Appeal for groups to run Derbyshire libraries
The community management scheme is being relaunched for 2022
The County Council have re-launched their drive to find local groups who are interested in taking over the reins at one of 14 libraries earmarked for community management.
These are: Borrowash, Brimington, Clowne, Creswell, Duffield, Gamesley, Hadfield, Hayfield, Holmewood, Killamarsh, Pinxton, Somercotes, Whaley Bridge and Whitwell.
Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Change Councillor Barry Lewis is encouraging community groups to take the first steps now and register their interest following a pause in the programme due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re hoping established groups, organisations or individuals wanting to form a group will seize the opportunity in 2022 to take over their local library and help to shape its future to suit the needs of their community.”
The Community Managed Library programme is part of the authority's ‘Libraries for Derbyshire’ strategy which includes a plan to transfer 20 council-run libraries out of 45 over to community management over the coming years.
The first milestone has already been reached with the handing over of Woodville Library, now called Woodville Community Managed Library, near Swadlincote, to Circularity.org.
Five other groups are currently working with the County Council with a view to taking charge of their local libraries in the future. These libraries are at Etwall, Melbourne, Old Whittington, Wingerworth and Tideswell (pictured).