Inner Temple and Middle Temple Library – an update.

Inner Temple has issued a statement this morning.  The text of the statement is below:

Feasibility Study

The Executive Committees of Inner Temple and Middle Temple have agreed to commission a feasibility study to investigate the potential benefits of merging their Libraries and creating a Joint Education and Advocacy Centre. The study will be overseen by a working group chaired jointly by Master Jonathan Hirst for Inner Temple and Master Stanley Burnton, Deputy Treasurer, for Middle Temple.

The results of the study are likely to be available in the late summer and no decisions are anticipated until much later in the year, after full consultation with staff and consideration by the relevant Inn Committees, Bench Table and Parliament.

In particular, no assumption has been made as to which Inn would house the Library and which the Education Centre, should the project proceed.

Vivian Robinson QC
Treasurer

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Inevitably, given that the Inn has just announced the existence of the feasibility study – belatedly, given the fact that it was on the Middle Temple Library Facebook site  last week –  there is little information in this official notification.  It is an important decision for both Inn libraries and the members. I wrote about this matter last Tuesday.

I have heard some negative comment from members over the weekend and some intending bar students are considering whether they would be better served joining Gray’s or Lincoln’s as a direct result of the ‘possibility’ that the libraries of Inner and Middle ‘may’ be merged at some future date.

If you are a member, or intending member, you know where to write to: Vivian Robinson QC, Treasurer, Inner Temple. or the Treasurer of Middle Temple Sir George Newman

It may be that University and other libraries and organisations, which have an interest in the maintenance of valuable collections and expertise, wish to express their thoughts.  I would have thought a wide consultation would be of benefit to the Inn Committees, Bench Table and Parliament.