Initiative KEEP THE BRITISH LIBRARY FREE

[Marloth _at__ t-online.de (Heinz Marloth)]

Liebe KollegInnen,
die folgende mail von  raimund.dehmlow _at__ aekn.de gebe ich gerne
an sie weiter:
>
> "KEEP THE BRITISH LIBRARY FREE" - A non-political organisation
> The Board of Management suggests that the British Library should no longer
> be free to readers.
> The proposal is for an annual fee of £300.
> This fee would bear most heavily on students but would disadvantage many
> other readers equally unable to afford it - such as visiting academics from
> developing countries. It would also apply to the Science Library and the
> Newspaper Library. If approved, we can expect that the charge will increase
> in the future.
> Free access to public libraries has traditionally been regarded as a basic
> democratic right in Britain. Access should not be restricted to those who
> are able to pay. In recent years, we have seen several examples of the
> erosion of such fundamental rights. In the University of London admission
> charges to the library have already been imposed.
> The British Library has always been free. It is the premier library in the
> world and such an action would have significant symbolic force, opening the
> way for similar cuts in the public sector elsewhere.
> The introduction of this charge requires government approval. If we
> mobilise enough support, we can stop it.
> What we have done:
> Our campaign came into force at the end of July. We concentrated on
> recording readers' opposition to this proposal and placing their
> counter-arguments before the British Library's Strategic Review Committee.
> This had to be done speedily - before the closing date for objections on
> August 28th. We succeeded in meeting this deadline.
> >From now until mid-September, the issue will be before the Strategic Review
> Committee. At that time the committee will pass their recommendation on to
> the Board of Management itself who, in their turn, will announce their
> decision in mid-October.
> Following the August 28th deadline the focus of our efforts will now shift
> towards the government - in particular, the minister responsible for the
> British Library, Chris Smith, MP.
> Our campaign successes so far are detailed at the bottom of the page.
> What you can do:
> 1. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14th: Come to the demonstration to voice your
> opposition to the charges
> before the final decision of the Library Board is made. See below for
> details.
> 2. See the British Library Strategic Review Consultation Paper at
> http://www.bl.uk and write to: the Heritage
> Secretary, Chris Smith MP, at the House of Commons, Westminister, London
> SW1A 2PW.
> Better still, tell him of your objections in your own words right now using
> this e-mail link:
> chris.smith _at__ culture.gov.uk.
> 3. Pass on the address of this web-site to friends and colleagues who might
> wish to support our campaign:
> http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/8435/Library.html
> Tell them to ask their contacts to pass on the message in their turn. In
> this way we can set up a chain-reaction
> and support for the campaign will spread.
> 4. Write to your local MP and encourage others to do likewise.
> 5. Contact your Trade Union, Student Union or other interested organisation
> and tell them what we are
> fighting for.
> 6. Help by sending a donation made out to: "Keep The British Library Free"
> c/o Bryan Smith, 26 Devonia
> Road, London N1 8JH
> 7. Periodically check this web-site for the latest update on the campaign.
> THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR
> The Meeting with the Director:
> On 4th August a party of four readers had a meeting with the Director, Dr
> Brian Lang, to express your concerns to him personally. What emerged from
> this meeting was that even were admission charges to be imposed there would
> still be a shorfall in revenue for the library of several million pounds.
> This £300 fee is not a solution to the British Library's problem.
> Quotes:
> "Very few national libraries ever charge their readers." - The Director, Dr
> Lang, 4th August.
> "Were the British Library to come to me with a proposal to charge an
> admission fee, I would look at that suggestion very sceptically." - Chris
> Smith MP, Heritage Secretary, 24th July, "Today" programme, BBC Radio 4.
>
> The Lobbying at the Opening of the Oriental Library:
