Love St James Street Library

The "Love St James Street Library" day brought Walthamstow residents together to celebrate a much-loved and missed building and call on the council to bring it back into community use. The building was decorated with flowers, artwork, and banners featuring residents' many ideas for the community use of the building.

Back in 2007 Waltham Forest Council were heavily criticised for closing the Library almost overnight and without any consultation or warning. In 2009 am eagle eyed resident spotted a plan to convert the building to a drug centre hidden in an obscure council report. Over 2,500 local residents have signed a petition to bring the building back into community use.

The 'open-air library' -- a book-swap stall run by a group of library-lovers with donated books -- attracted readers of all ages, just as the real library used to. Children who hadn't brought a swap 'paid' for their books with drawings which were then displayed.

New MP Stella Creasey joined in the 'Love St James Street Library' event, as did councillors Clare Coghill and Liaquat Ali.
The council have left the building empty for 3 years but Cllr Coghill said "with the smart use of resources there's the possibility of saving things that people feel very passionately about... the council has to represent the needs of people right across the borough". At the time of writing its thought the council are secretly planning to sell off the building.

Below are a selection from a long list of residents suggestions for the building:

"Would love to see library re-opened, my exams are coming up and I would love a space to revise in" Vernisha

"OAP groups, teenage group space, toddler groups, single parent associations, special needs groups, Citizens Advice, party rooms" Karen

"My father is 85 and he used the old library a lot. It gave him the opportunity and reason to come out of the house" Zahoor

"A community centre, because there is nothing around here. We need something for the whole community to benefit, especially young people" JK

"It could be a place to share ideas and knowledge about different religions and cultures" Shamin

"Community centre - things for everybody - exercise classes, childrens parties, events for the elderly" Hargreaves family

"Important to keep it as a community building, for yoga studio, food co-op, art workshops or community support" Anna

"Reading room, toddler group, computer training, meeting place for the community" Mohebat

"Would like to see the library re-opened and used as a library and other community engagements such as local surgeries" Justine & Matthew

"Toddler groups, young people community group, rooms for rent for meetings or parties" Chad

"A library" Christine

"St James Street needs all the help it can get. Closing the library was the nail in the coffin.
No community facilities will not help the community" Haukim

"A community centre, maybe a youth group for children 11+, a homework or quiet study zone.
Hold exercise classes or yoga for all ages. A venue to host a club for the elderly" Rachel & Kier

"Playgroups, arts & crafts, youth clubs, space for parties, teaching rooms to help kids with maths and English" Dee

"Community centre not a drug centre, a space for the local children and young teenagers" April

"Library and somewhere for various clubs for young children" Louise

"It's a real strain going to Central library. Its too far for the kids to go by themselves to Central." Coral

"OAP centre, reading room, council meeting centre, toddler group, arts and crafts" Mussarat

"Open for community space - yoga, reading room, arts and crafts, toddler groups, play sessions in school holidays,
computer and internet basic training and teaching" Amanda & Azrael

"Use it for craft classes and have sewing machines. I could show people how to use the sewing machines" Florrie

"Music venue - one off gigs, folk club, lessons, jam sessions" Chloe

"It should be a library, or have fitness centre, mini-cinema or language centre" Jasmin

"The library helped me a lot when I just arrived to the country, when I didn't know the neighbourhood at all.
I got all what I needed from it, information, culture, leisure" Lamia

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• st james st library
• londonist

[slowdweller]

Lovely, poignant, potent piece of work. Says it all, really. Love the close-ups of the rotting wood, the dilapidation - that's what our council thinks of us, frankly.

[stow17]

@slowdweller Thanks Stowdweller. Hopefully the rumours that the council met and decided to sell the building off as quietly as possible are not true. Looks like they are though, certainly no denials coming from on high. MP & councillors are all quiet on sell off! It would be nice if the council actually told residents what was going on for once, or even gave them any help or information about community use of building (rent/etc) but nothing

[ikinmoore]

36 years ago I worked in this Library for six months. I loved it although I was moved on by the council to Wood Street Library. That is all history now and I am very sorry that St James Library.

[fabstervroom]

The meeting minutes where the discussing of 'liquidating properties' on the agenda have been made 'private & confidential' by the cabinet leaders. Cllr Chris Robbins should be ashamed of himself. Why did people vote this lot back in? There are some good seeds in the council, but for the most part, there is a culture of secrecy & flouting of proper procedures. We know this because they paid off the CEO to leave quietly after his investigation revealed missing funds and a culture of corruption.