A CHARTER for Upper Norwood joint library – the only independent library in the country – is being proposed by Cllr David Malone, current chairman of the committee which oversees it. by Jerry Green
He has drafted an eight-point charter which he says promotes a “clear and unambiguous commitment” to the library, which is jointly run by Croydon and Lambeth councils.
Main points of the Charter include:
*ENSURING the provision of a library service which is specific to, and defined by, the needs of the Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood community and which is “as distinctive and diverse as the locality it serves.”
*RETAINING and continuing the joint library agreement by both Croydon and Lambeth together with the legal obligations enshrined within it.
*RECOGNISING that all service benchmarking of the library with other library authority services (of costs, budget, performance, value for money etc) shall be on the basis of ‘like for like’ comparisons.
*RETAINING the principles of equal funding, ownership, influence and representations by both Croydon and Lambeth
*RECOGNITION by members of the library joint committee of their ‘inherent obligation’ to promote, support and advocate the UNJL both within their respective councils and throughout the wider community.
*RETENTION of the traditional and long-standing independent governance and management arrangements for the service, with the joint library authority managed by the joint library committee.
Introducing the Charter to fellow members of the library’s joint committee at its meeting on Wednesday January 27th Lambeth Cllr Malone – who is not seeking re-election to the council in May – said: “The one legacy I want to leave is to try and leave you with some sort of future.”
In his proposal – which fellow committee members and members of the public were given to take away and consider, Cllr Malone says: “Signing up to the Charter would be an indication of present and future commitment that should help allay the anxieties of both library users and staff. “Both the library’s users and staff strongly support the continued independence of the library.
“It is hoped that all current and future committee members – whether councillors or community representatives – would be enthusiastic and happy to support and sign the Charter.”
Welcoming constructive criticism – both positive and negative – Cllr Malone adds: “What more appropriate a way to mark our 110th year than to sign a Charter in time for our anniversary, which falls on the 4th of July – Independence Day.”
Comments can be posted or e-mailed to: Cllr Malone at Lambeth town hall, Brixton, London SW2 1RW or dmalone@lambeth.gov.uk. Alternatively they can be passed to chief librarian at Upper Norwood who will forward them to him. Closing date and time for responses is Tuesday February 23rd at 7pm.
The proposed charter is also set to be put on the library’s own website at www.uppernorwoodlibrary.org
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