Save The Women's Library campaign

I have just picked up on a campaign to save The Women's Library at London Metropolitan University which is in danger of serious decline by the end of this year, following the university's decision to wash its hands of responsibility for the facility.

The following letter was posted on the Save the Women's Library blog at http://savethewomenslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/spread-word-about-save-womens-library.html

Dear Friend,

We are writing to ask for your help to save The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University.

In March the University's Board of Governors decided to divest its responsibilities for The Womens Library. If no new sponsor or home is found for the Library by December 2012, its collection will essentially be mothballed and services reduced to an unrecognisable level. It will open just one day a week, lose most of its staff, and its exhibitions, public and schools programmes will all come to an end.

The Women's Library is a unique and internationally renowned collection (Britain's largest resource on women) and holds UNESCO-recognized documents. It was just ten years ago that the Library finally acquired its own premises in an award winning building in London's East End. Great strides have been made in opening up access to this key part of our national heritage, through exhibitions, events, education programmes, and a Reading Room service free and open to all.

The Save The Women's Library Campaign formed in response to the threat of the Library's near closure and the possible dispersal of the collection. We recognise the worth of The Women's Library and want to ensure it continues to thrive. We want to save the Library as it exists today: to retain the integrity of its world-renowned collections; the expertise of its staff; and the building, which has become a vibrant hub for its users, supporters and friends.

We need your help. There are many ways in which you can show your support for The Women's Library: sign the online Save The Women's Library petition; write to Malcolm Gillies, Vice Chancellor of London Metropolitan University expressing your concern about the Library's future (you can find a model letter on our blog); send your testimonials and messages of support to the campaign website; and follow us on Twitter @savetwl .

We are confident that with your support we can ensure that The Women's Library not only survives but also thrives.

Many thanks

Save the Women's Library Campaign
http://savethewomenslibrary.blogspot.com

Please give consideration to supporting the campaign - the blog has various posts of support, well worth reading. Good luck to the campaign - and please spread the word!

(With thanks to Claire Norman @clairenor)

Chris

British GENES on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES and Twitter @chrismpaton

Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk and www.facebook.com/ScottishGenealogyResearch