The National Poetry Library at London’s Southbank Centre has suspended the introduction of a membership scheme it had said was needed to raise funds, after an outcry from poets. The about-turn came on Thursday after over 1,500 people had signed a petition protesting about the plans. The library had planned to introduce the scheme on 2 October, the day before National Poetry Day. The petition said: “On Wednesday 2 October the National Poetry Library will be introducing a new paid membership. From that point on, everyone who wants to borrow books will be charged. This is just not good enough. There are too many barriers stopping poverty stricken poets trying to engage with poetry. The National Poetry Library has a responsibility to be a beacon of poetry for the rest of the country, it needs to be the MOST accessible and diverse library in England.

“It's about time we stop this gentrification of the arts, it's about time we work harder to make poetry accessible to all. So join me as we attempt to make poetry an art form for everyone.”

In response the National Poetry Library said in a statement on Thursday: “Our announcement last week regarding plans to introduce a new enhanced level of National Poetry Library membership has generated lots of feedback and some criticism. We have listened to the strong feelings in the poetry community about these plans, which are designed to help us generate much needed additional funds to allow the library to continue to support UK poetry.

“While we do still need to find ways to raise funds to invest in the future of the National Poetry Library, we have decided we will suspend the planned launch of the new membership scheme next week.  Instead we want to take time to invite the poetry community to come and share ideas at Southbank Centre and to understand the reasons why we need support. We hope these workshops will help us find a way to maintain the widest possible access to our collection while at the same time raising some much needed funds for the library.

“It means a lot to us that the poetry community is so passionate about the work we do and we will communicate the details of the workshops soon.”

Many of those protesting wanted to know more about any funding problems the library might have. Its new statement does not go into any details of this - details of its original membership scheme that outraged so many have now been removed from the poetry library’s website.

In 2013 the library, which is situated on the fifth floor at the Royal Festival Hall, where it also stages readings and exhibitions, celebrated its 60th anniversary. Back then it was said to be supported by an Arts Council grant, although plans to relocate it within the Southbank complex have not come to fruition.

The library’s collection of poetry in Britain goes back to 1912. Its books, pamphlets, magazines, audio cassettes, CDs video and DVDs are available for reference or loan, and it welcomes visiting schoolchildren as much as researchers and anthology compilers. Online it lists events, competitions, magazines and much more. It was opened in 1953 after an initiative led by Eric White,  and Herbert Reed, and moved to its present home at the Southbank in 1988.

Background: Behind the scenes at the Poetry Library

Background: Exhibition celebrating Lawrence Ferlinghetti at National Poetry Library