Volunteers at a thriving community library have received an early Christmas gift after funding has been provided to help pay for a revamp.
Sherburn and Villages Community Library has been run by volunteers since 2017 and has gradually transformed into a social and information hub for local families and visitors.
Significant renovation works including new ceilings and carpets have been completed since then, supported by donations from local businesses and volunteers as well as fundraising events held by the library.
The final touches to the library’s renovations are now set to be completed after Cllr Bob Packham, the local member for the Sherburn in Elmet division on North Yorkshire Council, used his locality budget to contribute £640 to the project.
The funding has helped improve the library’s entrance with acoustic panels covering a bare brick wall that had been damaged by damp, and an eye-catching map of the library’s catchment area has been added.
The paper towel dispenser in the toilet will also be replaced with a hand dryer to improve hygiene, reduce paper waste and save money in the long-term.
Cllr Packham, who volunteers at the library each week, said: “A dedicated team have worked so hard over the last seven years to improve the standard of the library – including a new reception area, new ceilings, shelving and carpets.
“All of that work has been completed by volunteers and volunteer labour. It’s been an outstanding team effort and shows the community spirit here in Sherburn and the surrounding villages.
“The library is an amazing facility enjoyed by the whole community and we’re seeing more people than ever before coming in. It’s often harder to get people out of the library than in.
“We now have a computer area for residents to come and use, there’s knit and natter and Scrabble groups to encourage social interaction, and our weekly story-time sessions attract lots of families both during the day and after school.
“It’s humbling to see how much time and dedication our volunteers put in to make the library what it is. I’m delighted to be able to support the project through my locality budget.”
Cllr Bob Packham (pictured left), the local member for the Sherburn in Elmet division on North Yorkshire Council, has used his locality budget to contribute to the project.
In recent years, the library’s computer area has been completely renovated and extended with generous volunteers putting on a range of sessions including on ancestry and history.
The facilities are also regularly used by charities and other organisations to give advice and support to residents on the cost-of-living and how to save money on energy bills.
The library management group’s finance officer, Fiona Doyle, is part of the team who lead the popular story-time sessions twice a week. They are often attended by up to 45 local schoolchildren, young families and grandparents.
She said: “I love what I do, and it’s been fantastic to see the library grow into the thriving community facility that it is today.
“Bob is an integral part of the library and an active member of our management group. He volunteers his time and is so enthusiastic – we feel really lucky to have him and were all moved when he told us about his locality budget donation.
“Quite simply, the upgrades to the reception and toilet areas would not have been possible without this grant.
“We are always trying to find more cost-effective ways to run the library and save money, and the hand dryer in particular will mean we no longer have to buy paper towels which are expensive. It also massively cuts down on waste.”
Each of North Yorkshire Council’s 90 members has a budget of £10,000 a year to respond to local needs by allocating small amounts of funding to support activities to promote social, economic, or environmental well-being in the communities which they represent.
Funding can be used for projects undertaken by external organisations or for additional services provided by the council. Each member is responsible for determining how they wish to seek approval to use the money from their locality budget.
For more information on councillors’ locality budgets, visit North Yorkshire Council’s website at www.northyorks.gov.uk/localitybudgets.