Sign The Petition

Save the Library: Sign the Petition here

Late in 2010, the British Film Institute’s (BFI) senior management proposed splitting the BFI’s collection of printed works (books, journals and the like) and establishing “digital delivery” to users at the BFI site on the London Southbank with much of the collection physically to be held at the BFI’s Berkhamsted site – about 30 miles north of London and with more than a mile walk (no public transport) between the BFI site and the nearest railway station.

Despite the BFI management claiming that the Library is “core” to the BFI’s collections and that “Developing access to collections continues to be a key goal” the proposed move will worsen access – particularly for those living outside London. Library users value both the integration of the collection and its location. In 2002, the BFI commissioned a consultants’ report which found users valued “ease of access” more than anything else; more than 70% of users said a central London location was very important – and a further 21% said it was quite important. Three quarters of respondents said they would be unlikely to travel to Berkhamsted to use the collections if they were moved there.

Splitting the BFI Library and moving much of it to Berkhamsted will drastically reduce the usefulness and usability of what’s generally agreed to be the world’s best collection of printed materials on the moving image. The BFI management’s plans will drastically damage its usefulness and effectiveness as an instrument through which the BFI has been able to discharge successfully key parts of its mission. If the BFI cannot maintain the integrity and accessibility of its collection of printed materials it must find another agency which can.

Please therefore sign the petition and encourage other past, present and future users of the BFI Library to do so.

Details of developments are usually to be found on the bfiwatch blog at http://bfiwatch.wordpress.com/