Save Haringey's Libraries from Cuts

Haringey’s Labour-run council is currently consulting on proposals to cut library budgets by more than 30% over two years - shortening hours and leaving some buildings unmanned - as part of its budget for 2024/25.

Labour's plans include cuts next year of £700,000, which will lead to reduced hours across branch libraries (Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, Highgate, Muswell Hill, St Ann's, Stroud Green & Harringay) and removal of free newspapers and magazines. Then, the following year, plans are in place to make even deeper cuts which will move libraries to a 'self-service' model - replacement of professional librarians with volunteers, key card entry to libraries themselves, no access to toilets without staff present and no CCTV monitoring. But the costs of introducing self-service haven't even been properly calculated yet - so we may end up with a worse service for little or no saving!