Barrow Community Managed Library recently celebrated 10 years in operation and it’s now more than just a library, it’s a hive of activity.
Judith Rodgers tells how it happened.
In 2013 Leicestershire County Council (LCC) wanted to pass the management of 36 rural libraries to local communities. Barrow Parish Council was keenly interested but wasn’t able to take it on.
It dawned on me that BUSCA (the Community Association) could run the library because it has CIO status (it is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation - a particular kind of Registered Charity). Trustees agreed that they would authorise the formation of a body of enthusiastic volunteers who would seek to get the approval of the County Library Service. In October 2014, over 60 people attended a public meeting and so began the process of recruiting volunteers and creating a Library Management Committee (LMC). By the time of its first meeting in January 2015, there were over 50 volunteers to man shifts at the library; get involved in the maintenance of the building; deal with publicity; clean the library; stack shelves; cope with management and so on.
The rest is a haze of pummelling LCC to accept our offer and get all the bureaucracy sorted in time to receive the keys and open on 27th July 2015. The paperwork was endless and the hoops we had to jump through endlessly frustrating. We had policies to write; insurance cover to arrange via BUSCA; business plans to create; finances to sort; and the approval of a Service-level Agreement.
We were the first community to take over the running of a rural library in Leicestershire and the press and media loved it. We actually did get the keys and the lease on the right day although quite late on. We were sweating!
A coordinator of volunteers was needed and the Parish Council agreed to help with financing. Angeline Kazianis started work in August 2015 and has played a hugely positive role in making the library project such a success. Angeline is now ably assisted by the Operations Team who are responsible for day-to-day management; and of course, by the Library Management Committee which is responsible for the overall management and governance. Much of the essential work of both these teams of volunteers goes on busily in the background to ensure that the library runs as smoothly as it does.
Ten years on (we really can’t quite believe that), we had a similar panic to get the next 10-year lease in time. In fact, I had a real sense of déjà vu driving to County Hall to wring the lease from the Legal Department.
So, we’ve been celebrating 10 years of running the library! We currently have 70 volunteers and the Operations Team decided to thank them with a special afternoon tea in June at the Cons Club. And what a tea it was: a room full of volunteers eagerly enjoying their achievement. Some have been volunteering since the beginning so you can imagine the reminiscing that went on.
The Library Management Committee thought that a celebratory meal might lure some of the original LMC members back and we were thrilled to welcome Brian, Peter, Ali and Heather ‘from the early days'. We invited everyone at the meal to take part in a shared ‘orgy’ of remembering the good things; the disasters; the funny things… and the frustrations. Our meal at the Soar Bridge was excellent and a good time was had by all.
We have marked the special 10-year milestone with a new logo, kindly designed as a gift by our Barrow artist, Stewart Pawley. It gives thanks to the incredible dedication and passion of all our volunteers.
We are proud of creating a vibrant community hub. The library is no longer just a place to borrow books. Nor is it just a place to use computers (although we have hugely improved the available facilities and offer help and training). Now, you can just pop in for a cuppa and a natter; or play scrabble or chess; or buy jam or a jigsaw. You can join in all sorts of craft activities; seek technical advice from various experts (e.g. about mortgages); or join a singing group. You may want to attend yoga or Pilates sessions or consult with the police or your local councillors. You can come with your baby to Rhyme Time or with older children so they can research homework or play chess. You may want to hire the library to provide an entertainment for the public or hold a meeting. These all go on in Barrow library: it’s a real hive of activity, often noisy, always fun and friendly.
We have made structural improvements: accessible toilet; car park resurfacing and accessible rear entrance; solar panels and LED lighting; and improved bookshelves layout. We’ve installed air source heat pumps giving us heating in winter and much needed cooling in summer.
We’re now looking forward to the next 10 years! Who knows what new ideas will be explored?
Come and give us your ideas. Come and explore the idea of becoming a volunteer. Above all, come along and enjoy Barrow’s community-managed library.
Judith Rodgers