The Kilburn Times reports that Cllr Paul Lorber's organisation "Friends of Barham Park Library" is offering books for 50p as part of an effort aimed at "slashing the cost of reading". There are several odd features about this story.
Firstly, I understood that Cllr Lorber had solicited book donations as part of what he regards as a library service. Those of his doners used to municipal library services may well have assumed that a library service was one that lent books for free. Giving you a book in return for a "donation" sounds more like selling books along the lines of a second hand bookshop. I like second hand bookshops but they are a different thing to libraries.
Secondly, this is all supposed to raise funds to hire part of the Barham Park buildings. These buildings have been through a tendering process, and the Council (as Trustee) has decided to rent them out to an Arts organisation for a period of 15 years. If they are being used for that purpose, I don't see that as being easily compatible with Cllr Lorber's organisation moving in.
Thirdly, the justification that Cllr Lorber has generally advanced for retaining a library at Barham Park is that Barham Park is too far away from the alternatives for people to travel to alternatives. His organisation is based at a shop in Wembley High Road. It seems to me to be slightly further away from the site of the former Barham library than the Brent operated Ealing Road library.
Finally, although this is touted as a time limited scheme, Cllr Lorber is quoted as saying he is "slashing" the cost of reading. That implies is used to be much higher, which makes me wonder whether he was lending books for free previously.
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