A library on stilts
I spent this morning at Will Alsop’s iconic library in Peckham. It is perched, like an insect, on large stilts, and provides Peckham with a sort of civic centre. While it is fabulous to look at, and has a wonderful interior, including amazing pod like structures, it has also been criticised for various failings (such as being too hot in the summer). Nevertheless, it gets 400,000 visitors a year and lends 250,000 books and DVDs.
I am going to be spending some time visiting libraries all round the country, as I contemplate how a future Conservative government might rejuvenate the sector.
The House of Commons library is exceptional, and the first one I have used since I was a student. But I still remember the excitement I had as a kid when I used to go to the library to borrow books - it made you feel really grown up and in control. Nowadays, the role of libraries is under scrutiny. What do they give you that Waterstone’s and Amazon cannot. The answers are obvious - a community space and centre; a chance for people to be introduced to books when books are not the norm at home; a place to study.
I had a refreshing chat with the head of Southwark libraries. There is no doubt that there is huge room for innovation in the sector, and there can be a lot of cross-fertilisation between book sellers and the techniques they use. But we also have to remember that libraries will always have to serve those who cannot use mainstream facilites, such as braille and large print books. It will also be important that libraries in the future are integrated into other council services, and do not exist as a service apart.
I’m going to stop now. I’m beginning to sound like Richard SPring.