The Library Debate

FINCHLEY LITERARY FESTIVAL

On 21st May at Friern Barnet Community Library we held the Library Debate, with myself as Chair and a panel of Laura Swaffield, Chair of The Library Campaign, the local activists Barbara Jacobson, Polly Napper and Alasdair Hill, and Adam Tipple, a former librarian with Barnet.

Alasdair, Polly, Keith, Laura, Barbara, Adam

Holding the debate in a library which had been closed by the council in 2012 and reopened by occupants to be run by volunteers for the community is evidence that direct action can bring results.

The debate ranged from why libraries are necessary, who needs them, how should they be run, to the question of whether history suggests any lessons?

Should libraries in the future cater for the increase in Barnet’s population?

Should Citizens’ Advice Bureaux be given a home there?

Laura loves the feel of our library. Polly, who works in the production department of the publishers, Bloomsbury, joined the continuing stream of well-wishers who offer to donate new books to us. 

The mood of the panellists and the floor was for action. Alasdair emphasised the common interest of all political parties in the future of libraries. Conservative aspirations for commerce as much as all other parties aspiring to Barnet Council’s own dictum of Putting the Community First. Unity is strength, and this will be the message on the fifth March for Libraries on Saturday 12 September. There will be speakers, a red London bus and a marching brass band. But before that, Unison has called for strike action, 1st and 2nd June - if you support our librarians and want to get involved, you can find out more information here

The legacy of Friern Barnet Library, the library that refused to close, is shown by the article in Le Monde about privatisation in Barnet on General Election day 7th May, with a half-page photo of the blizzard on the Spring March in 2013 with the library squatters Tiffany, her boyfriend and placards saying KEEP BARNET PUBLIC. It is this image which will remain our legacy to Europe long after Barnet Council’s philistine policies are dead and forgotten.

Keith Martin
22 May 2015

Stop Press: Zombie Book Bug hits Finchley

Finchley Literary Festival organisers and participants have been struck down with a deadly virus known as the Zombie Book Bug. Symtoms include lurching into book shops, moaning, groaning and buying unusual books.

Supporting libraries as their theme this year, the festival kicks off this afternoon at Church End Library, Finchley Central at 1.00pm with local blogger Theresa Musgrove who will be talking about her forthcoming book: The Hand that Smoothes the Pillow: Mary Ann Cotton – the Life and Times of a Victorian Serial Killer.

Theresa Musgrove is a writer and local campaigner better known for her blog 'Broken Barnet', which she writes via the medium of the infamous Mrs Angry, who is currently in a Swiss sanatorium, trying to regain her composure after the outcome of the general election. 

We asked Theresa, when she first realised she had caught the Zombie Book Bug? Mrs Angry replied:

"I must tell you I HATE zombie things, and horror, in lit or films. I do like books, and reading, clearly: and if I can write at all it is because I was such a voracious reader as a child, depending on my local library in Edgware for access to books, as we had few at home, and my appetite for reading was insatiable. My house is overflowing with piles of books, which I've started to stockpile even more for fear of there being no public libraries anywhere at all soon."

Later this evening, at one of the saved libraries of Barnet, Mike Carey will be at Friern Barnet Community Library, 7.00pm to talk about his book The Girl With All The Gifts. Rosie Canning, one of the organisers said: We're very lucky to have Mike this week as filming of the The Girl, has just started and I know Mike has been travelling a lot (probably infecting others with The BUG.)

When asked if the Zombie Book Bug had affected his quality of life, Mike replied:

"I think when the apocalypse arrives, we just have to hold fast to our core values and... ooh, is that a human brain? Do you mind if I...? It's just that I skipped breakfast..."

Find out more about Mike here.

Lindsay Bamfield, another festival organiser said: "We are delighted that Mike Carey, a British writer of comic books, novels, and films, will be taking part in this year's festival. If you've read the book you'll know that our local artsdepot is mentioned. Never mind that it features zombies in the same scene! Lindsay, who has embraced the Zombie Book Bug, borrows books from her local Finchley library regularly. She also works for the NHS and added, "We promised you zombies and we have a good NHS doctor on hand just in case."

As part of the Mike Carey evening, John Paul O'Malley is travelling north to Finchley, to interview 'The Man', at 8.00pm. JP used to live in Finchley but moved recently, presumably so he wouldn't catch the virus. We asked him what it was like interviewing people with the Zombie Book Bug?

"I feel privileged, honored and frightened to death simultaneously! I just hope all of those Zombies have eaten before they've come down to the interview tonight."

(JP *cough* *a-hem* ...who's going to tell him?)

Find out more about JP O' Malley here.

