Surrey library campaigners were out in force on Tuesday 27th September as they lobbied the Surrey County Council cabinet to take the guns of privatisation away and reconsider their decision to axe – by the back door – 19 libraries under threat. Members of the Surrey Library Action Movement, who have brought together library users and campaigners, trade unionists and students to save Surrey’s libraries from being turned into “volunteer-run” services, were lobbying the Cabinet to urge them to reconsider their proposals and start a meaningful consultation with the community over the future of Surrey’s library service. Below is...

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The fight to save Surrey’s libraries is growing daily – as is the threat. The number of threatened libraries has now risen from 11 to 19. To build for and prepare for a number of planned rallies and demonstrations, a major public meeting has been called: The GRAND SLAM Meeting Tuesday 20th September 8pm St Mary’s Centre for the Community, Byfleet, KT14 7LZ For a full list of threatened libraries, more information about the campaign and to sign the petition click here. The below was taken from the SLAM Update website – subscribe for updates on the campaign: Surrey County Council...

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The following motion was passed by the SOSiS Steering Committee at it’s meeting on Wednesday 10th August. • 1 in 5 young people are unemployed • 50% of black youth are unemployed • There are only 0.5 million jobs for 2.5 million unemployed • Young people face daily police harassment, stop and search • Peaceful protests face kettling and police attacks • Councils are cutting services for young people • Tuition Fees hiked, Education Maintenance Allowance slashed It is not surprising that young people are angry. In Tottenham alone, 8 out of 13 youth clubs have closed. This government,...

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from Surrey County UNISON You will be well aware of the current threat to existing library services in Surrey. The mobile library service is being axed and eleven local libraries threatened with closure if the local community does not take them over. UNISON have been working extremely hard to raise public awareness of these issues and we have teamed up with library action groups and friends groups at most of the threatened libraries towards this aim. UNISON have been central to the publicity, including the very successful lobby of the council attended by over 100 library users and staff...

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