Dear Professor Gillies
I wish to express my deep concern about the decision to divest custodianship of The Women's Library.
There should be no reason to have to remind you what a tremendously
important centre for research and community activism this Library is,
with the largest collection of materials relating to women and the
women's movement in Britain including UNESCO recognised documents on
women's struggle for the right to vote.
It shocks me that the University would even contemplate the possibility
of reducing openings hours to one day a week, should the Library fail to
find a new home. Not only would this undo all the work of the last ten
years in opening up access and widening community-use of the Library, it
would also have a disastrous effect on future research and the
disciplines of women's history and gender studies.
It is also very worrying that a widening-participation University such
as London Met should not value the vibrant research culture that The
Women's Library provides. Surely London Met students deserve access to
this aspect of knowledge and learning as much as students at 'elite'
institutions.
I ask that London Met seriously consider its responsibility as custodian
of world-class collections.
Not only must these collections remain
together, but the Library must also retain its own building to ensure
the continued visibility of women's history and heritage. Also crucial
is the expertise of hard-working and longstanding staff with an
extensive knowledge of the collections.
I have been pleased to see the coverage in The Guardian, Diva Magazine,
History Workshop Journal, Private Eye, and the Museums Journal, as well
as on the websites of numerous women's organisations and archives. Also
to note that over 6,000 people have signed the petition against the
proposed sell-off.
A number of commentators have suggested that, given
the financial difficulties make it impossible for you to provide the
necessary protection of The Women's Library collections, then the
Ministers of Culture and Education need to step in to ensure that the
Library is adequately provided for.
I would be very interested to hear your views on the number of points
raised in this letter.
Yours sincerely
Alice Griffin and Josephine Grahl
Unison Senate House Branch
