst the bookshelves isn't the answer - however much fun!Dealing with errant landlords needs to be multi-agency as there needs to be more detachment than can often be found in-house.

Philippa Bond ● 2496d

We are fast being taken back to times where only the well-heeled have their own libraries. Since just about everything can be downloaded to read on the internet there is not the same need for printed books.  What proportion of people are using libraries for borrowing books and what are the age groups?  With both parents now expected to work with very little time off for child-care there will be fewer children being taken to the library and with the pension age continuing to increase there will be a decreased number of those able to travel to libraries and an increased need for them to be truly accessible.  It would be better if it was more obvious what was happening to the books.  I remember a long time ago Graham Weeks commenting of the fact that Council books were appearing for sale.There is a need for supervised study areas for those who don't have room or enough quiet to study at home.  Sitting on each other's laps amongst the bookshelves isn't the answer.Dealing with errant landlords needs to be multi-agency as there needs to be more detachment than can often be found in-house.

Philippa Bond ● 2496d

As I've said on here before, even the intelligent Labour supporters are now thoroughly embarrassed by and aghast at Comrade Bell and his politburo's antics. Oh, except maybe one or two.  :-)

Rosco White ● 2497d

For what use the Council Chamber now is Simon, given that most decisions are made a small cadre called the 'Cabinet' then it would make a good library.Oh no, wait, the chamber, along with the rest of the Town Hall, is going to be leased to be an hotel.You couldn't make it up.We will suffer Bell's 'legacy' for generations.

N V Brooks ● 2497d

We can thank Cllrs Bell, Mahfouz and the rest for the embarrassment that is now Ealing Central Library.They still have the hoarding up downstairs in The Broadway Centre boasting about how they’ve given us a modern library at no cost to taxpayers. Of course they have, by making it smaller, cramped, bereft of books and barely fit for purpose.I guess if you’ve barely had an education, as these council clowns seem to have suffered, then books probably seem an irrelevant irritation. Especially if you can turn that space into a nice profitable shop.

Simon Hayes ● 2498d

It's the (rabid) Tory cuts!!!!:-))))))))))

Rosco White ● 2498d

If nothing else Philippa your contributions, which blame everything on Tory cuts, are always good for a laugh, bordering on ridicule.Were this the case then how are Hillingdon (Tory) and Hounslow (very socialist) managing to invest in their libraries with Hillingdon investing in all 17 of their sites and Hounslow proceeding with ambitious plans on a number of sites including the Carnegie Library in Brentford. True socialism recognises the value of education of the masses and active libraries are a key part of this.Were it not for the likes of Andrew Carnegie (a hard-nosed businessman hardly noted for his socialist ideals) we would not have the legacy of free libraries which those who claim to have Socialist ideals at heart (so did Pol Pot when he destroyed all of the books) are seeking to ruin.

N V Brooks ● 2498d

When I read the latest contribution to this thread, I laughed out loud.  “Squalid poorly insulated and maintained privately-owned housing which is not being maintained and managed properly”.  That is the kind of property this hypocritical Council is happy to condemn people to live in.  Its officer, Wiltshire, licenced an HMO landlord who for years had housed people in rooms with cracked, damp, mouldy walls, a toilet with the seat falling off, the SMOKE-ALARM TAPED OVER and the FIRE-ESCAPE BLOCKED ROUTE WITH RUBBISH AND OLD FURNITURE.  Well done, Wiltshire, promoter of filth and fire hazard.  Pointed this out to Councillor Johnson.  No response.  Pointed it out to Huq. No response.  Both, I assume, putting party interest before the amenity and safety of the lives of their constituents.  Some of the tenants this landlord failed to control for years are still hanging about in the neighbourhood and causing anti-social behaviour.  The Council is still failing to do anything about it.  As to the “rabid right wing government”, a little  excessive, I feel.  Calm down, dear.  It’s only  a democratically-elected political party.  Any thoughts about anti-semitism in the opposition? 

Andrew Farmer ● 2498d

They are being persecuted by a rabid right wing government trying to take us back to Victorian times.  One without the socially-minded philanthropists who built many of the libraries for the people in the first place so that they could educate themselves. Who is building the work-houses?  Or the social housing to replace the squalid poorly insulated and maintained privately-owned housing which is not being maintained and managed properly snd where the tenants if they complain about the state of it eg a leaking roof find themselves bring given notice to quit?

Philippa Bond ● 2498d

Researching my family history I was trying to find a book "12 days on The Somme".I found a copy on eBay from a well-known 'book aggregator' for 2p, yes two pence plus postage. When it arrived, it was in perfect unread condition but the inside front cover was stamped 'Leeds City Library Service' and a slip to show that it had last been borrowed a few months earier.Leeds is also a 'socialist' dominated (57 of 99 seats) council. What is it about these people?

N V Brooks ● 2498d

So, books are being sold for 7p each.Who decided which books were to be sold?Were they valued by an expert in the second-hand/antiquarian book-trade?Who was that?Was an inventory made?What were the titles of the books? The only books I have ever found useful in the local library were a few of the volumes published annually by the Walpole Society that it held and The Gentleman's Magazine.  Acquisition of the Walpole volumes ceased long ago, on a day, perhaps one among many, when English culture in Ealing slowly  died.  Have these books been sold?  Are they to be sold?What value has been put upon them? As to Councillor Anand, who defends this policy, I found this rather interesting: https://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/1228875.arrested-student-may-sue-councillor.

Andrew Farmer ● 2498d

Yep.

Rosco White ● 2499d