Dear all,
Edzell update enclosed,
Best wishes
John
From: Duncan Smedley [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 29 November 2010 09:46
To: John Crawford
Subject: Edzell library update
Dear John
Thought you might possibly be interested in the update on Edzell Library we've just put together. (Have also emailed it to various others including LIHG, HLF and Peter Reid)
Hope it's of interest (and any ideas you may have gratefully received!)
Best wishes
Jean (Smedley)
on behalf of Edzell Library Action Group
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Dear All
We thought you might like an update on the situation regarding Inglis Memorial Hall (Edzell), its historical collections and the county library.
In 1898 Inglis Memorial Hall and 5000+ books were gifted to the community to be held in trust under certain conditions by the local council. For the last 30+ years a county lending library has also been housed in the building, alongside the highly important Victorian library. However in March 2010 Angus Council closed the county lending library (along with its three other rural libraries) and replaced it with 2 hours a week mobile library provision. The Victorian books and the Cotgreave Indicator currently remain in place but the library rooms are shut. Some other parts of the hall still are available for hire. The suggestion has come from within the Council that Inglis Memorial Hall may be sold. Some concerns exist for the state of preservation of the historical aspects, particularly for the old books.
Edzell Library Action Group (ELAG) have been trying to get the county lending library reinstated in Inglis Memorial Hall. ELAG believes the historical aspects are very important and that Inglis Memorial Hall is an incredibly special building. ELAG feels the current mobile provision is inadequate and has concerns for the future of the historical aspects and Inglis Memorial Hall. ELAG firmly believes the best way of protecting and promoting the historical aspects and the best course of action for Inglis Memorial Hall itself more widely is to reinstate the county lending library, incorporating a museum idea. This would arguably provide Edzell's community [the oldest and 'illest' in Angus -Census 2001] with a far higher standard of library service than is presently being received and would allow a 'flag ship' combined library-museum service to ensue offering financial benefits for Inglis Memorial Hall and tourist potential for Angus Council. ELAG have offered the Council a high level of assistance to help achieve this. ELAG continues to have reservations over many aspects of the closure, including issues relating to the Trust, and believes that the selling of Inglis Memorial Hall would be directly against the terms of the original Deed of Gift.
ELAG have been in correspondence with and had meetings with Angus Council. Two deputations have spoken at Council meetings. In September's Full Council meeting one of the three Ward Councillors put forward a motion which included asking the Council to recognise "the unique nature of the Inglis Memorial Hall and its collection", to agree "that there is a special case for reconsidering the closure of the library service"; and to "work with Edzell Library Action Group to discuss all proposals for use of the Memorial Hall". Unfortunately another of the Ward Councillors said the closure should not be reconsidered and moved as an amendment that the Council should recognise "the uniqueness of Inglis Memorial Hall and work with the community regarding its future use". Following an Alliance/ SNP split the vote fell 14/ 11 in favour of the amendment. So far no explanation has been received as to why the amendment was made.
Attempts to arrange another meeting with the Council have, to date, been unsuccessful but the Council have said they hope for a Public Meeting in the New Year to discuss with the community the future use and management of Inglis Memorial Hall. The Council have given no precise plans for its important historical aspects. They have claimed they wish to make the library room and old books into some sort of volunteer-staffed ‘museum’ but no detailed ideas have been presented and they have stated if the community do not agree and no volunteers come forward then the proposal will be withdrawn. It currently seems as though the Council appear to be wanting to hand over responsibility for Inglis Memorial Hall to the community. The thought that the Council may be thinking of selling Inglis Memorial Hall gives even greater cause for concern.
Since the closure Edzell has received 2 hours a week mobile library service parked outside the old library. New mobile vans have been promised but confusion exists over many aspects of the proposed service. Start dates, originally presented as imminent, are now uncertain; the new vans still not having been ordered. In November the Council conducted a consultation on the new service where draft timetables showed a proposed increase in mobile hours to an average of 4 hours a week for Edzell.
ELAG do not understand the Council's financial reasonings and believe that if a library service can be provided for 4 hours a week via a van parked for most of the time directly outside Inglis Memorial Hall (as is currently proposed) a library service can equally be provided for 4 hours a week inside Inglis Memorial Hall. The Council claim their 4 rural libraries were closed to save £30,000 yet ELAG have always maintained this saving could have been made without any closures due to the potential for redeployment that exists within the Burghs. Edzell 'saving' was less than £9000 yet Angus Council's annual library budget is over £1 million and 4 of the 7 Burgh libraries actually saw slight increases in their budgets this year. Large spending is proposed on the new mobile vans (and on other unrelated projects in Angus) and details of the new vans running costs are yet to be given.
ELAG truly believe the reinstatement of the county lending library incorporating a museum element is the best course of action for the future of the historical aspects and Inglis Memorial Hall, is financially viable even in these economically difficult times and is in line with the original purpose of the gift. Moreover it is clear that the community wishes the library to be reinstated, as shown by a petition, a well supported public meeting and Community Council meetings. In November ELAG's door-to-door survey asked people whether they would prefer the lending library service to be in Inglis Memorial Hall or in the van. 91 % of respondents said Inglis Memorial Hall (6% expressed no opinion, 3% said the van). Community support is clear. ELAG continues to push for the reinstatement of the county lending library in Inglis Memorial Hall.
All offers of support are very welcome. For more information, including details about the virtually nationally unique historical aspects, please see ELAG's "Save Edzell Library" facebook page
Edzell Library Action Group (ELAG) November 2010