Following a statement on the Salford Conservative Party's election leaflet delivered to voters in Boothstown and Ellenbrook, the Trustees of the Working Class Movement Library (WCML) have written to the Electoral Commission to protest.
The leaflet stated that the Library "represents Labour waste at your expense" and that it has "been receiving tens of thousands of pounds of your money over the last few years and yet you cannot walk in and read any material". This was branded `untrue' by the Trustees of the WCML.
While acknowledging that the Library does receive a dwindling grant from Salford City Council to `recognise the great importance of its world-renowned collections and the work it does with the people of Salford', the Trustees say that `the Library opens its doors to any member of the public on a daily basis between Tuesday and Friday. All are welcome, entirely free of charge, to read any of the quite extraordinary range of material that make up the collection'.
The Tory leaflet, says Maggie Cohen, Chair of Trustees, "is not merely untrue, but actively detrimental to the huge efforts constantly being made by Library volunteers and staff to encourage local people to come and share the Library's fantastic resources.
"Everyone is welcome to the free talks, film shows, exhibitions and tours held here" she explains "Just next week we have three free film screenings plus Salford's only contribution to the national Museums at Night celebration, and we are looking forward to taking part in the Spirit of Salford Festival later this month with the Salford launch of a new biography of Shelagh Delaney.
"A recent Lottery-funded oral history project involved us working with students from Buile Hill Visual Arts College, and we were delighted when they won the Best Schools Histories award at the recent Manchester Histories Festival for their part in our project" she adds "We would like to assure everyone that they will receive a warm welcome if they pop in to visit this Salford jewel".
Having received a letter from Royston Futter, Secretary to the Trustees of the Library, pointing out the inaccuracies and stating that the issue will be taken up with the Electoral Commission and the Council's Democratic Services, Councillor Karen Garrido, Leader of the Salford Conservatives, replied, refusing to apologise, calling the Library an "elitist institution"…
"As for access to the Library, your own website advertises, for example, that the reading room is open `by appointment', the Library `is closed access' and `it is not possible for readers to browse the shelves themselves'" she explained "Furthermore, the website states that those wishing to attend should `give an initial list [of materials] to the staff when you book an appointment'. No doubt you will take steps to amend your own information if it gives a misleading impression…I do not accept that the leaflet is inaccurate and therefore there will be no need to issue any correction."
This week, the Working Class Movement Library has three mining themed films showing, with free entrance, as part of its Last Cage Down film festival…
Monday 12th May 7pm: The Road To Drumleman – the story of the Argyll Colliery, Scotland's most remote coal mine that shut in 1967.
Tuesday 13th May 7pm: The Last Strike – dubbed the `best film made about the Miners Strike of 1984, this film focuses on St Helens and the key role played by women during the battle with Thatcher's Government. The film is followed by a talk from NUM activist Dave Douglass
Wednesday 14th May 7pm: The Last Pit In The Valley – made by the Irwell Valley Mining Project, this film documents lost Salford pits and the working conditions endured by the city's miners. It's accompanied by Pride In The Pits, a tribute to the men and women who worked in the North Staffordshire coalfield.
On Friday 15th May, between 5pm and 8pm, there's also a free concert by Tayo Aluko, interpreter of Paul Robeson songs and life, and historic ballad singer, Jennifer Reid. The event is called Testing the Echo – Is That Paul Robeson Singing on the Stairs?, and is part of the Museums at Night project happening across Salford and Manchester.
This week's events are just part of a whole season of activities at the Working Class Movement Library. For more details see www.wcml.org.uk
The Library is situated at 51 The Crescent, Salford M5 4WX
Follow on Twitter @wcmlibrary
Or Facebook.com/wcmlibrary
* Main photo shows Maxine Peake at the Library, taken for the Salford Star's first printed issue by Steven Speed
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