Shenstone Library

The deadline is approaching for groups to apply to take over the running of Shenstone Library.

The facility is one of 12 which Staffordshire County Council is opening up to be taken on by the community.

A number of libraries – including one in Barton-under-Needwood – have already been switched to new management.

Cllr Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “Now that the first wave of community libraries are up and running, interested groups can see that the libraries are still part of the Staffordshire family with access to support, help and advice.

“The application process is straightforward and there’s plenty of training before the transition.

“There has been some strong interest, but there’s still time, just, for groups to get in touch.”

Successful organisations will have access to the library service’s stock and IT network, while the authority remains responsible for agreed utility and maintenance costs.

Cllr Heath added: “Each library will have the freedom to develop what they offer to meet the needs of the communities they are a part of.”

For more details on the application process visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/communitylibraries.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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AgitatorofPeople
7 years ago

Let’s hope that if they do find somebody to run it, that they staff it with enough volunteers, at a recent council meeting Cllr Ben Adams head of libraries was lambasted despite his “justifications” by a councillor stating that there are lone worker volunteers running libraries and not getting lunch breaks or even getting to go to the loo.
Hardly inspiring for volunteers, and those who are concerned they will lose their library is it?

Steve
7 years ago

It gives the council the perfect excuse to close the library. We offered the public the chance to take over the running of their local library. No one wanted to. Therefore, it shows no one is interested.

Justifies our decision to close it.