Keeping the library doors open

2:18pm Tuesday 19th December 2006

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Upper Norwood residents are campaigning to save their library after funding problems left it with an uncertain future.

The Upper Norwood Joint Library (UNJL) - the only independent jointly-funded library in the country - receives money from both Lambeth and Croydon Councils.

Protestors claimed the contributions from both town halls falls short of funding given to all other libraries.

Campaigners said the library needs £252,000 a year from both local authorities to maintain its services. It receives £211,000 from Lambeth and £156,000 from Croydon.

The library had a £1.1 million refurbishment in 2004 and gets about 250,000 visits a year. But it must also pay for the extra expenses the new facilities bring.

Don Bianco, leader of the Upper Norwood Library campaign, said: "The increased service costs the renovations brought were never taken on board. The level of funding remained the same - woefully inadequate.

"The library is used by residents of Bromley, Southwark and Lewisham but their councils do not contribute to funds.

"It now faces a bleak future, with the likelihood of severely reduced levels of services and staff, and possible closure. If the library disappears it will create a huge vacuum to Crystal Palace residents."

Bradley Millington, chief librarian, said: "I make the best of our resources but they are insufficient to run an independent library. Lack of funding has been a problem since the 1980s but now reserve funds are dwindling."

Lambeth Councillor Lib Peck said: "Lambeth values the UNJL and the good service it provides, and we are very disappointed Croydon has not honoured its funding commitment, as the library now has to make some difficult decisions."

A Croydon Council spokesman added: "The grant from Croydon was set by the previous administration and has remained at £156,000 for a number of years. We will consider increasing it in future years when our finances are sufficiently restored."

Email donbianco@onetel.com for information about the campaign.