This week we’re pleased to welcome one of our network members, Friends of Deeping Library, as our guest blogger. Many thanks to Judy Stevens (Cllr) for this insight into Deeping Community Library.
The Friends of Deeping Library took over the running of the Library, a beautiful Georgian building at the heart of our community, in January 2016. We employ a Library co-coordinator and are open now for 24 hours a week – this after a very hard fought battle with Lincolnshire County Council who wanted to reduce us to a volunteer only library (we service a catchment area of 20,000 residents). With help from the Parish and Town Councils and the refurbishment of the first floor of our building (now let as offices) we are now able to employ a member of staff and have a rota of volunteers.
A great success for us has been in encouraging young readers into the library. We were very proud when last year we broke the Deepings library record for the Summer Reading Challenge with 56 children completing the challenge. But then this year a staggering 120 children completed the challenge.
70 young readers came to receive their Summer Reading Challenge awards at a special event. The awards were presented by the Chair of Deeping St James Parish Council and the Mayor of Market Deeping Town Council – and by local poet Toby Woods who had all the kids heartily laughing! It was a much enjoyed event and a triumph for those that told us there was no longer a need for libraries.
Regular library activities include Knit & Natter, Storytime, Deeping Ducklings for birth to 18 months, Scrabble Club, Creative Colouring adults drop-in colouring session and designated special library Quiet Times for quiet reading, studying and relaxing. We have monthly speakers who talk on a range of subjects, which recently have included bees, raptors and owls.
The library has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/deepingscommunitylibrary/