Editor's choice Dec/Jan 2008/09

Is this the last chapter for Balsall Heath Library?

by Peter Cole

Balsall Heath residents turned out in force to show their concern over the closure of the Balsall Heath Library recently. With the change from a temporary closure to that of indefinite the news has raised extreme concern for the long-term future of the Library.

Parents, children, concerned residents and members of local organisations held the demonstration as part of the handing over of a petition to Sparkbrook Councillor Salma Yaqoob. Traffic slowed to a trickle as motorists offered their support by blasting their horns offering a musical cacophony as a background to the protest.

Salma said, “I am very concerned for the future of this building given its importance to the local community. People value the service and the building should have been maintained. The City should be ashamed”.

Local resident and mother Iram Weir said, “It’s part of our heritage. It’s a community library that keeps you connected to our community”. For Fran Delaney, mother of four who carried a banner her children had made saying ‘We want our bed time stories’, the loss could not be justified as the library provides her and her children with not only access to the recently expanded children’s section but also the chance to meet other mothers and children.

Mr Rehman, said of the closure, “Me and my wife use the library quite often and sometimes on weekends we bring our children here to read books.” When asked what he felt about the closure, he replied: “We’re shocked. It’s unbelievable. It shows that we’re not cared about and I’m pretty sure that if this happened in another area something would’ve been done by now.”

Representatives from Tindal Street Press joined in the protest along with celebrated local author Catherine O’Flynn, winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction and the Orange Prize for Fiction. Catherine said of the closure, “I think it’s really sad and a real loss to Balsall Heath”.

Little information about the future of the library has been made available by the Hall Green Constituency, which now manages the facility. Residents who recently visited the Sparkhill library report that a sizable chunk of the Balsall Heath Library books are now to be found there along with some of the staff.

The Birmingham City Council’s press office recently announced that, “There has been a structural survey of the ceiling roof beams which is now complete and we are awaiting the results and estimated costs. Community librarians will now be exploring other options if it has to remain shut for a longer period.”

Rumours abound as to what the temporary solution might be. With stock already being given to another library the fears of many that managers of Hall Green Constituency are using a closure by stealth approach is becoming a widespread belief.

At a Constituency meeting in September, Moseley Councillor Martin Mullany publicly threatened that keeping the Friends Institute open would mean that “other places like the Balsall Heath Library would have to close”. Many believe that the closure swiftly following this announcement shows that Balsall Heath does not appear to be high on the list of many of the constituency politicians’ list of priorities.