Dear Candidate

A new campaign launched by The Friends Muswell Hill Library

I am writing to you on behalf of the Friends of Muswell Hill Library to ask you to support measures to improve this important and very popular public service at the heart of Muswell Hill. You may know that, until recently, the future location of the library was in question.

Now that the matter has been resolved in favour of remaining on the present site, it is necessary to consider how measures to bring the library into the 21st century might be implemented. These measures relate to the need for disabled access, library users’ toilets and a public room for meetings, events and exhibitions. At present there are two main obstacles to the implementation of these measures: spatial and financial. With good will and imaginative thinking, we believe that these obstacles could be overcome.

•Spatial: there is space available on council land which adjoins the library on Avenue Mews. This land is in poor condition and is used as an unplanned car parking space. Over the years, various schemes have been proposed for the better use of this space. Friends of Muswell Hill Library (FoMHL) are now asking that the council allocate part of this land for the building of an extension to the library when finance is available.

•Finance: the council itself could investigate innovative ways of funding the project. Or, on the assumption that local authority spending will be seriously constrained for some time to come, it could consider that finance might be secured through a variety of means such as co-operatives or community trusts.

The result of the public consultation on the library’s location showed how much the present building is loved by the Muswell Hill community. As an important public good, the library and its building need to be handed on to future generations in good working condition. We believe that the proposed modest extension is a necessary part of ensuring that this happens.

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Kathryn Dean

Secretary to the committee

Friends of Muswell Hill Library