A petition to save the Women’s Library has attracted 6,000 signatures protesting against plans to slash opening hours and run it as a “skeleton service”.
London Metropolitan University announced earlier this year that the library must find a new home by December or have its opening hours cut from five to one day a week for three years, with a review at the end of that period.
The university wants to save £1m a year across its special collections, which also include the Trades Union Congress Library.
University vice-chancellor Malcolm Gillies said although the libraries’ collections were of national significance, much of their usage was from outside the university.
He added: “The university will zealously seek a new home, owner or sponsor of the collection.”
Meanwhile, fundraising for the Women’s Library will be transferred to a central fundraising department at the university.
Following the announcement, the London Metropolitan University’s branch of Unison launched a campaign, including a blog where people can leave messages of support, a Twitter account (@SaveTWL) and a Facebook group.
In a statement, the union said: “These special collections truly emphasised the now seemingly lost intention of London Metropolitan University’s original aims to widen participation and to promote social justice by offering our students these truly unique resources.”
The Women’s Library was established in 1926 and has more than 60,000 books and pamphlets.
London Metropolitan University announced earlier this year that the library must find a new home by December or have its opening hours cut from five to one day a week for three years, with a review at the end of that period.
The university wants to save £1m a year across its special collections, which also include the Trades Union Congress Library.
University vice-chancellor Malcolm Gillies said although the libraries’ collections were of national significance, much of their usage was from outside the university.
He added: “The university will zealously seek a new home, owner or sponsor of the collection.”
Meanwhile, fundraising for the Women’s Library will be transferred to a central fundraising department at the university.
Following the announcement, the London Metropolitan University’s branch of Unison launched a campaign, including a blog where people can leave messages of support, a Twitter account (@SaveTWL) and a Facebook group.
In a statement, the union said: “These special collections truly emphasised the now seemingly lost intention of London Metropolitan University’s original aims to widen participation and to promote social justice by offering our students these truly unique resources.”
The Women’s Library was established in 1926 and has more than 60,000 books and pamphlets.
