Forum Topic

Shepherd's Bush Library

I can't help thinking it's a shame that the new library is being built at the foot of that colossus Westfield.  It seems that as it was a bung from Westfield (£1m, I believe), it's obvious who the decision makers were, and local residents have to lose a library that has its own identity within the community.  The saying "state of the art" is a tired old chestnut, used mostly by council officials (and the like) who wouldn't recognise SOTA if it fell on their heads, but is used as an excuse to destroy something perfectly functional and beloved in a community.I'm sure, with imagination and clever innovation, the old library's interior space could have been modernised.  Afterall, much of the space has been out of use for several years now, which has ludicrous.What are your views, dear readers?

Terry Abrahams ● 5780d8 Comments

I see the signpost from the south terrace of Westfield says Wood Lane Library. It isn't clear whether the sign post is to both Wood Lane and to the Library, which obviously it is, or whether this is an indicator that the library will be known as the Wood Lane Library rather than the Passmore Edwards Library. I strongly suspect that name will be dropped. But if the library is called the Wood Lane Library rather than the Shepherds Bush Library, ignoramuses (south of the border down Fulham way) may think it is just another branch library rather than one of the three flagship main libraries of the borough. The effect of that perception on the book-buying md staffing budgets can be imagined. There was a debate 20 years ago when the Libraries cam under the Leisure and Recreation Committee as to whether there should continue to be a Borough Head Librarian, i.e. a senior professional with overall professional responsibility (some though not all the staff in the libraries have professional librarianship qualifications; some very evidently do not). I think the argument was lost then and it may now be an explanation why, in my humble opinion, the libraries do not have a voice and are not what they were 20 years ago. Mind you, television etc plays its part, as does the desertion of the middle classes from using libraries which provided a bedrock, despite all the inherent faults, of a customer base for the libraries. Also important has been the decline of adult education or its switch to a more vocational nature.

Dan Filson ● 5774d

In answer to Sara, it is not particularly inaccessible internally and its location is very good, preferable to the Wood Lane site.I do think however the site is underused at the rear with wasted airspace above the ground floor.I fear for libraries in the future. The accessibility of web info means that many people no longer use written text for research, and the non-fiction reference and non-reference written text stocks are slowly run down. Only fiction seems to survive, as there is no satisfactory electronic substitute. At one stage there was a London-wide system whereby different (main) libraries specialised in certain particular areas so that across London you could access particular books that an average library would not stock. For reasons known only to God, Shepherds bush got the short straw of religious books, which may explain why its other stocks were not so impressive. That period is now over and the stock is OK-ish. though Hammersmith Library on Shepherds Bush Road is arguably better (certainly it has a much better reference section - that's where I did my A-level homework 43 years ago - the room hasn't changed at all).LBH&F is singularly blessed with a good range of main and branch libraries, a legacy of the Passmore Edwards legacies, the 20th century desire for self-improvement, and the 1971-1978 council which invested heavily and imaginatively in building up arts, libraries, parks and leisure and recreation. The number of branch libraries has been a little reduced - the Wormholt library once visible from Westway has gone - but the range is still good, an the opening hours are if anything better than they were in the 1980s when there were a lot of irritating periods of closure due to inadequate staffing levels. However the competing demands of providing 12" records, VHS cassettes, DVDs etc in addition to books often ate into the purchasing budgets and on top of this was the need to maintain a stock across the reading ability range which, in my view, dumbed down the lending stock to the point where I ceased to borrow. Maybe I'm s book snob, but I think libraries should stock good books and get readers to reach upwards rather than pap and get readers to just feel comfortable.

Dan Filson ● 5777d

I posted a thread on 14th October last year when I found out the old library was being closed.  And I still stand by my comment that anything that seems to have any history attached to it gets sold or demolished.

Carol Burge ● 5778d

"The saying "state of the art" is a tired old chestnut, ... used as an excuse to destroy something perfectly functional and beloved in a community."But is that actually true in this case?  We had a similar situation in Chiswick where a Victorian library had become quite unsuitable for what we expect of a library these days, in terms of size, accessibility, adequate floor loadings, etc. There is also a 1930s extension which only partly compensates for the inadequacies of the original building.  There was a scheme which would have produced a modern library, but it was scuppered largely by people who had an emotional attachment to the historic but disfunctional building.  I envy Shepherd's Bush if they have found a solution.

Richard Jennings ● 5779d

I lived in the Bush for a couple of years (Abdale Road) - but it was ages ago - worked there for years and still do now and again plus I cycle that way a lot. So I may be unobservant, but I do have some connection with the patch. I know where you mean now and it's a rather imposing, dark red brick building just off the green. It would seema shame to stop using it as a library if it is not being converted to other community purposes. Is it inaccessible?

Sara Nathan ● 5779d

Sara, this is another Passmore Edwards library similar to that in Acton. As with the Acton one, the inside could be improved and there is a lot of potential to build upwards at the rear and incorporate any necessary lifts etc without taking light from the housing to the south or on the other side of Pennard Road. The location a few steps from the Market, on many bus routes (207, 607, 283, 260) and close to others (272, 220, 72, etc) and opposite the Shepherd's Bush Market tube station is highly convenient for all but car owners.The Westfield site close to Debenhams on Wood Lane is in my view less accessible and much more anonymous than the present library. Frankly I think it is a terrible shame. The Section 106 agreement on Westfield should have had a different issue at its heart.What I would dearly like to learn w.r.t. both libraries would be whether there were restrictive covenants on the use of the respective sites, limiting them to library use. If Passmore Edwards donated the land, there well might be, which could result in egg on face of the Council in a similar way to St.George's Hospital closure at Hyde Park Corner which reverted to the Duke of Westminster from the NHS when the latter closed it hoping for whopping sale proceeds.If he only donated cash, and did so without strings, the Council will probably get away with it all. Are there any council officials or others with legal training who could inspect the Land Registry and the title deeds to check, or local historians to check what exactly Passmore Edwards donated?Passmore Edwards was an amzing benefactor, given the value of money at the time, and should be given a commemoration of some sort when the two libraries disappear as I suspect they will, as I strongly suspect the respective Councils will not carry over the names (indeed the name is already disconnected from each library, if it ever was connected).

Dan Filson ● 5780d

I presume you're not from The Bush?  The 'old' library is on the Uxbridge Road, next to the market (you do know where that is?). As for mixing culture and retail... What about diversity and character?  The new library looks like an extension of Westfield - bland and anonymous as a separate entity.

Terry Abrahams ● 5780d

Where was the old one? I think it's quite a good idea to integrate retail and culture as much as possible - so there is greater crossover. Was the previous one of serious architectural merit and value?

Sara Nathan ● 5780d