British Library Readers Group

Quite a number of readers have written to say that 'yes' we should be campaigning against the sale of the land behind the British Library. We are now trying to determine exactly what is happening with the sale. Who owns the land? If the land is sold who will benefit from the proceeds - the British Library or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport? What is the BL management's position on the sale?

Today I contacted Phil Spence, the BL's Director of Operations and Services who said that the sale isn't something for readers to worry about. There are three parcels of land behind the BL and the two for sale are owned by the DCMS. Mr Spence said that the sale is contingent upon a land swap whereby the BL swaps part of the land it owns (that is unsuitable for a BL extension) for part of the DCMS land (that is suitable for an extension). Apparently there are already plans afoot for this future extension but the person who knows about this is on holiday and not back until next week.

The only public information available on the land sale is to be found on this website:
http://www.somerstownatstpancras.com/index2.html

If you download the brochure the details of the land swap are found on page 9.

The BL management has offered to let a couple of readers attend the strategic planning committee which is presumable where such plans are discussed, so if anyone is particularly interested in this issue please contact us. In the meantime, could readers have a look at the documents to see if, indeed, there is nothing for us to worry about.