News
8th Oct 2012
The Women’s Library is Saved
Rejoice, The Women’s Library is saved!
After several months of threatened closure over funding issues, custodianship of ‘Europes oldest and most extensive collection of women’s history’ has been granted to LSE (the London School of Economics and Political Science). Unfortunately the collection and all the specialist staff will be moved from its ten year old purpose built home in Aldgate, east London, which was retained the original facade of a washhouse and includes a gallery space, library and cafe.
Whilst LSE are said to be keen to integrate the collection with some of their own related artefacts representatives of London Met Union (the current home of the library) are keen to keep the collection and staff in the building.
If you want to take a peak at some treasures from their archives before the move there’s an exhibitition titled ‘The Long March to Equality’ which opens on October 17th which charts some of the most significant moment’s in a century of campaigning for women’s rights in Britain.
Have you been to The Women’s Library? Which has been your favourite exhibition?
Photo from The Women’s Library collection
This is hardly the complete story. The building, which was created with £4million of Lottery money, not London Met’s money, will be lost. LSE are only taking the books not the papers, and they will only be available to view by appointment. No destination yet for the residue. These treasures were given in good faith to the library and it would have been understood that it would have been kept safe. Shame on London Met for not acting as true custodians of an unique _collection_, not just a few valuable books – this is a short-term solution of the worst type. It must be possible to reduce what’s on offer there for the time being, until decent funding can be sought to return it to full-time.