Women's Library - Closure Threat

Closure Threat

In Spring 2012, The Women's Library faced closure and transfer of its collections, or being reduced to operating a skeleton service. London Metropolitan University had decided to attempt to find a new home, owner or sponsor for the Library's holdings, threatening to reduce services to one day per week if such a sponsor could not be found. They argued that too much of the Library's usage comes from outside of the university, and looked to convert the building in order to house a lecture theatre. A Save The Women's Library Campaign was set up by the London Met branch of UNISON. It aimed to keep The Women's Library's collections intact, retain the expertise of its staff, and remain in its dedicated building. A petition opposing the curtailment or closure of the Library ultimately attracted more than 12,000 signatures. It called The Women's Library "one of the most magnificent specialist libraries in the world" and a "national asset".