Last week I attended a meeting to discuss setting up a
Friends Group for Lavenham Library.
The need for such a group has arisen as a result of Suffolk
County Council’s decision in August 2012 to divest the Library Service to a
charitable organisation, IPS. This was
part of its general strategy to cope with government cuts to council
funding. Similar initiatives are being
encouraged at libraries across the County with varying degrees of success. Perhaps the arrangement may not be seen by
many as ideal, but it has meant that no library in Suffolk has closed its
doors.
Although core aspects of the running of the library will be
funded by SCC, additional equipment such as new computers and other articles
will have to be paid for by fundraising and subscriptions to the Friends. Books for loan will continue to be paid for
by Suffolk Libraries. The first year’s
fundraising target amounts to £1600 or so, but it is hoped that some of this
may be met by a grant from the Parish council.
The first meeting was a success with a Chairman, Treasurer
and Secretary being appointed and several committee members identified.
It was notable that
some people at the meeting came from outside Lavenham, reflecting the fact that
the library is not just a resource for people in the village but also for those
living in parishes nearby.
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