“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home” wrote Anna Quindlen in her book ‘How Reading Changed My Life’.
Indeed Quindlen is right as many people do consider books and the place where all of the books are kept as their home. When some people went on to occupy a library after they heard of the proposed closure of the library in April 2012 in Barnet, London. To prevent its closure and sale the people knew they have to take action to prevent this from happening.
With their love of books they started a huge campaign and like a revolutionary act, they won their case at the beginning of February, this year.
Barnet Council handed back the keys to the trustees of local residents who will look after the ‘Friern Barnet Community Library’.
“We are delighted that the Council have seen sense and allowed the library to stay open as a community-run library,” said Ugo Hayter who worked on the campaign to save the library.
The local community was not willing to let their Library be taken away from them which in turn forced the Conservatives running Barnet Council into an embarrassing U-turn.
Now the library can remain open to the public on a permanent basis thanks to the residents who facilitated the opening of the People’s library.
Anything is possible to achieve and if it comes to protect the place where books are home for many people, residents of Barnet in North London should be taken as a good example.
And it is good to be reminded always of what Hanry Ward Beecher said, “A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.”
Copyright Semra Eren Nijhar – All rights reserved
Semra Eren-Nijhar 
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