Copied from Streetbook.com York Gardens Library (SW11 2UG) is going to be the location for a read-in on 'Save our Libraries Day' (1) 5th February 1300-1500. This is in response to the planned closure by Wandsworth Council despite the fact that the library serves the most deprived area in the Borough. This will be a community event for everyone in the area- before the only community resource for the attached estates is taken away. The afternoon will start with children joining in the library's regular rhymetime [half an hour of action rhymes and dancing for the under fives] 12.30-13.00 before our event starts. In between the entertainers members of the public will talk about what the library means to them. Contributors to the event are still being added to the bill but those confirmed so far include: Sophia Bennett (author of the popular teen series Threads which won The Times/ Chicken House Children's Fiction competition.) Rebecca Elliott (author and illustrator whose book 'Just Because' is currently nominated for the People's Book Prize and the NASEN children's book award) Emmy The Great (great singer-songwriter) Caroline Lawrence (bestselling children's author who will be giving a sneak peek at her new series 'Western Mysteries' and giving away free copies of her Roman Mysteries) Nadifa Mohamed (author of Black Mamba Boy - winner of the Betty Trask award and shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize, John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Guardian First Book Award) Nikesh Shukla (poet, filmmaker and author of Coconut Unlimited- nominated for the Costa First Novel Award.) Swiss ( author and musician (So Solid Crew)) Tim Ten Yen- (the shy, awkward SENSATIONAL singing Salaryman sings his own pop songs for YOU ) Sam West (Actor and Director) Eley Williams (author) The closure of York Gardens Library will have a devastating impact on the community that it serves. It is the only communal space in the local vicinity and is a vital resource for those living in the area. In order to close York Gardens Library, Wandsworth Borough Council needs to provide reasons for choosing this branch. We do not believe they have done so..... They say: York Gardens Library is the most expensive library per issue/ in relation to its visitors (2) We say: Wandsworth Libraries' report into the closing of the libraries admits that actually Battersea Library is the most expensive (3) Also, this report doesn't take into consideration that York Gardens Library costs so much because it needs to pay to heat halls which are then rented out, earning the council approximately £1000 per month. They say: Wandsworth libraries would not be so closely placed if the borough was founding them now. Users of York Gardens Library should just walk the extra distance to a neighbouring borough. (4) We say: York Gardens Library was only opened in 2000! It is the only communal resource and community space for the attached estates and serves a higher density of people in its catchment area than any other Wandsworth Library (5) There is another library nearer Battersea which is not facing closure. They say: The number of children who took part in the CIPFA survey (which asks them their opinions about the library) was too small to successfully show what the library means to the community. (6) We say: 208 children participated in York Gardens Library's survey over 1 week in September- this was more than two other libraries in the borough and the same number as those answering the larger Battersea Library. The statistics taken from the CIPFA survey can be seen at http://saveyorkgardenslibrary.com (the read-in is not affiliated with any political party) but include the facts that more than twice the percentage of children than at any other branch use the library for their homework and 59% children (more than any other library) said that the library had helped them do better at school 1 http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/advocacy/public-libraries/Pages/savelibrariesday.aspx 2. http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/article/10124/library_services_in_budget_review 3 http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=12533&ISATT=1#search=%2210-830%22 (page 5) 4 Councillor Sarah McDermott- Council meeting. December8th 2010. 5 . http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=12533&ISATT=1#search=%2210-830%22 (page 5) 6. Councillor Sarah McDermott- Council meeting. December8th 2010

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Topic	Date Posted	Posted By
York Gdns Library 'read-in' Sat 5th Feb 1300-1500	02/02/11 13:58:00	Victoria Diamond
Re:York Gdns Library 'read-in' Sat 5th Feb 1300-1500	02/02/11 15:07:00	Suzanne Taylor

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