Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey Council library service is failing residents
Hello all, I have been a long time lurker but decided to make an account to discuss this issue with you. As a resident of Haringey 30+ years and been using the library’s I am sad to see the lack of investment by the council. Since the pandemic and lockdown I joined BorrowBox as I started to use E books and audio books, as do my children. Haringey on borrow box have a very limited library, and you get 2 audio books and 2 ebooks. It’s very limited content with the popular books having a long reservation time. Libby is even worse with very limited books, most of which are old releases.
Last week I joined Islington library as I work in the borough, and the difference in this area between the two boroughs is shocking. Islington on BorrowBox allow you 6 each of audio books and ebooks. There’s 1000s of content on different genres, many books are very recent releases. The reservation issue isn’t as big as Haringey as they have multiple copies of popular books. It’s obvious that Islington invest in their library’s and give value to their residents. The adult and children section has a wide array of books.
Clearly Haringey is either not investing in this area, or there’s a misuse of funds. What do you think of the state of the Haringey library’s, particularly the online content on BorrowBox and Libby? Are you a member of another borough's library and noticed the same thing, and finally who can I contact at the council to find out why Haringey residents are receiving subpar service compared to those in a neighbouring borough when we all pay taxes to fund the service?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Julie on
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Completely agree about Islington Libraries - I too belong to both and it’s a much better service
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Glad you noticed the difference. It’s a shame that Haringey are yet again cutting costs in vital areas. It’s 2022 and there’s no reason why there should be limited selections on online content. I will be raising this with the council but don’t know who to contact.
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Permalink Reply by KP on
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I can't comment about other boroughs but I find Harringay library a nice little library with a decent selection. So I can't complain about this service. I don't really use the online content
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The physical book choices are not too bad. I am talking about the online content. Myself and others in my circle use audio books and ebooks, as well as many others in the borough. That’s the area that is lacking and I thought all London boroughs had the same content/service but having joined Islington I can see they are forward thinking and bringing value to their residents. I just don’t understand why Haringey can’t do the same.
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on
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I have read the comments on this thread and will share them with the Library Service. I will come back with a full response.
As Cabinet member with responsibility for libraries since May 2021 I am determined we develop, promote the service and that it reaches our many diverse communities. I agree about being forward thinking and creative. We are investing in our libraries - around £1m in new stock over the next three years, and around £1.7m in refurbishing buildings and furniture. We have retained all our libraries and have bucked the national trend of closures.
The libraries have Friends Groups which I urge you - as library lovers - to join. we need the users' voices, ideas and views about projects, programmes, talks, stock etc.
Yesterday we celebrated Hornsey Library's 57thbirthday - for those who have not been recently, the building has been refurbished and looks fantastic. The gallery has an exhibition, the Silent Cinema is open, the children's library a joy. The Gruffalo joined us for World Book Day, St. Ann's has a fantastic community garden and Stroud Green/Harringay was reopened on December 4 after extensive refurbishment. Alexandra Park is now having its makeover to be followed by Highgate and Muswell Hill. Just some recent examples of change. So, things are happening with more to come. Link to website below!
https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/haringey-li...
Please get in touch with me if you have ideas concerns, want to join a Friends Group, or have comments regarding the libraries.
Thanks
Zena Brabazon
Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Families and Libraries
Cllr Harringay ward
zena.brabazon@haringey.gov.uk
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Thank you so much Zena for looking into this.. I look forward to your response. I do agree that Haringey is doing great work with keeping our libraries open and holding vital events. When ever I visit the libraries there’s plenty of physical books. Where improvements is needed is the online content. I’m not sure how the budget is split between physical books and ebooks/audiobooks but definitely the latter is limited and dated. So many residents enjoy online content and in these modern times it would be good to have libraries that cater to all. As I said earlier I thought Haringeys limited content was the norm until I joined Islington and I was disappointed by the vast difference between them. I will email you as I am interested in joining a friends group and I’m passionate about bringing positive changes to a loved service in our borough.
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I have started using Haringey libraries again - was impressed by quick response to my comment that there were no books by Gurnah (latest Nobel literature prize winner) and within 2 months there were 2 of his books at Marcus Garvey library. I do find the catalogue isnt very user friendly and is inaccurate - have experienced searching catalogue for books I have seen on the shelf and they dont come up. Certainly they buy plenty of fiction....
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Thanks Fai and Kate
Very helpful comments and reflections on the service. I am contacting the officers for follow up and response.
Zebra
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
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Thank you,Zena, for being so proactive. As you rightly say, Haringey is very good in that the number of libraries has been maintained. Perhaps a puff in the Haringey People magazine to publicise their services is due after all the Covid shutdown?
Islington libraries were good when I lived there(briefly) but all their branch libraries are closed for one or two weekdays a week whereas Haringeys are open.
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Unfortunately this is the general case with Haringey Borough in general. Just look around you at the public realm and the streets.
You get load# of investment too but then it is quickly run back down to bad or mediocrity. The culture is just rotten.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Hi JJB
We don't know each other well. But we've been in occasional neighbourly dialogue for years. I value your perception & critical comments. On libraries though I'd ask you and others to consider contributing ideas that go beyond what we have and are improving.
I write this because for years I've been hearing senior staff use terms like "world class", "cutting edge" "information hubs" and other fluffy phrases to explain why the land and buildings of libraries should be gifted to the mighty Lendlease developers. When challenged how the wonderful new library service will work, they may say: "Oh, you know, an Idea Store like in Tower Hamlets."
Which I've come to think really means they haven't a clue.
Having just read some books about Amazon; also on the "fragile" history of libraries; and about the invention of alphabets and reading, I suspect we may be at a crucial tipping-point.
So JJ B let's agree that action is needed on bits of Haringey which are indeed "rotten". But also I hope we may agree that:"Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their libraries. And of beginning readers and of deep reading. As well as Freedom of Speech and properly informed citizens.
Plus trying to save the planet. The DVDs, computers, and books too will burn.
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