Festival organisers warn that if you attend any of the events there is the distinct possibility you could be bitten...infected by the Zombie Book Bug, enter at your own peril. 

Last Minute Festival Jewels

Six stimulating workshops:

Allen Ashley leads a poetry workshop, Sun, Moon and Planets, at Friern Barnet Community Library on Thursday 21st May 12.00-2.00pm. Contact Allen to book on allenashley-writer@hotmail.co.uk

Andi Michael facilitates a Writing for Wellbeing workshop at Friern Barnet Community Library on Friday 22nd May 6.00pm-8.00pm. This workshop is for beginners as well as more experienced writers.  Book here: Writing for Wellbeing.

Lindsay Bamfield gives a practical workshop on voice skills for writers who read their work aloud. Saturday 23rd May 10.30-12.30pm at North Finchley Library.  If you feel your vocal skills could be improved this is the workshop for you. Book here: Voice skills workshop. Fully booked - but please contact for future dates.

Katie Alford runs a workshop on fantasy writing at Church End Library Saturday 23rd May 10.30-12.30pm. If you have considered writing fantasy this is a good place to start. No charge. Bookings: email katie_alford1@hotmail.com.

Pearse and Black host an exciting creative writing workshop Murder in the Library on Saturday 23rd at North Finchley Library from 2.00-4.00pm. You may book directly using the link above. Please note: The only weapons you are allowed are pen and paper. (Or maybe a laptop/tablet.)

Rosie Canning leads The Walking Writer workshop. This is an informal session taking you on a gentle walk with stops to write inspired by nature. Short readings will also be given - after all who can pass the site of Spike Milligan's former home without a recitation? For more information  The Walking Writer The walk starts at 11.30am, Sunday 24th May. Meet at West Finchley tube station.

Venues:
North Finchley Library, Ravensdale Avenue, London N12 9HP

Church End Library, 24 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TR

Friern Barnet Community Library, Friern Barnet Road, London N11 3DS

Finchley Literary Slideshow

North Finchley Library, N12 9HP
Friday 22nd May at 6.00-7.30pm

Mr Greenacre shows you Finchley's secret green spaces with literary readings, some on the theme of nature and others by Finchley writers.

No charge.

No need to book but come early to secure a seat.

Mr Greenacre is a founder member of the Greenacre Project and was a regular contributor to The Greenacre Times writing the popular Mr Greenacres column as well as articles under his own name.

Mr G has charted and photographed every green space in the area and gives regular talks and slides shows as well as leading walks. For the festival he will be combining his knowledge of green spaces with literature and presenting a slide show with literary readings.

Music and Poetry Palooza

Music and Poetry Palooza:
Cafe Buzz, 783 High Road, N12 8JY
Saturday 23rd May at 7.00 - 9.00pm

Join Anna Meryt and friends for an evening of performance poetry and music at Finchley's literary café. No need to book but come early if you want a seat!

Mike Gee, has been writing music since he was 14 years old. In the 1970s he played keyboards in various rock bands and in the 1980s he worked in the recording industry before illness stopped his career. In recent years he has made a return to songwriting. Tonight we will here a selection of some of these songs - his first live performance for many years - and it's stripped down, just one keyboard and one voice.

Shanta Acharya, a well published poet and performer who runs regular poetry evenings at Lauderdale House. The author of ten books, she has published 5 poetry collections, and her latest is a novel, A World Elsewhere. Her New & Selected Poems is due out in 2016. She’s originally from India and her poetry combines the mystical as well as some down to earth humour. ‘Her poetry shows a rare combination of lyricism, intelligence, sagacity and a wicked sense of humour.’ Mimi Khalvati

Mimi Romilly, recently published a collection of poems written by her grandmother. After her grandmother died, Mimi found around 800 poems she’d written, in the attic. Grandma grew up in WWI and wrote in secret about her views against the war. Her beloved father did not return from the conflict – killed in action and she was devastated.. Mimi is not a poet, but an experienced singer, so she has put a few of the poems to music and turned them into songs.

Michael Clift is an experienced poet, singer-songwriter and performer. He writes all his own material and performs a mixture of poetry and songs, accompanied by his guitar. His words are thought provoking and funny. He is also the founder of a successful poetry and music night, called Until the Light Goes Out and has just launched his first anthology.

Jonathan Young, a young up and coming poet from Finchley says, that his first poem, titled Brave Soldiers’ was inspired by a history teacher talking about WWI when he was 12. He realised that writing poetry gave him a voice and he soon decided that he wanted others to hear the passion that he was able to express through poetry.

Ursula Troche, writer, performer, poet, expresses issues about nature and art as well as society, identity and dreams. For the Poetry and Music Palooza will perform with James with his Magic Instrument.

