We think that local libraries shouldn't be just about books, reading, information and IT, but also about a range of modern facilities that match what local people need.
That’s what all of the 27 Community Managed Libraries across Staffordshire are striving to offer.
Community Managed Libraries are where community or voluntary groups and organisations manage and deliver their library and the library space with support from the county council. They are places where people can continue to access a quality library offer, including library stock, IT and free Wi-fi, but where the rest of the library space is used in flexible ways that meet the needs of the community, whatever that may be.
Local groups, a health trust, and the Rotarians have taken on the day-to-day running and management of their library, and are developing services ranging from baby massage and medical drop-in centres, to hairdressing, cafés and befriending groups.
It’s all helping to keep libraries at the centre of communities and financially sustainable.
Running your community library
Community Management Library committees manage the day-to-day delivery of the library. In return the County Council:
- Continues to cover all utility and maintenance costs (up to an agreed amount based on past usage)
- Support them with a comprehensive training course which has been developed with our existing community managed libraries. This includes:
- Premises management
- Health and safety
- Information governance and data protection
- Publicity
- Recruitment of volunteers
- Development of committee skills and structures.
- Provides ongoing support - the chosen organisations have strategic and practical support throughout this process and in the early days of ‘going live’ by a paid member of staff from the Libraries and Arts Service Community Capacity Team.