Prestonians devastated by library closure

I did a three hour stint outside Preston Library yesterday and had many chats with local people who were aghast at what had happened to their local library.  I met pupils from Preston Manor and Claremont high school and from Preston Park, St Joseph's and Mount Stewart primary schools.

The secondary school students were very concerned about the loss of their local library as a place for studying during the forth-coming half-term holiday. With six libraries now closed they expect the Town Hall and Willesden Green libraries to be over-crowded with queues of students wanting to use the computers for research. Last summer the students spilled into the Town Hall itself due to the shortage of space when the libraries were all open. If Willesden Green closes for rebuilding the situation will be even worse.

Some of the students also mentioned that the libraries were places where they could meet up with their friends to study but also to socialise. Congregating elsewhere, in cafes etc, would cost money, and in addition was often seen as threatening by older people. The library was a place where different generations could feel comfortable with one another.

Preston Manor students have organised a petition and Claremont students expressed an interest in doing the same. One student expressed concern that it was older people who were standing out in the cold and asked, "Aren't the youth helping" and of course we said their support would be more than welcome and we may see more joining the vigil over half-term next week.

The conversations with younger people were often heart-rending as they struggled to understand why anyone would want to take away their library. Even after long patient explanations they would turn to me hopefully and ask, "But when will it open again?"

A pensioner echoed the youth in arguing that the library was a warm, welcoming place that encouraged him to get out of the house and meet in a congenial place where he knew the staff and some of the other users. It kept him walking as it was a manageable distance from his house aided by his walking stick.  "Where can I go now?" he asked plaintively.   Other older people were worried about books and DVDs they had borrowed and could not return and the possibility of large fines which they could not afford.

I won't go into a big diatribe against the Council but do wonder if they really realise how much pain and worry they have caused to people they promised to protect from Coalition cuts.