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To: |
gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc |
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From: |
"Heather
Steed" <haddocks.eye@virgin.net> |
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Subject: |
Fwd: FATE OF
1ST CARNEGIE LIBRARY: A LETTER OF SUPPORT |
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Date: |
Wed, 19 Dec
2007 16:48:42 +0000 |
Subject: Re: FATE OF 1ST
CARNEGIE LIBRARY: A LETTER OF SUPPORT
To whom it may concern,
I would like to express my deep concern at the
prospect of this important Carnegie Library falling into disuse. I
understand that the repairs needed to make the building safe have been
completed, and that the library could in fact re-open.
The reason given for closure is the need for a
provision of cultural facilities in a nearby area described as a 'real estate
speculation'. The word speculation implies that a certain amount of
individual profit underlies this housing project, as opposed to government
funded housing. As such, the burden of cultural provision, or lack of it,
is the responsibility of the investors who could have built the cost of shared
cultural facilities into their original plans. The
under-performance of a real estate project, which the councilor believes would
be improved by the re-location of the library, seems like a problem that can be
corrected without necessitating the closure of such an historic public
building. As the first library of its kind, the Allegheny Regional
Branch is an important part of
The fact that this particular branch has such
a special historical significance should be considered when deciding whether or
not to close it, and I would strongly suggest that the provision of other
cultural facilities could promote local regeneration to an equally good
effect.
The provision that Andrew Carnegie made for
people in both America and the U.K via his system of public buildings has
allowed generations of working people and newly arrived immigrants access to
culture and education, thus improving their chances of employment and enriching
their standards of living. In both our countries equality of opportunity
and a drive for self-empowerment is an ideal that we all strive
for. This is why this particular branch deserves to be celebrated,
remaining open to serve the public as Carnegie intended.
The quality of workmanship in the fabric and
design of the Carnegie buildings makes them great places for the public to
share and work in. As a member of Lewisham Art House, an arts
organisation housed in a Carnegie building in
Heather Steed.