The Occupation of Friern Barnet Library.
Imagine a library. You’ll probably think of books, that’s a given. You may also
think of silence, people sat around you, ingesting literature, news, self-help
guides and sports magazines. At the desk, a middle-aged woman types with
concentration on an antiquated computer running Windows 98. This is a general
picture of the libraries in London, and while not all necessarily subscribe
religiously to this image, there is one library that has entirely radicalized the
whole concept of what a library can be. That library is in Friern Barnet, an out of
the way suburb in London and it has recently been under the ownership of the
Friern Barnet library was closed down by the local Conservative council and
in reaction to this blatant disregard for the cultural wellbeing of the public,
the Occupy Movement moved into the library building and reopened it. It is no
coincidence that this happened to coincide with the outlawing of residential
squatting around the same time. This has pushed squatters to unorthodox places,
but it’s in these environments that democracy and culture thrive. A large flag
hangs on the face of the building, ‘The People’s Library,’ it sings, and the people
inside they sing as well. We were privileged enough to spend two days with them
as the court date that decided whether or not they end up being evicted rapidly
During the two days, we saw speakers, live bands, politicians, filmmakers,
poets, observers all interacting in the same space. A library built entirely by the
community and completely community run. The Occupy Movement reopened
the library, but the residents of Barnet took it upon themselves to fill it with
the materials necessary to re-establish it as a center of learning. Thousands of
books have been donated and they cover the walls on all sides. The library is
kept open through a trust system with people booking themselves in to watch
over proceedings. This is never empty because a library, it seems, is something
that many local people are eager to support and maintain. This is a place for the
public to meet and discuss local issues and then interact with the individuals that
they share their community with.
The first evening we visited, the library played host to a discussion led by Green
Party leader Natalie Bennett, whose ideas for the future interested many of
those present. Even those who disagreed were given the platform to air their
grievances, a testament to the library’s apparent commitment to the open
forum. There are very few places left in our society that allow people to openly
discuss their thoughts. Democracy is founded upon free speech, and the council’s
ongoing activities to close down the library seem to be in direct opposition to
the will of the people. The only reason councils exist is because the public elects
them, and so therefore they should be receptive and open to the publics wishes.
What we are seeing in Friern Barnet right now is a council completely deaf to
the shouts and cries of those who shouldn’t even have to whisper to be heard.
Steps towards the eradication of public discussion, community driven action
and public services in general can only be seen as a step towards totalitarianism,
where the only people with a say in the outcome of any political or social
situation are the ones in charge.
The activist Roger Tichborne led Friday’s gathering, beginning with a showing
of his film ‘The Billion Pound Gamble.’ Director Charles Honderick was also
in attendance, and together the two created a film that introduces a personal
element to this reality of cuts to public services. Honderick informed us that ‘…it
is very easy in difficult times like this simply to focus upon facts and figures. People
often forget that behind these statistics are real people. The Billion Pound Gamble
is a film about real people, people who are struggling to make ends meet as the
council tears apart social welfare at a time when people need it the most.’ The film
is hard-hitting, and showcases the plight of the unfortunate individuals who have
had to deal with the council incompetence. I hope it is becoming clear to you
that very important ideals and values have seemingly disappeared from Barnet
council’s agenda recently. Friern Barnet Library provides a platform for the
people to highlight these issues and these problems.
The individuals who tie themselves to the Occupy movement are all experienced
squatters and activists. What unites them all is a common interest in maintaining
the services upon which our civilized and intelligent culture has thrived. All
the politics aside, everyone who plays an active role in the libraries day-to-day
running is incredibly accommodating, down-to-earth and appreciative of the
smaller things in life that make the hardships bearable. As the evening drew
to a close, we sat together in a large drum circle, all-playing in time, musical
accompaniment provided only by a gentlemen on a violin. Something as simple
as hitting drums with a roomful of people showed us the beautiful things that can
be created if human beings are given a place in which they can work together. In
the age of the Internet, libraries as a source of knowledge and information can
seem somewhat dated to certain individuals. These individuals are forgetting
the wider services that a library provides. It is somewhere for elderly to retreat
to in the winter when it gets too cold. It is a place for people to recommend to
each other works that may truly inspire. Most importantly though, libraries are
the backbone of civilization. What would we know of our ancient history had the
Library of Alexandria not been so brutally destroyed? And while you may argue
that Friern Barnet Library is only a small library in a non-descript part of north-
west London and so therefore not important, you are forgetting that if we let
the council get away with this, they are far more likely to see other libraries as
targets in these tough economic times. We cannot allow this to happen.
What the outcome of Monday’s court hearing will be remains to be seen, but
regardless of Friern Barnet Library’s future, what has occurred there is nothing
short of astounding. It has shown that this country, and the communities within
it, still has a voice and a drive and a commitment to uphold the values upon
which we founded our society. If we are to continue to excel on the international
platform, we cannot for a moment entertain the idea that eradicating the
services that make innovation possible will benefit us in the long run. Friern
Barnet People’s library has revolutionized social possibility, namely the idea that
if a council is unwilling to provide essential services to its people, then its people
will have to take on the task themselves. And the good news is that many people
appear willing to do so. Let’s just hope this is not the last we hear of community
Words- Alexander Sarychkin
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