I would like to use this post to draw people's attention to the situation at The Women's Library (www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/) which is under threat of closure to one day a week in December 2012 if no new custodian or sponsor can be found.
The Women?s Library?s collection documents women's lives and women specific issues such as women's rights, suffrage, sexuality, health, education, employment, feminism, race, reproductive rights, to the family and home. The emphasis is primarily on women in Britain, but some international material is also included. The Sadd Brown Trust Fund has supported the specific inclusion of materials related to women in the commonwealth.
This inspiring Library was founded in 1926 by an organisation set up by suffragist Millicent Fawcett for The Service of Women in London and has continued to develop ever since. In 1953 the Library became The Fawcett Library and in 2002 it became The Women?s Library. The Library has been designated by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (now The Arts Council) as collections of outstanding national and international importance.
The collections are composed of:
? printed materials (books, periodicals, press cuttings, ephemera and also audio-visual) which date back to the 16th century.
? archives (personal or organisational papers and oral histories) which largely document campaigns that women have instigated around issues related to women lives from the 19th century to present day.
? museum collections (objects, textiles and visual materials) with date back to the 18th century.
There's more information about what the library holds on the source notes pages (www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/aboutthecollections/source-notes/).
Making the collection visible is the Library?s own wonderful purpose built building. Take this building away and women?s voices and their contributions to the nation's heritage will once more less visible. The Women?s Library is at the forefront of opening up access to historical collections and encourages explorations into women?s history. Women?s history is promoted through the Library's programme of acclaimed exhibitions, events and educational activities. The Library is professionally managed to actively record women?s voices for generations past, present and hopefully in the future. The costs keeping this Library open in its current form is approximately £0.5 million per year.
The Library's current custodian, London Metropolitan University, is giving it away. We are fighting to ensure the best possible future for the collection and want to continue to make it accessible to all in its purpose built building in East London. Current staff and supporters have until December 2012 to do this. Thereafter the Library service will be reduced to one day a week which will mean the majority of the collections will be completely inaccessible and all current staff will have left taking their many years of subject and management expertise.
To find out more go to: savethewomenslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/ and explore The Women?s Library Web site: www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/