Forum Topic

Brentford Library plans

I am delighted to realise that after many years of near obsolescence the upstairs room in the library will return to full public use. However, perhaps owing to the paucity of chartered librarians in Hounslow these days, the decision to move the Library itself to the 1st floor is completely contrary to best professional practice whereby libraries should be in the midst of their public, immediately obvious and easily entered.In particular public libraries should not be hidden away from young children if they are to become an integral part of their lives and reading a standard skill.So, Cllr Sampson, please continue with your plans to refurbish the building, moving the library only temporarily upstairs whilst it is being done up, but then make your classrooms upstairs and keep the libraries - adults and children's - close to the street and those who pass it may be encouraged to step inside.Hazel Dakers  MA MSC FCLIP

Hazel Dakers ● 2326d18 Comments

Kathleen didn't start the Needle and Natter group on a Tuesday p.m. but she did keep it going.Kathleen has now been moved to Chiswick I believe.

Anne England ● 2323d

I am delighted that after so many years the Library is getting a make-over.  There has been a battle to save this Library, which was won. Now we have more people living in Brentford particularly children the Library needs a permanent staff.  We have had three excellent librarians, Kathy, Gill and Kathleen.  Sadly, the library services keep moving their staff around.  This is very unsettling for the staff and as Brentford Library staff have proved the continuity has worked well. Kathleen kept the book groups going and started a knit and chatter group.  She also worked well with her team.  Kathleen's whole team were able to communicate with children and young adults.  Therefore, I would ask head of library services to stop moving their staff around.

Margaret Ann Thomas ● 2323d

I don't think the Pyramid would have had up to forty or so members of staff let alone forty who were present all at the same time and almost as many desks etc.Granted, shelves of books do weigh a lot - I think though that the experts who have looked into this will have a better idea of what is safe and what is not than the average Joe Bloggs - I certainly hope so!

Anne England ● 2323d

The library will be available to anybody who can use a lift, installation of which is part of the plans.

Guy Lambert ● 2323d

I seem to recall the upstairs being safe enough for a group called the pyramid (I think)to use it on a Wednesday afternoon,so 2 classrooms up there would be not much difference, leaving library on ground floor and accessible to all, elderly, disabled, youngsters and pushchair etc.

Jean Harrison ● 2324d

There have been some modest improvements to the external maintenance since we managed to get rid of Carillion (this was before they got rid of themselves!)The yews had been set for removal and one of them was cruelly hacked in preparation for this before a resident notified councillors and we had this stopped at the very last minute.The lights that highlight the building when it's dark have been replaced (and the ones that were nicked were replaced again!) and we've finally managed to get the bent and rusty metal cages that surround the lights mainly unbent and repainted.I agree there's more to do on the way that plants are tended. We'll keep working on it, particularly if people remind us :)

Guy Lambert ● 2324d

The plan to refurbish the library is very good news indeed. Not only will an important part of Brentford's heritage be enhanced but both the revamped library and the new rooms will provide invaluable community assets.The former Brentford librarian, Gillian Hoare, would have been both excited and delighted by the plans.I tend towards the view that the entire reading library would best be located on the ground floor. As Guy has said, it's a little surprising to learn that the first floor would not be able to bear the weight of the partitions and/or the people who will meet there. There are plenty of lightweight, soundproof, (and moveable) partition systems on the market.I would support the idea of installing a coffee machine somewhere in the building (but then I need to have my regular caffeine fix).I wouldn't want to push it too far but the gardens in the curtilage of the building could do with a thorough makeover. For example, the ivy that covers the rosebed doesn't give the other plants a fighting chance.... but, please, let the yews on either side of the main entrance remain just as they are.As an aside, Plumstead Library in Greenwich is another Carnegie library which was built in the same year as Brentford Library (1903). The Plumstead Library is currently being refurbished and, like Brentford, rooms above the library which were previously inaccessible to the public are being put to new uses.   

Jim Storrar ● 2324d

The upstairs held part of the Layton collection of river finds.

Neil Chippendale ● 2324d

Yes Guy, I agree. I hope you also agree that the Labour Party at national level - in the 40+ years since public library cuts started - has had ample opportunity to reverse some of those and other cuts but did not do so.

