A CHALLENGING new chapter has opened for a village library on the outskirts of Nuneaton that once lived on borrowed time.
Bulkington Library has made history by becoming the first one to open in Warwickshire that is run by the community.
Almost a year after being threatened with closure as `not sustainable in its current form,’ it has been taken over by volunteers.
The county council’s decision to put it on a `hit list’ was greeted by a massive protest as hundreds of people signed a petition and attended public meetings and eventually set up the Friends of Bulkington Library.
John Beaumont, secretary of what is now Bulkington Community Library, said: “It has not been easy and the road has been bumpy at times, but we are delighted at what has been achieved.”
More than 50 volunteers have offered their services and will run the building in School Road on a rota basis.
They have been working alongside county council staff for several weeks to train on the job in library-related work.
“We have been on a steep learning curve, but we are confident of being able to give service at a standard that matches libraries anywhere in Warwickshire,” said John Beaumont.
The library now has the status of a Community Interest Company (CIC) and has been awarded a £10,000 capital grant from the county council to help set it up, £3,750 from the Big Society Fund and a further £1,000-plus in community funding.
But it has to be self supporting and the `robust’ business plan the Friends of Bulkington Library put forward was accepted by the county council.
Under their business plan, they are expecting to generate £5,000 a year in fees and fines and £2,000 in rent from a toy library used by Bulkington Children’s Centre.
Refreshments could also boost the income: “If we have 20 visitors an hour and at least five of them buy a cup of tea or coffee that could generate an extra £7,500,” said John Beaumont.
The county council will continue to supply the community library with fresh stocks of books on a regular basis.
County councillor John Ross, who represents Bulkington at Shire Hall, said: “Bulkington Community Library has been very well supported and has clearly shown that the people of Bulkington have put in a great deal of effort to preserve their library.
“I have been delighted, along with my colleagues at the county council, to lend full backing to the community library.
“We have to remember that as well as this being a voluntary effort, the county council will continue to supply books on a rota basis, has provided a peppercorn rent, has provided funding and will continue to support the community library.”
