Dear supporters,

Since my recent posting two days ago Ealing Council has been in touch to let ‘WAPPY’ know that the Council is inviting Ealing residents and its Library users  to 'Have Our Say' on the Draft Library Strategy, which must be done by 17th May 2019. They are doing this by:

1) Inviting Ealing residents/Library users to complete an online survey (https://www.research.net/r/PK9XTRF To complete this survey you will need to read the consultation document so you have a fuller understanding of what the Council's Draft Library Stategy is;

2) Organising several public meetings across the borough during this library consultation, where you can attend and Have You Say in person.

I have listed the venues below this message. This consultation process is a starting point.  I do politely urge all of you who will be affected by the Council's Library Strategy (a summary of this can be found in the current issue 88  of the Neighbours Paper accessible via this link: 
https://www.neighbourspaper.com/Pastpapers/NP88.pdf The full document is also available here:
https://www.ealing.gov.uk/downloads/download/5159/draft_ealing_library_strategy_2019_-_2023

Of course there are individuals and user groups in Ealing who do not have access to the Internet for whatever reason (i.e. vulnerable groups like the elderly,  people affected by disability, people affected by mental health difficulties and people who are unemployed and/or homeless and on low income, etc). They and young people will be most affected by these library changes so please do help me to let a greater number of individuals and families know about these consultations by word of mouth, informal and formal other channels of communication. We can not simply rely on the Council or the local papers, where the upated dessimination of such information is limited, one-sided, delayed or seemingly non-existent (as in the case of Ealing's local papers such as the 'Ealing Times' , or 'Get West London'/'My London News'.

This is what has written in the Council's own magazine, 'All Around Ealing' (Page 5), which doesn't include specific details of the Consultation meetings because it was printed before this info was ready.

"CUTS FOR MORE CHANGE

LIBRARIES

It is also considering changes to its libraries. The council will consult with residents on a plan to directly manage six of its 13 libraries, changing their opening hours so they are open iat times when they are most used.

The remaining seven could become community-managed if interested groups or residents come forward with workable proposals and agree to take on their long-term management.

This approach has been successfully used by other local authorities and the council has started discussions
with some interested local groups.

CONSULTATION

Public consultations on these proposals are expected to begin
in February. They will appear online at www.ealing.gov.uk/CONSULTATION" (All Around Ealing, page 5).

Ealing Council will need to publicise details of this Consultation meetings and Survey in its 'Around Ealing Magazine' and make it available through Ealing's Libraries and by mail to every household in Ealing.

So please see details of the where the Public Consultations will take place across the borough below and HAVE YOU SAY!

Please do keep signing the petition whether you live in Ealing or not because the potential closure or degrading of one library let along 7 in Ealing affects us all!:
https://www.change.org/p/save-ealing-libraries-from-being-outsourced-from-being-managed-by-community-volunteers-save-library-jobs

Thank you

Akuba
(Grace Quansah)

Consultations (https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201042/current_consultations/2548/have_your_say_on_the_draft_ealing_library_strategy/1

Greenford Library consultation event
Location: Greenford Hall
Time: Monday 11 March 2019 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Northfields Library consultation event
Location: Kingsdown Methodist Church
Time: Tuesday 12 March 2019 - 5pm to 7pm

Hanwell Library consultation event
Location: Hanwell Community Centre
Time: Wednesday 13 March 2019 - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Perivale Library consultation event
Location: Hope Community Church
Time: Monday 18 March 2019 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Pitshanger Library consultation event
Location: Trailfinders Sports Club
Time: Wednesday 20 March 2019 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Wood End Library consultation event
Location: Wood End Infant School
Time: Monday 25 March 2019 - 5pm 7pm

West Ealing Library consultation event
Location: To be confirmed
Time: Wednesday 27 March 2019 - 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Find out about being a volunteer in Ealing libraries
Location: West Ealing Library
Time: Monday 1 April 2019 - 3pm to 5pm

Find out about Community Managed Libraries (CML)
Location: University of West London
Time: Wednesday 3 April 2019 - 1pm to 5pm
Details: Please book your place in advance by emailing libraries@ealing.gov.uk

Find out about being a volunteer in Ealing libraries
Location: Northolt Library
Time: Thursday 4 April 2019 - 11.30am to 2.30pm

Find out about being a volunteer in Ealing libraries
Location: Central Library
Time: Saturday 27 April 2019 - 11am to 3.30pm