LLL welcomes the celebration of diversity featured in the draft cultural
strategy, but we consider that equal weight should be given to celebrating
unity and the commonality of being Londoners
We are surprised that while the culture of minorities is rightly
highlighted, the indigenous culture of the majority is virtually ignored.
We find it regrettable that little account is taken of books and
literature, or of London's history, its important buildings, and its long-standing
traditions.
The role of libraries in our cultural life also gets a pretty poor
showing.� The last secretary of state
for culture called public libraries street corner universities. They
are places where books - both non-fiction and works of the imagination � can
be discovered and borrowed, as well as providing electronic access to a wealth
of information.� Libraries provide
services for people of all ages, of all levels of education, and of all ethnic
origins, and are used by the whole community.�
They offer a safe and welcoming environment the many single people
who live in London whose needs are not well-catered for, to newcomers, to
ethnic minority women, and to the elderly.
In areas where commerce and entertainment continue late into the
night libraries and art galleries should also be open late.
�
Late night and week-end opening of libraries should be encouraged
in all areas.� Where libraries are
open on Sundays they are well-used. We should also like to see libraries in
buildings which
offer other services as recommended in the recent CABE/Resource report.
London is remarkable in having a wealth of special libraries, many
of which are open to the public, and provide a rich cultural resource.
We hope the final document will give a more realistic assessment
of the importance of libraries in the cultural life of London.
�KF Sep. 2003