Statement

Autonomous members of the SOAS body have come together to self-deliver a 24 hour library services as a space for learning, organising and resistance against the proposed cuts to the library and other services as part of the One Professional Services (OPS) restructure.

Those who are in the library intend to be here past 11.30 to work, study and organise. We will be respectful of the library and ensure that its rules are upheld and that normal services resume in the morning.

We have been forced to take this action due to the continued lack of engagement from SOAS management. Management use students as an excuse to push through the cuts, repeatedly telling staff that this is what students want. THIS IS A LIE! We have not been asked about the changes, we have not been asked if we want longer library hours at the risk of cutting staff meaning that it will take longer for the books to be reshelved and less specialist support, we have not been asked if we want specialist modules to be cut from our courses or if we want reduced student services at the departmental level.

We do not feel that the changes proposed by the OPS will have a positive impact on those who deliver and use the services. In addition to the cuts to the library a number of other key services will be extensively cut. A reduction in student facing staff in a number of departments, IT services, student recruitment and staff at various centres - amongst others- will mean that instead of strengthening areas of the School that are already understaffed waiting time for responses will only increase.

Throughout this process those directly effected by the proposed cuts have voiced their concerns at the lack of a clear plan on the part of SOAS management as to how current levels of services will be delivered. It has been repeatedly pointed out that the number of senior managers has seen an increase even when members of staff who actually do the day-day activities that keep this institution running face the axe. If saving money is the key reason then a reduction in the highest paid staff should come first.

The School has repeated their claims that there will be no redundancies but colleagues whose positions are under threat are yet to receive any assurances as to what their new roles will entail. People continue to face months of uncertainty and have been disappointed by management throughout this process, their Power Point presentation fails to answer any of the questions that students and staff have.

Simply put, we do not trust that the same people who have manufactured this 'crisis' are in any position to lead us out of it. The financial crisis facing the School is real due to management repeatedly taking the wrong decisions over the past 5 years.

We invite students, staff and members of the SOAS community to use the library past 11.30 to create a 24 hour library and join the series of events and activities being planned!