A group say they feel “snubbed” after they were not invited to the official re-opening of a library they had campaigned for.

July 13 saw the formal re-opening of Marcus Garvey Library in Tottenham, but the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library say they were not invited or officially informed about the event. 

Their chairman, Jazmin Taylor, said she was only able to attend after finding out about the opening by accident, and said they regard it as a snub “not only to those members of the group, but also to the residents of Tottenham.”

In an email to Nick Walkley, chief executive of Haringey Council, she said: “As an organisation we have made the decision to develop a positive relationship with Haringey Council. It is therefore a great shame the Council does not reciprocate in respecting our group and our commitment to the library.

“Having an opening, specifically for the benefit of a small clique of council officers, a few invitees, and a school class who were obviously invited to lend some authenticity to the pictures being taken, is not what the hard-pressed residents of Tottenham expect, particularly as we pay amongst the highest rates of council tax for services in the country, and the library was supposed to be opening in February, not July.

“Failing to invite the local friends group was a serious oversight and reinforces the perception that the council does not take community engagement or partnerships with local people seriously. 

“In the event, myself and our organisation’s secretary did manage to attend as we found out by chance. Had we received an invite we would have had time to contact our members and other residents to let them know what was happening in their library.”

The Friends have been backed by Cllr Clive Carter, Liberal Democrat spokesman for libraries.

Cllr Carter said: “I was disappointed they were not invited, and I look forward to a full explanation. If there is not an apology, I believe they are owed one.

“I think it was a snub. The council say it was not deliberate, but don’t seem to interested in discovering why she was missed out. I think it was because they had what the council see as the temerity to question elements of their plans.”

Haringey Council cabinet member for culture and customer services Cllr Bernice Vanier said they contacted “tens of thousands” of people to invite them to the £3million library since June 28.

She said: “The event was an opportunity for 60 children from Welbourne Primary School and the Jamaican High Commissioner to see the library up close and get a guided tour of the new facilities including 22,000 new books, new computers and the dedicated Marcus Garvey collection.

"We were pleased to see members of The Friends of Marcus Garvey Library and other Tottenham residents join us on July 13 and we hope they will make use of this fantastic new library.”

The library includes 22,000 new books, a section dedicated to Marcus Garvey and Afro Caribbean Literature, and customer services equipment.