A SHINING example of a community run library is celebrating its fifth birthday as it continues to go from strength to strength.

The Chalfont St Giles Community Library and Information Centre opened on January 6, 2007 following the closure of the county library in November 2006.

It is run entirely by volunteers from the village and 2011 showed that for the fifth year running, lending increased.

Chairman of the community library, Tony Hoare, said: “The community library is doing well. We have good support from our users, excellent volunteers and strong all round support from the village.

"Our partnership with the county ensures that the county library service is available in the village. These days with the internet you can easily order books and DVDs from the library catalogue from home and pick them up at the community library."

The car park now has the first hour free, which should benefit the library.

He said they are looking to the future and what improvements can be made, including a faster broadband link and a library extension.

Mr Hoare added: "We would like to expand the children’s book stock, display our books and information better, add wi-fi and provide a better seating area. These things take time and are dependent on planning permission and obtaining the necessary funding so realistically any extension would not be until next year 2013.”