Save Sydenham Library Campaign events this weekend

[simon]

The Save Sydenham Library campaign activity continues this weekend with street stalls outside the Library and the Co-op, Sydenham Road. Please join us outside the library at 11am for a photocall and to collect petition sheets and leaflets. Last week's stalls were very successful and we expect coverage in tomorrow's South London Press and next week's News Shopper.

We will also have stall at the Kent House Leisure Gardens open day on Sunday where will you will be able to sign the petition and pick up campaign material.


If you want to be come actively involved in the campaign there will be a meeting at the Bridge Leisure Centre on Thursday at 7.00 pm where you can pledge your support. We are also hoping people will come forward with ideas about how we can grow the campaign.

In the meantime you can have your say by writing to Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, at Lewisham Town Hall, London SE6 4RU, or by emailing him at steve.bullock@lewisham.gov.uk; by visiting http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/oursay, or calling the information line on 020 8314 6707.



You can sign the online petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesydenhamlibrary/

[simon]

Here's hoping for a good turnout

[Pat Trembath]

SAVE SYDENHAM LIBRARY CAMPAIGN

Short notice but there is a meeting to discuss the Save Sydenham Library campaign tonight, Thursday 9 Sept, at 7 pm in the Meeting Room on the ground floor of the Bridge Leisure Centre (past the cafe/bar area and through double doors at the end). The Agenda will cover the following items:

1. Review of Actions so far
2. Petition (and please bring along any completed copies)
3. Finance
4. Ward Assemblies
5. Publicity
6. On-going campaign
7. Town Hall Full Council meeting on 23 September 7.30 pm with question already formally put to Mayor - see below

Please come to the meeting tonight if you can, and also put the Town Hall meeting date in your diaries, as supporters of all five libraries under threat will be at that meeting to present their petitions to the Mayor and to let him know how strong the feelings are throughout the borough at the threatened closures.

The Mayor will take the decision on 17 November (another date for your diaries) about the future of the libraries so we need to keep the pressure up over the next two months. Please email your contacts about tonight's meeting and about the 23 September meeting.

Please sign the campaign petition (with hard copies there are already 1500 signatures). The link to the electronic version is http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesydenhamlibrary.

QUESTION TO THE MAYOR FOR COUNCIL MEETING 23 SEPTEMBER 2010

SYDENHAM LIBRARY

"What steps has the Mayor taken to consider the social implications of the proposed closure of Sydenham Library with particular regard to:

(i) the Council's statutory duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964;

(ii) the Library's role as a community hub in one of the poorest parts of the borough;

(iii) the Council's existing significant financial investment in the area for regeneration purposes with approximately £60,000 for Home Park alone;

(iv) the substantial housing developments planned for the Lower Sydenham area?"

The Mayor will respond with a written answer to the above composite question on 23 September. By attending the Council meeting on 23 September we will have the chance to ask a probing supplementary question.

The Mayor will also be responding to questions from other anti-closure Library campaign groups throughout the borough.