Friends at Crown Street Library Revisited

So tonight, Friends of the Libraries group has been formed. It arrived with a whimper rather than a fanfare. Fortunately the councillors there were all committed 'preserve the library' proponents, or they would immediately have perceived a weakness. The 40 or so attenders formed predominantly a sea of grey.

My contribution was short and to the point. There will be time enough in due course to mico-manage uses for the building, a feat that in any event cannot be accomplished - or even effectively started within the consultation time-scales set by the council.

What is needed now is a huge campaign of protest from a dynamically organised Darlington population. It must involve everyone- from the smallest child in the town's smallest school, to the largest director in the town's key businesses. It needs a day of protest in the town centre, with dozens of petitioners wearing gelco bibs, schools and colleges to close for the morning so that children and students can picket the town hall. It needs the support of every parent who values a free public library service in Crown Street. It needs a band!

As things stand, a public consultation will be deemed to have proceeded, and our elected councillors will take their party whip to vote for the cut rather than the conscience.

The quiet voices of the town's residents and readers will be drowned in a sea of red tape, as Darlington's Chief Executive discovers ways to defeat the library covenants and buy off opponents with promises.

As an experienced mediator, I recognise that there will come a time to sit around a table - if such is ever offered. But now is not that time. The Friends group, rather like their steering committee, presently lack the political experience and credibility to make themselves heard. Only with a clear public mandate of 'No' to closure, will objectors get beyond the strategic stage.

Whilst these steps are urgent, and in my view essential - the steering committee should continue to make progress with local business leaders and those with clear political ambitions, putting together the rescue package that uses every commercial opportunity and resource that the historic building may offer. This will not be easy. It will require skilled management, persistence and determination.

But first, the Friends of the Libraries group needs to be empowered - not simply by conviction, but by public mandate. And that means - YOU.

Without your support - in practical, selfless and time-giving terms, the libraries will gradually close, their staff will receive their redundancy notices (perhaps delivered by taxi) and our historic buildings will become forever figures in ledgers.

Crown Street Library

I love Crown Street library, first visiting at the age of 5. It was there that I borrowed my first book, paid my first fine, with the late Vera Chapman attended my first Field Club meeting, saw my first nature documentary film, viewed my mother's first exhibition, and met librarian Jennifer, my second girlfriend.

Of a Darlington population of 106,000, the library is reported to have 52,000 members, 10,000 borrowing books  (or is that 10,000 books borrowed) last year. 17,000 used the local studies centre, apparently. Over 900 people protested outside the library on 26 March, and over 2000 residents have posted Northern Echo coupons asking for a stay of execution.

I launched a user poll on the Darlington Library - Keep it at Crown Street Facebook group (961 members). Only 75 members responded that they had visited it in the last 12 months, 44 had borrowed a book, and 12 reported that they liked to study there. One said that she preferred to buy her books from Waterstones or Amazon!

The figures, not least from a simplistic poll, speak volumes. The poll tells us is that even within a group set up to secure the future of the library, indifference abounds when it comes to using Crown Street. So, that's the problem.  Most of us have an interest in the library, but relatively few of us actually participate. 

Now you might be asking if my admiration for Crown Street library is fading? 

Most certainly not. But in its present form, with current use and financial cost, both the building and its contents of books and archives seem financially unsustainable. 

Libraries must compete with a plethora of vital or merited public services, and cannot take away core funding. Elected politicians say, as it stands, the library is a luxury we cannot afford.

So, what to do? 

Yvonne Richardson draws our attention to the Lit and Phil, Newcastle. Their array of events in 'Whats On' is astonishing. 

Since 1825, like Crown Street library, the Lit & Phil has welcomed thousands of people, witnessed ‘world firsts’ in innovation and grown a unique collection of books.

It’s now so much more than a library. It’s an historic building, a refuge, a meeting place, office, theatre, lecture hall, performance space and still an outstanding library. Independently owned, it does not receive regular public funding - so this means that it can make its own decisions.

Darlington people who wish to keep their Crown Street library really do need to step up or shut up. Neither the cost, nor the human resources to maintain a library at this location seem to be likely from public funding, if our councillors are to stick to budgetary constraints. 

We need a clear plan, and a hoard of capable volunteers to commit/contract to it over a long period of time. Ideas are one thing, but like protests outside the library or key strokes on social media, they do not save libraries. The plan must be commercial, detailed, costed, resourced and viable. It needs to be the only plan.

In 1972, director Peter Tod took a desperately ailing building and turned it into a successful venture - breathing life into the Civic Theatre for the next 40 years. Can we do the same for Crown Street library? In 1885 Edward Pease left £10,000 in his Will for 'a library or other educational purpose'. His vision, our library, is at stake, and we desperately need to do something about it.

P.S. My current partner sent her first message to me from a Crown Street library screen - another reason to love it.