The chief executive of the St Bride Foundation is reassuring people that its library of historic print artefacts is not closing permanently, despite a cash crisis.
The world-renowned library on Fleet Street closed its doors in December and recently made two members of staff redundant, sparking rumours that the library and workshop space would close.
But foundation chief executive Glyn Farrow told Londonist that "nothing is closing for good".
Researchers who can pay to use the resources are still able to do so, and planned events will run as scheduled, providing they are not loss-making, he said.
None of the collection will be sold off or lost, as "we have a duty to look after it", explained Farrow. It will be looked after in its current home throughout the 'hiatus'.
One major challenge for the library is that it closed in December for redevelopment, but work on the building next door must be completed before this can begin — and that has been so delayed it hasn't even been started. This makes planning for the future tricky, explained Farrow.
He added that the Foundation was on good terms with the two members of staff who were made redundant, and planned to have them back in freelance positions where possible.
Farrow says it's not possible to predict when normal services will resume, but it "won't be years". The Foundation is currently in discussion with several potential funders, and is using this hiatus to look at long term funding plans and change the way the Foundation operates to secure its future.
Read more of Farrow's statement on recent developments here.
Last year we visited the St Bride Foundation for our podcast. Have a listen here.
