Lord Bracknell
On fire
There are a lot of NSC Users who revel in showing off our knowledge of Brighton and Hove. Much of it comes from reading The History Man's Encyclopaedia of Brighton, which was mainly researched using the resources of the local library - resources that are brought together in the Brighton History Centre. The City Council is now contemplating closing the Brighton History Centre.
This mustn't be allowed to happen. There is a petition to sign here ...
ePetition - Brighton History Centre - Brighton Hove City Council
The History Man put his case recently in the Argus. Let's back him!
Keep our History Centre open From The Argus)
I am one of those who would be devastated if the Brighton History Centre were to close (The Argus, December 15).
I spent a decade in its forerunner, the old reference library, researching material for The Encyclopaedia Of Brighton and two football books, Seagulls! and Albion A-Z. I had good access to a wealth of documents, books and newspapers and the assistance of specialist staff.
Since the advent of the History Centre, those resources have improved further.
Now it is proposed to axe those staff posts. Much material will, no doubt, be put into remote storage and we will see a dramatic decline. Under those conditions the books mentioned above simply would not have been written.
If much of the material would be better off at the proposed record office at Falmer then at least wait until that building opens, otherwise those researchers who do persevere will be left with third-class facilities akin to those library users endured at Vantage Point before the Jubilee Library opened.
I urge all those who value the Brighton History Centre to write to or email Councillor David Smith, the cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism.
Next May, the city libraries will be publishing The New Encyclopaedia Of Brighton. That would not be possible without my original work, which in turn would not have been possible without the facilities described above.
I would willingly donate my royalties from the sale of this new book to a fund to keep the Brighton History Centre open.
Will the council do the same with its surplus from the book to retain this much-valued resource?
Tim Carder
Surrenden Road, Brighton
This mustn't be allowed to happen. There is a petition to sign here ...
ePetition - Brighton History Centre - Brighton Hove City Council
Brighton History Centre
We the undersigned petition the council to recognise the importance of the Brighton History Centre to the city's cultural life and economy and to avoid at all costs the closure of the Centre. The excellent resources and expert staff should remain available in the current facilities to show that the city cares enough about its heritage to make a modest contribution towards facilitating such research.
The city prides itself on its heritage and exploits it. Heritage and cultural tourism is recognised as a key driver of the city’s economy. Such tourism exists and grows because researchers document and illuminate the heritage, using library resources. The city would be poorer in every sense if the Centre closes.
This ePetition runs from 23/12/2009 to 01/02/2010.
The History Man put his case recently in the Argus. Let's back him!
Keep our History Centre open From The Argus)
I am one of those who would be devastated if the Brighton History Centre were to close (The Argus, December 15).
I spent a decade in its forerunner, the old reference library, researching material for The Encyclopaedia Of Brighton and two football books, Seagulls! and Albion A-Z. I had good access to a wealth of documents, books and newspapers and the assistance of specialist staff.
Since the advent of the History Centre, those resources have improved further.
Now it is proposed to axe those staff posts. Much material will, no doubt, be put into remote storage and we will see a dramatic decline. Under those conditions the books mentioned above simply would not have been written.
If much of the material would be better off at the proposed record office at Falmer then at least wait until that building opens, otherwise those researchers who do persevere will be left with third-class facilities akin to those library users endured at Vantage Point before the Jubilee Library opened.
I urge all those who value the Brighton History Centre to write to or email Councillor David Smith, the cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism.
Next May, the city libraries will be publishing The New Encyclopaedia Of Brighton. That would not be possible without my original work, which in turn would not have been possible without the facilities described above.
I would willingly donate my royalties from the sale of this new book to a fund to keep the Brighton History Centre open.
Will the council do the same with its surplus from the book to retain this much-valued resource?
Tim Carder
Surrenden Road, Brighton