In Taplow we share the excellent public library in Burnham...but for how many more years - or even months?
The United Kingdom public library system is in danger of extinction through the eagerness of county councils to take an easy route to reducing costs by closing many libraries, and the privatisation of its remaining library systems and services to the highest bidder who is likely to be a US firm.
The Burnham Library is receiving Big Lottery funding as part of a three-year plan, which was due for review at the end of March. A condition of the grant was that the County Council cannot change the use of the building without the written permission of the Lottery over a ten-year period.
But things change.
The Buckinghamshire County Council criteria in judging the worth of a public library facility is that it must have 100,000 visitors per year. Burnham Library, with about 60,000 visitors, falls short of this requirement. So the clear message is that
we have to use the Library or we shall lose it.
The more books lent and the more participation in the activities centred in the Library will support the determination of the Friends of Burnham Library in its efforts to ensure its continuing life into the far distant future.
Karl Lawrence
