SANDWICH LIBRARY GUILD

what it is; what it does

The Guild originated as a protest movement in early 1997, and was a spontaneous reaction to the Kent County Council's decision to reduce library opening hours. It was originally known as the Sandwich Library Action Group, whose acronym SLAG had the advantage of catching attention and promising a certain robustness, but did cause some members a little uneasiness. When the Group achieved its first objective, protest was no longer the theme and the Group changed to its present name.

Sandwich was one of the first, and if not the first, of Kentish library action groups and, thanks to the support these groups received and the good fortune of elections occurring at precisely the right time, politicians were eager to promise restitution of the library cuts. So by the end of 1997 not only were the hours restored but some additional hours added.

In the difficult months before this came to pass, at a time when there were signs that the authorities were thinking of closing Sandwich Library entirely, SLAG members demonstrated and discussed in Maidstone and, equally to the point, engaged in all kinds of money-raising activities with the limited goal of at least raising enough money to allow Sandwich Library to remain open on Saturdays. With support from local businesses and numerous individuals and, eventually, the Town Council, this was achieved. Sandwich Library did stay open on Saturdays, for the benefit especially of those for whom Saturday was the only possible day they could visit.

When the County Council restored the old opening hours the Guild had considerable funds in hand and sought ways of using them for the benefit of library-users. The Guild's first major contribution was a computer, and other purchases are under consideration.

Meanwhile, some members of the Guild felt that it should not exist merely as a benefactor and pressure group, but could provide Sandwich with an informal literary and discussion group. Several meetings have already been held. These included a talk by Kent's Director of Library Services, and discussions led by local residents with interesting experiences to share. Peter Middleton OBE, who had previously been professionally concerned with engineering safety during the construction of the Channel Tunnel, gave an illustrated talk which provided insights that would have been hard to find elsewhere. The award-winning novelist Jane Gardam read from some of her works at another meeting, the historian John Westwood was interviewed, and at the recent general meeting two very useful presentations were made about computers and information technology.

With the standing that its membership gives it, the Guild is usually able to acquire advance knowledge of decisions concerning the Library and, sometimes, to influence such decisions. Its members' views are frequently passed on to those who would benefit from them. It is aware that the professional staff of the county library service do have their own problems, and tries to balance the wishes of the users with the potentialities of the providers.

Secretary: Georgina Maddox, 84 Strand Street, Sandwich CT13 9HX
tel: 01304 613164