If you take the creation of the Friends of Stony Stratford Library (FOSSL) in response to an attempt some years ago to close the upper floor of Stony Library as the Pilot episode, then the reprieve granted at last night’s Milton Keynes Council budget setting meeting, at which another year’s funding to keep both Stony and Woburn Sands Libraries open while a full and proper value for money (VfM) review takes place was agreed – the amendment carried in the early hours of Wednesday morning by 50 votes to less than a handful apparently - makes for a fitting climax of the First Series. Needless to say, pre-production plans for the Second Series are already in hand.
Photo from © Karen Parker Photography - more in her Flickr photostream
FOSSL did a tremendous job setting up and then following up on the initial (global!) impact of the ‘Wot no books?’ campaign. People Power indeed. And I guess, says this lifelong socialist democrat, one has to acknowledge the eloquence of certain Tory councillors, pitching in at just the right time too. The Save Stony Stratford Library Facebook telling the tale now needs a new name.
- As well as Karen’s Flickr photostream it’s worth having a look at her own website for some brilliant prizewinning animal photos.
- Previous postings here on Lillabullero can be found by clicking on the ‘Saving Stony Stratford Library’ tag in the column on the right.
As it happens I wasn’t at the Council meeting. Blame Matthew Bourne and his company’s production of ‘Cinderella‘, tickets bought months ago, but another day for that methinks. I’m slowly working my way through ‘The book of lost books‘ but I’ve only just got out of the Romans so, given I’ve hardly read a lot of the found ones so far, it’s all a bit lost on me.
FOSSL main man Peter Waterman (another from Karen ©)
Anyway, it’s not often one has cause to sup a glass of champagne at lunchtime, and I was there.
