A petition to ‘Save Newham Libraries’ is urging the Mayor of Newham – Rokhsana Fiaz OBE – and Newham Council to reverse its proposals.
The council revealed that its network of ten libraries could lose half of their financial support by 2028 – from £3.2 million to £1.6 million – according to its medium term financial strategy.
The proposed cuts come during a period of significant financial strain for the council, which faces a projected annual budget shortfall of £90 million by 2028/2029.
Campaigners and library staff have revealed their concerns about the impact of the proposed cuts on the community.
They have been handing out flyers across the borough to raise awareness about the issue.
Sonia Quintero, a founder of the Save Newham Libraries campaign and leader of Newham Poetry Group, said: “Residents are surprised and very upset – councils underestimate the public feeling towards libraries and public places.
“The cuts will not only impact my poetry group hugely, but all other community groups that access these libraries.
“It will cause huge damage to community engagement and for young people.
“Libraries have made the difference in the digital services they provide, the space to study and have different classes.”
Sonia referred to a 2023 Libraries Connected Report which found that public libraries generate around a six-times social return on every pound invested.
She said that this impact has been felt through her work at Newham Poetry Group, which provides a space to discuss poetry across different languages and cultures, with specific activities set up for refugees and LGBTQ+ communities.
The group is free for anyone to attend and runs on Wednesday evenings at Stratford Library.
She added: “We will fight these cuts.”
A staff member at a library in Newham, who wished to remain anonymous, told this paper they feared these cuts will likely lead to reductions in service, closures and redundancies.
They said: “We see, as workers in the libraries, just how important these places are for everyone.
“They are especially important for the poorest in society – the people who don’t have internet access or are lonely or struggling with accessing complicated online systems or parents who rely on free access to books or classes.
“We know that there is not enough money in local government budgets, but they have miscalculated if they think people are not going to push back against library cuts.”
Another campaigner, Jess Redmond, said that residents have spoken to her about the significance of libraries as social infrastructure.
“People rely on libraries not just for books, but children’s engagement, access to council services for older people, technological support or just as a warm space.
“Personally, I like libraries because there is no pressure to spend money.
“You encounter lots of different people, and I use the library for books a lot because I rent and don’t have space for them.”
She also stressed their importance in the context of the housing crisis.
“As a member of the London Renters’ Union, I have seen how so many people having issues with homelessness go to the library first.
“I am terrified about what will happen if libraries close.”
The council conducted a public consultation from July to September last year inviting residents to share their views on the future development of the borough’s library services.
In a statement, the authority said that proposals for the future of Newham’s library services will be published this year and put to public consultation.
A spokesperson said: “We know that our libraries play a hugely important part in the lives of Newham’s residents, be that in education, ageing better, or culture.
“Any changes – as not yet decided as part of the budget – will be carefully considered.
“We have just completed an extensive engagement exercise into what residents want from a modern library service and this, and a current needs assessment, will inform the next steps in the development of the service.
“The council is committed to supporting a library service which will meet the current, and developing, needs of Newham’s residents.”