> A well-attended lobby took place at the Main Entrance to the British
> Library to coincide with the opening of the Oriental Library within the
> main building on 11th August.
> Thank you to all who helped at the picket on that occasion and the earlier
> ones on 28th July and 4th August!
> The Public Meeting:
> On August 20th a highly successful public meeting was held at the Friends'
> Meeting House. Over two hundred supporters attended. Speakers included
> Frank Kermode - professor of English Literature; Frances D'Souza - Campaign
> Against Censorship; Deborah Lavin - playwright; Peter Preston - poetic
> novelist; Mark Turnbull - NUJ President and Roy Hattersley - former deputy
> leader of the Labour Party.
> By the time of the meeting over 2,000 signatures had been collected for the
> petition and at the meeting a cash collection realised over £330. The
> National Union of Journalists promised their support both actual and
> financial as did the British Library Regular Readers' Group.
> Publicity achieved: The campaign was featured in the Daily Telegraph, The
> Guardian and The Times newspapers prior to the meeting. Supporters were
> also interviewed on Independent Radio and the meeting was reported the day
> afterwards in the Evening Standard.
> Many thanks to the dozens of helpers who worked hard to make this public
> meeting such a resounding success.
> The Presentation of the Petition:
> On the afternoon of August 28th at a meeting in the British Library piazza,
> the campaign petition was presented to Dr A. Prochaska, a representative of
> the British Library Strategic Review Committee. This took place in front of
> the press and TV and a 150-strong group of readers. In total, 6,000 people
> had signed this petition. Letters of protest received by the campaign from
> members of the public were presented to the Board at the same time.
> In addition to this, both the British Library Board and the office of the
> Heritage Secretary, Chris Smith, report that thousands of letters, e-mails
> and phone calls are being received direct from members of the public
> protesting against the Board's proposal. We, in the campaign, are receiving
> e-mails of support from as far afield as California, USA; Winnipeg, Canada
> and the Northern Territory, Australia. Thank you to everyone for this
> encouragement.
> The BBC World Service Programme:
> The BBC produced a radio programme about the issue of the British Library
> and the £300 admission charges. The "Keep The British Library Free"
> campaign was asked to contribute. Interviews were recorded for the
> programme on September 2nd. Speaking for the Library was Dr Brian Lang and
> speaking for the Campaign were Peter Preston and Professor Robin Alston.
>
> These interviews were then translated into the dozens of languages in which
> the World Service operates and the programme was broadcast to 140 million
> listeners worldwide on the following day.
> For the full text of this broadcast go to: Broadcast Text
> The Forthcoming Demonstration:
> The meeting of the Board of Management of the British Library - at which
> their final decision will be made - is
> going to take place at 10 am on the morning of October 16th. A
> demonstration - with speakers - is to take
> place prior to this final meeting - on the afternoon of Wednesday, 14th
> October in the piazza of the British
> Library.
> To ensure a good turnout, please contact your trade union, student union or
> other interested organisation.
> Keep this date free and watch this web-site for further details: our plans
> for this event will be announced here.
> Contact us at this e-mail address or write to our postal address:
> our e-mail "Keep The British Library Free"
> Flat 3, 91 Richmond Road, London E8 3AA
> Tel: Ian on 0171-249 9592 or Tithi on 0181-986 0762

eines muss man den britischen kollegInnen lassen: wenn etwas faul ist 
im staate daenemark, koennen sie schnell und ohne viel fisimatenten 
etwas auf die beine stellen.

ich glaube, wir alle wuenschen ihnen *viel erfolg bei ihren bemuehungen!*

zur ehrenrettung der deutschen bibliothekarInnen muss freilich 
hinzugefuegt werden, dass in dieser sache birgit dankert namens 
der bundesvereinigung deutscher bibliotheksverbaende bereits aktiv 
geworden ist.

mfg   H.M.
--
Heinz Marloth   Seehofstraße 15   D-60594  Frankfurt, Germany
Tel.  069 - 61 23 94              eMail:  marloth _at__ t-online.de