LAMBETH DEFEND CARNEGIE LIBRARY BOOK SALES
Lambeth council have defended their decision to sell some books from the currently-closed Carnegie library in Herne Hill to Better World Books.
The council say:
- Some Carnegie stock has been transferred to other libraries as it can continue to be used until the library in Herne Hill reopens.
- They retained all books that were still of use and likely to be of interest to Lambeth residents.
- They have not withdrawn any Carnegie stock that is of good quality and we will be restocking the library when it reopens with the stock that is retained plus new stock to replenish where we have made withdrawals or transfers to other branches.In a lengthy statement to News From Crystal Palace, a Lambeth council press officer told us:We regularly withdraw books that are no longer needed from all our libraries. Withdrawal is based on a range of factors eg: physical condition, newer editions available, better coverage of subject matter in other books, titles no longer in demand, information out of date. This is part of core public library stock management work and does not need a decision by a committee.
As we are buying new books all the time we do remove items that are no longer required, but before doing so we use a software programme called Collection HQ to see if the books are in demand in any other Lambeth Library. If there is a demand we transfer them to that branch as long as the book is in a good condition.
Some Carnegie stock has been transferred to other libraries as it can continue to be used until the library reopens.
There were some books in stores at Carnegie that had not been reviewed for many years and in sorting out the library, ready for the building works and refurbishment, we carried out this long overdue stock work.
We retained all books that were still of use and likely to be of interest to Lambeth residents.
We have not withdrawn any Carnegie stock that is of good quality and we will be restocking the library when it reopens with the stock that is retained plus new stock to replenish where we have made withdrawals or transfers to other branches.
Carnegie library had around 20,000 items of stock in March 2016 (17,654 March 2015) and depending on the final layout we envisage it having the same level of stock as in March 2016 when it reopens, with the withdrawn tired/old stock replaced with newer editions.
Overall we have increased the stock in Lambeth from 324,122 in March 2016 to 334,925 in March 2017 as we are working to increase the amount of books available for the community.
We regularly send books to Better World Books when we withdraw stock that cannot be used in any of our libraries. This is a charity which sends books to developing countries and in turn pays us some money.
Generally we are moving towards selling withdrawn stock in our libraries as we recognise that often local residents like to buy some of these items – even if they no longer want to borrow them.
JAPANESE KNOTWEED
Japanese knotweed has been found in the grounds of the Carnegie library, Herne Hill.
A Lambeth council spokesman said: “Our officers are investigating and will deal with any knotweed in the same way as we do everywhere else in the borough.”
Carnegie library Herne Hill: Who decided which books were “still of use” and which “no longer needed/required”? With the library closed nearly 14 months, we have not had a chance to browse or borrow, so how can anyone decide what we require? Our library manager kept a close eye on the stock, knew what we needed and ensured the stock was fresh and steadily increasing to cope with the growing demand. Also, some of the older books, e.g. in the local history section, are irreplaceable.
Re the knotweed, I am glad officers are responding and hope they way they deal with it does not involve random spraying but rather careful treatment which does not affect other plants. Also, the treatment must be repeated every year for many years; and nothing should be done which disturbs the rhizome. Any work in or near the gardens by GLL or their contractors installing their proposed gym and related building/plant would result in disturbance, causing the knotweed to spread.