Jonathan Ross to open Hampstead Garden Suburb Community Library

11:23am Monday 18th June 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Emma Innes

Jonathan Ross will officially open Hampstead Garden Suburb’s Community Library on June 28.

The Hampstead Garden Suburb resident will cut the ribbon at the official opening in Hill Rise at 11.45am.

In June 2011 Barnet Council announced that it would be closing two of its libraries due to funding cuts.

One of those earmarked for closure was the Hampstead Garden Suburb Library.

However, following a 2,500 signature petition the Hampstead Garden Suburb residents’ association put in a successful bid to save it.

Within days of its official closure in April 2012 it re-opened, this time run by 45 volunteers.

Since the re-opening attendance at the toddlers singing group has doubled and a story time for children has been introduced.

There are now plans for an adult book club.

Mr Ross said: “A local library is particularly vital for children, people without cars and as part of a vibrant community.

“That’s why I want to open it officially to make more people aware this library is here for everyone to drop in.

“I hope lots of you will come along at 11.45 to back me up and that you will use the library to keep it open in future.”

Comments(4)

Mrs Angry, Broken Barnet blog says...
9:57am Tue 19 Jun 12

perhaps Jonathan Ross might like to contemplate the fact that this library, in a hugely privileged Tory ward, is being subsidised by the closure of the much loved Friern Barnet library, a real community library, in a rather less advantaged, oh and Labour voting area. Why should the millionaires of Hampstead Garden Suburb have their toy town library paid for by the loss of the branch used by so many ordinary children and families in Friern Barnet?

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Barnet Parker says...
2:03pm Wed 20 Jun 12

...or he could contemplate why the ordinary people pay their TV license fee so individuals can become millionaires and live on HGS

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blibrary says...
10:10pm Wed 20 Jun 12

What everyone needs to understand is that Hampstead GS is a completely different community to Friern Barnet, where their library closed on 5th April. FB residents were unable to go along with the Council's (forced) offer to commit to a long-term 100% voluntary-led service. The Council have continually strung along the campaign group by duping them into thinking there could be another workable cost-cutting alternative to inaccessible Friary House. Many FB residents work incredibly long hours, parents who have a busy daily routine taking their children to nearby primary and secondary schools all conveniently located around the library site. But at the same time, we see the unemployed people rely on the professionalism of librarians and support officers. Volunteer-led libraries can work if you have a big commitment from local people who have free-time, and it looks like the HGS community is able to do this, probably due to the high population of older people, who are comparatively more well off than Coppetts Ward residents.
Let’s see if Barnet Council listens to its residents. We need to get to 7,000 signatures, so please sign the petition!

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blibrary says...
10:12pm Wed 20 Jun 12

It's so easy to sign the ePetition. It takes just 60 seconds. Make Barnet Council listen!

petitions.barnet.gov
.uk/RE-OPENFBLIB/

or use the shortlink:
is.gd/friern

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