Hazel Dakers ● 2324d

I'm looking forward to being able to access the upstairs of the library for whatever purpose. I've lived in Brentford for 35 years and never once climbed those stairs (I know there is to be a lift so maybe I never will).The whole of the building was a gift to Brentford by Carnegie, presumably all to be used as a library so I don't really understand objections to the upstairs being used as such now.I am wondering what the views are like from the top of the building or perhaps the windows are too high to be able to see out from a sitting position which, of course, is the case from the lower floor.I am assuming that the library will be staffed at all times - so many these days seem to be going the self-service route.A coffee machine as I have seen in a few other libraries would go down nicely or is this a step too far?

Anne England ● 2324d

But unfortunately we are suffering the results of 5 years of a Conservative/Lib Dem Coalition followed by 4 of a Tory government, both determined to shrink the state.In a big year the effect of additional dwellings is to increase council tax revenue by about £1M, out of which extra services have to be paid for. Over the last 8 years government grants- primarily the Revenue Support Grant -  which used to dwarf council tax receipts have been cut by about £165M per annum for Hounslow. Most councils are closing libraries and/or changing them into a volunteer service, something we have avoided.

Guy Lambert ● 2325d

The rationale is precisely because the classrooms are assessed to need a stronger floor than exists, the library not. It surprised me, but I suppose they have to plan for two full classes.The original plan was to put the classrooms upstairs

Guy Lambert ● 2325d

What is the rationale for moving the adult section upstairs? Couldn’t the classrooms be built upstairs and would this elevate the need to possibly strengthen the floor if the library moves.

Neil Chippendale ● 2325d

The adult library is to become subsidiary within its own dedicated building. At a time when resources including school libraries and books are short in educational institutions at all levels, it is more important than ever before to keep public libraries at the heart of communities - and in sight of those passing.Of course adult education and public libraries fit together - this is how each started in C19th - Mechanics Institutes - but a way should be found to use the newly available room for education and leave the library on the ground floor in its rightful and most useful place. 30-40 years ago Brentford Library had longer hours and two Chartered Librarians working full time to run it and advise readers. Now we are in the midst of a 20 year period of doubling Brentford's population (and thus Council Tax receipts) and yet its facilities are slighter than 30-40 years ago.Despite being one of the wealthier countries in the world, since that time both types of government have cut, cut, cut the services which from 1945-mid 1970's (and far longer for public libraries) we expected to have as part of  way of being.

Hazel Dakers ● 2325d

Why so negative, Hazel?I, for one, would be glad if some adult education was brought to Brentford - I believe what little there used to be at Brentford School for Girls ceased years ago. I can't really understand that though - you would have thought it was an ideal place for such activity.Back to the library - I will be glad to see it brought into greater public use. Libraries, books and education are a happy mix.

Anne England ● 2325d

This cynical reaction is very disappointing.We've been fighting for investment in the library ever since I was elected against a background of never-ending cuts in resource, to get the upstairs back in use, to get public toilets, to up the footfall. We've attracted investment from central government to secure this and we're trying to push it ahead.This is absolutely about securing the library, not closing it.I am currently a member of the planning committee and as such cannot come to a conclusion about the proposals until it comes to committee. Like most planning applications there will be downsides as well as upsides.If someone has a few million to spare to finance reinforcement to the floor of this listed building - the fact it's listed will add significantly to the cost - bring it on.If not, the planning committee will have to balance concerns about the adult library being moved partially upstairs against the benefits of external investment, increased footfall, provision of adult education capacity for Brentford (and community space when adult education is not taking place) redecoration at least in part, public toilets made available and accessibility for the beautiful upstairs space.

Guy Lambert ● 2325d

Floors can and have been strengthened elsewhere. The weight of books and shelves is often a concern when a library is moved to a place not built for this purpose.The current adult library has skylights providing light the length of the ceiling.I suppose a reduction in adult users will enable Hounslow to make a case to close the library.....

Hazel Dakers ● 2326d

From what I can see from the plans on the front page article, the children's library will remain downstairs. The creation of two adult learning classrooms downstairs is, from what I know, something new - I knew that there was likely to be one to the front of the building with two more proposed for upstairs. The article however states that it has been found that the classrooms can not be upstairs and gives the reason for this.Is it still not better that the building is brought back into greater public use than it is at present, the refurbishment and provision of the public toilets being an added bonus? Presumably (hopefully) the whole of the inside of the building will be decorated when this work is carried out. The only concern I have at the moment is how the second classroom (not the one at the front of the building) will get light/air.

Anne England ● 2326d