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From: Andrew Coburn National Secretary The Library Campaign

The Library Campaign is pleased to see LLL officially off the ground and especially the turnout you got.
People were asking what they could be doing to put pressure on and I would suggest using Best value reviews (which require consultation with users), Annual library Plans, and the Standards. Imperfect though they may be Peter Beauchamp was right that they are better than having nothing and authorities might as well get used to having people look at and react to them.
In terms of Modernising local Government where I sympathise with Tom's view, we can and must encourage use of the scrutiny committee system. councillors must realise that they have some power there and if they don't use it may lose it. In my authority (not in London) Councillors have also just 'called in' to full Council a decision on a library issue made by the Executive board. this is another weapon. The Campaign hopes to run a seminar in the late summer or autumn on how to use the Modernising agenda and structures.
There was a point also about the different kinds of user / friends groups. We (and I hope LLL) would encourage both the partnership kind, and those who have had to be more antagonistic, to join LLL and the national Campaign. you can learn from each other. When the threats have 'gone away' you can learn how to keep going for the next time. Alternatively if partnership turns sour you can get tactics and support from other groups. As Susan said the beauty of all these groups is that someone somewhere will have the expertise or know someone who can. it is about networking.
I hope that all local groups who join LLL will also consider joining the Campaign and in congratulating you on your website I would also thank you for the link to ours.... Andrew Coburn