Save Sydenham Library campaign launch today

[simon]

The Save Sydenham Library campaign is holding a photo call ouside the library today between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm and it would be great if as many people as possible could come and offer their support. There will be a photographer from the News Shopper present at around 12.00 noon so it is an opportunity for the people of Sydenham to show their opposition to the proposed closure.
There will be a stall with campaign material, including leaflets, stickers and posters and our rather splendid campaign banner will be prominently displayed.
There will also be a stall outside the Co-op between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm.

You can also sign the petition if you have not already done so.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesydenhamlibrary/

[Big Ben]

Just heard that there will be photographers tomorrow from both the South London Press and the News Shopper. However the time of the photo call has changed to 12 noon. We hope to see as many of you there as possible! Save Sydenham LIbrary campaign group.

[simon]

Thanks to everyone who turned out today and those who leafleted outside the Co-op. A great turn out at such short notice and readers of the News Shopper will certainly get the message: save our Library!

Thanks also to those who donated to the campaign; over £50 was raised and will all go towards leaflets and other publicity material.

Please see posts below on what happens next.

[simon]

After the successful launch of the Save Sydenham Library campaign today we move forwards with our own photo shoot outside the Library next Saturday, September 5th at 10.45 am. We will be there until 1.00 pm and it will be an opportunity to sign the petition and pledge your support for the campaign. We will also be outside the Co-op at the same time.

As the campaign grows, we will need more volunteers so please talk to us at the Library or outside the Co-op next Saturday if you have any time or particular skills that can help.

There will be a meeting of campaigners at the Bridge Centre on Kangley Bridge Road on Thursday September 9th between 7.00 - 9.00 pm. If you wish to become involved the campaign please come along.

When leafleting outside the Co-op today I was struck by how many people were as yet unaware of the proposed closure and also how many people are appalled at the idea that it could be lost for ever. The reaction of those I have spoken to today convinces me that this is a campaign we can win and that together we can persuade the Mayor to save a well used and much loved facility that has served our community for over 100 years.

[Rachael]

Thanks for all your efforts to save the library. Both my kids use Sydenham library regularly - we shall miss it when it's gone.

But please, do make sure to hyphenate Co-op, so I stop reading it as 'coop' as in 'chicken coop'. Otherwise we will be leafleting outside the pet shop by mistake.

[GLOBAL THINKER]

Interesting article on the bbc website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters ... ibrar.html

[leenewham]

Briliant article GT. This is the best bit. I hope our Cllrs and politicians take note:

"Perhaps the imaginative answer to the decline in the public's usage of their libraries is not to accept it as inevitable and reduce investment and close buildings. But to do the opposite and use them as a tool for galvanising communities, not by turning them into social centres or community centres but into Knowledge Centres."

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesydenhamlibrary/

[bigbadwolf]

With a little creative moulding and persuasion, that rather generic quote could be applied to any societal asset. Whether it's under threat or not, Lee.

But that's not to say it's a bad thing either.