Haringey Council plans to cut opening hours at its libraries

Haringey Council is consulting on proposals to reduce the opening hours of its libraries.

If implemented, six libraries would go from being closed for one day a week to being closed for three.

The libraries affected are Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, Highgate, Stroud Green and Harringay, St Ann’s and Muswell Hill. 

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Wood Green, Marcus Garvey and Hornsey, the three largest libraries, would be closed for one more day a week than they currently are. 

The council says that due to financial challenges faced by “all local authorities”, its current library opening hours are “no longer sustainable”.

Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, Highgate, Stroud Green, Harringay, St Ann’s Muswell Hill, Wood Green, Marcus Garvey and Hornsey libraries could all see hours slashed (Image: Joanna Bornat)

In response, friends groups have raised concerns that the move could lead to a “future of library closures” due to reduced usage, and that children and young people had not been consulted. 

An engagement session was held at Stroud Green and Harringay Library on September 12 and, according to Joanna Bornat, an attendee and Friend of Reading and Education (FORE) member, residents were angry and dismayed.

Two sets of new opening hours for libraries have been put forward and they “didn’t make for easy reading,” she said.

One option prioritises the “even distribution of available hours” and the second a “balance between need and provision”. 

Larger libraries such as Wood Green are currently open for 61 hours per week, but option one proposes cutting that to 52 hours, and option two to 48.

For branch libraries such as Alexandra Park, currently open 57 for hours a week, the changes proposed could see that reduced to 29 hours or 30.5 hours. 

Speaking about her local library, Stroud Green and Harringay, Joanna said the cuts suggested amounted to almost a 49% reduction. 

She added: “People have found much to criticise in the consultation’s presentation and style of engagement. 

“No attempt has been made to involve children and young people, key to libraries’ current and future use, which reflects badly on Haringey. 

“Hard copies of the consultation document are not on show at some libraries and there was concern that because of digital exclusion some people would be unable to take part in this consultation.”

Cllr Emily Arkell, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said to help maximise “reach and engagement” all schools were being contacted. 

She said: “We are producing a child-friendly summary document so this important group can feed back. We’ve also been in touch with the groups who use libraries, including those who work with children and young people.”

Cllr Arkell advised residents to tell library staff if they could not see hard copies of the consultation so they could be printed or ordered. 

“All libraries have been sent multiple hard copies of the consultation documents and we have made arrangements to replenish stocks when they run low,” she said. 

Concern was also raised over changes in rates to hire library spaces, but Cllr Arkell said this was not being proposed “as part of this consultation”. 

She reiterated that no closures were being proposed and said the borough currently had “some of the longest” opening hours in The Library Consortium, a group of 23 public library authorities that come together to share resources.

“We are proud of our libraries and have invested in them, but due to the financial challenges facing all local authorities our current opening hours are no longer sustainable,” Cllr Arkell said.

She added: “We urge all our residents to respond to the consultation and help us develop a sustainable library service.”

Joanna said: “Libraries play a central role in lifelong learning and education, safe spaces, warm hubs and opportunities for creative activities. Given there are so few free accessible indoor open spaces, libraries are now more valuable than ever and essential to local communities.”

The six-week consultation will close on Thursday, October 10.