Anna Meryt’s first poem, an anti-Vietnam War poem, was published in her convent school magazine, when she was a teenager. She taught Ancient Egyptian history for many years as well as working with victims of violence. Heart Broke and Dolly Mix are her two collections. A review (2014) of Heart Broke by Gold Dust literary magazine said ‘ … here we have a ‘girlfriend book, when there’s no shoulder to cry on, to inspire hope through identification.’ She organised this event last year for the FLF also.

Literary Walk

See where the great Finchley writers lived.

Meet at Finchley Central tube station. 
Friday 22nd May 3.00-5.00pm

Paul Baker, a qualified City of London guide, leads a special Finchley Lit Fest walk. Two miles from Finchley Central to East Finchley, Paul will take us past a number of Finchley's literary connections and give us plenty of information. 

An ancient road links two villages, Church End and East End, better known today as Finchley Central and East Finchley. Along the way, we'll see lands once owned by the Knights Templar, and a former Manor House which is haunted by a suspected lover of Anne Boleyn.

We'll see Finchley's connections to famous writers -- Charles Dickens, Sir Edmund Gosse, John Betjeman, Spike Milligan and Will Self, amongst others -- and painters -- William Hogarth, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Ford Madox Brown.

We'll also hear about the writings of Inky Stephens, and the close connection between his father and one of the greatest and most dearly loved of the Romantic poets.

No need to book - £6.00 pay on the day.

For information on Paul's other walks see here.

The Library Debate

Join us for this lively discussion: The Library Debate
Friern Barnet Community Library, Friern Barnet Road, N11 3DS
Thursday 21st May 7.30-9.00pm

The Library Debate: In the library that was rescued from closure and is now run by the community, join us for a lively panel discussion on the role of libraries. Libraries are under threat locally and across the UK. We discuss just what libraries are for and who they are for? Can we mange without them? We hear a lot about what councils want for libraries, but what do users want from libraries? No charge but donations to help fund the library appreciated.

Introduction: 
Rosie Canning is a PhD scholar, writer and librarian. She is co-founder of Greenacre Writers and the Finchley Literary Festival. After the closure of Friern Barnet Library in April 2012, Rosie started the re-open Friern Barnet Library petition.

Chair:
Keith Martin is a Chartered Accountant. He worked in Europe and London, for printers, publishers and the trade union NALGO. He suffered a heart attack at a table tennis match in 2004, since when every day has been an unexpected bonus. In 2011 he founded Chaville Press, which has published ten books, all by local authors and artists including Keith’s book Friern Barnet – the library that refused to close. Keith is a member of N12 Artists and Finchley Art Society, and has exhibited at artsdepot, The Hasler Gallery and The Bohemia.

Panellists:

Laura Swaffield is Chair of The Library Campaign, chair of Friends of Lambeth Libraries and of the national charity The Library Campaign. A lifelong library nut, she found herself by chance working as a journalist for a library magazine, then got dragged into a campaign against library closures in Lambeth, and finally into the national scene. She is now fighting crazy plans in Lambeth all over again. She resents every moment she has to spend trying to preserve this essential public service.

Barbara Jacobson is in retirement after more than 40 years in the publishing industry. She has been an active member of Barnet Alliance for Public Services (BAPS) and Save Barnet Libraries. From the outset, Barbara supported Friern Barnet Library against the council's planned closure, has attended many of the consultations, focus groups and events organised by the council in its effort to destroy our library system, and she also writes a blog for BAPS.

Polly Napper of East Finchley Library Users Group grew up in the North of England. She studied Music at Manchester University and then moved to London. For the past twenty years she’s worked in book production for a large London publisher. In 2003 along with other residents she persuaded the DCMS to give East Finchley Library a Grade II listing. She is a founder member of the East Finchley Library Users Group which has been campaigning since 2004 against repeated reductions to the libraries budget by Barnet Council.

Alasdair Hill of Mill Hill Residents Association is a biology teacher at a state school in Haringey. He lives in Mill Hill with his two year old daughter and recently came to prominence locally leading an online petition calling for Barnet Council to scrap their library cuts proposals which reached over 9,000 signatures. Standing for the Liberal Democrats in Hendon for this year's General Election, Alasdair's political ambition is to provide a world beating education system both in the school and continuing into the community.

Adam Tipple is a former union convenor for Barnet Libraries who became a professional librarian to help people but became frustrated apologising for why they couldn’t. After twenty five years of working in libraries and community projects (mostly in Barnet), Adam is now much happier working elsewhere and supporting the campaign to save Barnet Libraries from outside, where he can’t get threatened with the sack for saying a word out of place.