LOCAL LIBRARY CELEBRATES ONE YEAR SINCE IT’S RE-OPENING AS A COMMUNITY RUN LIBRARY. BUT HAS IT BEEN A SUCCESSFUL YEAR?

 

 

The Farnham Common Community Library re-opened in October 2011 after being initially closed down. The Library, run by volunteers, became the first community run library in Buckinghamshire one year ago. Martin Phillips, Buckinghamshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Engagement told The Bucks County Council Website last year that he, and the people of Farnham Common wanted to ‘ensure the library is sustainable for the future’.
But now, one year on, I am wondering if the project to re-open the library was a success, and if the library is sustainable for the future.

 


In October 2011 the number of volunteers trained to work at the library was 20, however, now there are 35. This increase in volunteers is great for the library and the community as a whole. The library is a key part of our community and it brings together people young and old.
I spoke to one volunteer librarian, who has worked at the library since it’s reopening in 2011 to ask her for her thoughts on the Library. She says that she ’enjoys it’ working at the library and feels that it’s re-opening has ‘made it a better place’. She added ’people comment saying it is a better place since it was made into a community library’. In answer to whether she thinks the library has been a success, she said ’yes, there is now a wider range of books available and we run many events to support the library’. One of these events run weekly is the ‘Children’s Story Club’ on a Thursday morning. Participation levels vary weekly as you do not need to sign up to be able to go. On participation levels, the volunteer told me ’sometimes we get 10 or 11 children; sometimes we only get 1 child!’


In 2010 the FCCL management committee planned to expand the book selection, improve opening hours and put on events and activities that will bring the community together. These things have clearly been successful for the library thus far. The volunteer then answered a question concerning the amount of visitors the library gets. She replied ‘we get a lot of visitors here everyday, from young to old’.


The Farnham Common Community Library appears to be a resounding success so far and will hopeful continue in this manner and continue to be sustainable for the future. Many people take this Library for granted and do not realise the hard work and dedication that the volunteers put in on a day to day basis. The library is a key part of our community so, if you get a chance, go down and support it by getting a book or using the facilities. I know that I could do more, and probably you can too. Look out for events that they are hosting, or go to www.buckscommunitylibraries.org/farnham-common for more information. 

The volunteers look forward to your visit!
Library Address: Farnham Common Community Library, Victoria Road, Farnham Common, Bucks, SL2 3NL.                    

By Luke Hastings