I'm going to take a risk today and celebrate the closure of a public library.

For a period in the 1990s I was Chairman of the Whitechapel Art Gallery. It was established in 1901 to bring great art to the people of the East End of London. At the time (and it is still true today) Whitechapel was home to recent immigrants. In 1901 the imigrants were largely Jewish. Today they are largely Asian. The impact of these immigrant comunities has been enormous and beneficial and the area continues to thrive as a creative catalyst for London, Britain and the world.

The gallery has premiered international artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Lucien Freud. It is financed by public bodies, private individuals and companies, and through the hard work and entrepreneurism of its staff.

Next door to the gallery is a public library with a rich history, particularly from the 'Jewish' times but in recent years it had become run down through lack of investment and changing social needs. The library is being moved to a new site close and merged with another library. I really believe that one first-class library is better than two second-class ones in this case.

And the gallery acquired the freehold in th elibrary and last night celebrated the launch of the Whitechapel Project which will turn this beautiful and historic building into a beautiful space for creative artists, students, art lovers and coffee lovers to use and enjoy. Losing the Whitechapel Library is sad but extending the Gallery is a cause for celebration and support.

The Director of the gallery is Iwona Blazwick. She used to work at the famous art publisher Phaidon and she brings to the leadership of this project everything that is best about publishing - optimism, shrewdness and charm. This project deserves to succeed.