First community run and managed libraries given the go-ahead

Date:   Thursday 2nd February

Two voluntary groups have been given the go-ahead to set up the first fully community managed and run libraries in the country.

Camden Council have approved transitional funding and grants from the Camden People’s Fund of around £50,000 each to deliver libraries and community projects through a radical new approach. This will mean that for the first time in the UK, these facilities will be run by residents offering their time and managed by The Winch (Belsize library) and Keats Community Library (Heath library in Hampstead).

What is particularly innovative about this new arrangement is that these community facilities will be fully independent and self governed but supported with substantial initial funding from the Council to get them off the ground. There will also be some ongoing support and advice from Camden Council and they will be able them to gain benefits like buying cheaper and loaning books whilst bearing no ongoing cost to the local taxpayer.

The two community groups successfully met the Council’s criteria of delivering a viable and sustainable business model and appropriate self governance. In return they will benefit from support for their running costs for the first year, from April 2012, and one-off grants to help them get started.

The Council will now be working with these two groups to provide support and training before the handover of the keys to the individual buildings on the 31st March 2012.

Councillor Tulip Siddiq, Cabinet Member for Culture, Camden Council said:

"It’s been a difficult year for the Council as we need to deliver a savings programme of £83m following cuts in government funding - this includes around £2m from Libraries. We are determined to minimise disruption to the library service and make the best of a bad situation.

“This just shows how Camden residents are willing to step up and help run their well loved libraries. The Winch and Keats have shown this passion for their community as well as having the financial acumen in the business plans.

“We will be doing everything possible to support these groups and make this innovative approach a success before handing over the keys to the community.”

Ends

In June 2011, Cabinet agreed a report on the future shape of the library service, which proposed a range of savings and efficiencies to be made in order to contribute to required savings of £2 million to the service. Part of the agreed proposal was inviting community organisations and groups to submit expressions of interest for the use of the three library buildings once they cease to be funded as Camden public libraries in April 2012.

In addition, limited funds of £150,000 have been made available from the Camden’s People’s Fund for one off costs such as legal and financial advice, re-equipping facilities and fundraising advice.  The exact support put in place is to be developed with and tailored to the needs of the organisations in question.

Keats Community Library are working with the City of London to finalise arrangements for using the Heath library building which is owned by the City. Camden Council are working with The Winch to do the same in relation to agreeing a lease for Belsize Library. A third group, the Primrose Hill Community Association, has been given an extension of two weeks to meet the same criteria as the two successful organisations, for Chalk Farm library.

Ref Code:   PR 1575
Contact:
    

pressoffice@camden.gov.uk