Appendix 2

Community Libraries attract volunteers – young and old!

July 2017

All community libraries within the are run by volunteers, a group of enthusiastic residents who regularly give up their free time to ensure the reading spaces previously owned by the Council remain in good repair, and remain open to visitors like you and me.

Despite having a charitable status, the services provided by the community libraries have not lowered, with regular events still taking place, including holiday-time craft activities for children, adult craft sessions, reading groups, digital how-to lessons and more.

Those responsible for the running of these libraries, and organising the sessions, provide the same great customer service you’d expect from other libraries in the county – they can help you find, and reserve, books and DVDs, and direct you to a computer with free internet access. As the libraries continue to receive a stock of books from the Council, there is plenty on offer for visitors.

There are now five such libraries in the Vale – , , , Sully and – with the volunteers working in them ranging, in age, between 13 and 90.

13 year old Amelia Brenan, who volunteers at Sully Community Library, said: "I love working in the library because it gives me a sense of responsibility and belonging. I have always liked helping people, and I have always liked books, so I thought that by volunteering at the library I could do both. I feel that being a young volunteer is a great opportunity and a fabulous experience. I have gained so much from being at the library and definitely feel more grown up because of it."

Amelia's mum commented on the role Amelia played in the library’s transition, explaining: "We are very proud of Amelia. It is a lovely finish to a story that began with her finding some independence in Year 6 of primary school by popping into the library on a Saturday morning, by herself. Then, she heard, sadly, that the library might be closing.”

Amelia, head of her school council at the time, took her role very seriously and went along to the local Council meeting being held concerning saving the library.

Her mum added: “She was able to join in, share her ideas and offer to help. Now, two years on, the library is still open and going strong, with Amelia being one of the official young volunteers! We are very grateful to the library staff for including young people, and taking on board their ideas: once a month, the library hosts Storytime for the younger children, and a popular code club. It really is a happy ending!"

Mary Fitzherbert, meanwhile, is the oldest volunteer helping out in the Vale.

At 90, Mary works at St. Athan Community Library, and has commented on the sense of community spirit that comes with working in St. Athan.

She said: "Volunteering at St Athan library keeps my mind active, and I’m learning new things all the time.

"It gives me purpose, a reason to get out of the house, and I get to meet lots of new people - volunteering in the library is very sociable!

"I also feel like I am a valued member of the community.”

If you’re interested in volunteering at a local community library, get in touch with them. St Athan Community Library, in particular, is on the look-out for friendly and enthusiastic people to help with the day-to-day running of the library.

To find your local library, visit our website.

First of Vale's Community Libraries Established In Sully

02 August 2016

The management of Sully Library has this week been formally transferred to Sully and Community Library Trust, making it the first community library in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The first library transfer in the Vale comes after it was announced earlier this year that the Vale of Glamorgan Council was in discussion with community groups in five locations about taking over responsibility for running their local library.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has set aside £100,000 to help cover start-up costs and improvements to existing buildings. The trust will then receive ongoing support from the Council in the form of IT, book stocks, library resources and professional advice. For the past three months, volunteers of the trust have been training with the Council’s professional library staff.

Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “The transfer of Sully Library to the community is the culmination of two years of hard work on the part of the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the tireless efforts of local volunteers.

“I am delighted to see the management of the library transfer to such an enthusiastic and determined community trust, who are very keen to develop the library for local residents.

“In recent months we have been working closely with the trust to make sure that everyone is prepared for the handover. Now that this has taken place, I know that the trust has ambitions to widen access to the library’s services and will be consulting with the residents of Sully and Lavernock to understand their needs.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at Sully Library should contact Richard Thomas at [email protected].

Wenvoe Community Library Ltd. begins operations

13 September 2016

The management of Wenvoe Library has been formally transferred to Wenvoe Community Library Ltd, making it the second community library established in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The transfer comes after it was announced earlier this year that the Vale of Glamorgan Council was in discussion with community groups in five locations about taking over responsibility for running their local library.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has set aside £100,000 to help cover start-up costs and improvements to existing buildings for community groups taking on the responsibility of their libraries, and Wenvoe will benefit from a share of this funding.

Wenvoe library will also receive on-going support from the Council in the form of IT access, book stock, other library resources and professional advice.

Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “Over the past few months library users in Wenvoe will have become used to some new faces at the library as a team of volunteers have been training with the Council’s professional library staff to take over running the service.

“Now that the transfer has taken place we look forward to continuing to work with the new management and helping them realise their ambitions for the library.”

Alex McDonald, one of the directors of Wenvoe Library Ltd., said: “I am excited about this new venture and the possibilities it brings and am looking forward to interesting library developments over the next couple of years.

“The success of the library will be down to the strong group of local volunteers who are committed to this new way of running the library.”

Opening hours at Wenvoe will not change and library members will still be able to use all other libraries in the Vale.

Third community library established in the Vale of Glamorgan

09 November 2016

The management of Dinas Powys Library has been formally transferred to Dinas Powys Library and Activity Centre, making it the third community library established in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The transfer comes after it was announced earlier this year that the Vale of Glamorgan Council was in discussion with community groups in five locations about taking over responsibility for running their local library.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has set aside £100,000 to help cover start-up costs and improvements to existing buildings for community groups taking on the responsibility of their libraries, and Dinas Powys will benefit from a share of this funding. DPLAC will also receive on- going support from the Council in the form of IT access, book stock, other library resources and professional advice.

Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “In the last few months a team of volunteers have been working alongside the Council’s library staff, gaining valuable experience in running the library. Now that the transfer has taken place we look forward to continuing to work with the new management and helping them realise their ambitions for the library.”

Cllr Keith Hatton, who has been instrumental in the transfer, said: “The group of trustees and our volunteers have worked hard to achieve this transfer and should take a lot of the credit for continuing the library in Dinas Powys.”

Cllr Chris Franks, the chair of the Trustees of DPLAC, explained: “We still have many challenges ahead, but we have some ambitious plans for the future and hope that the library will become a community hub for the people of Dinas Powys.”

Volunteer run community library in Sully marks one year anniversary The Sully and Lavernock community-run library celebrated one year with a special guest appearance.

 Thursday, 07 September 2017, 14:11 PM | Vale of Glamorgan

Supported by the Vale of Glamorgan’s Library and Information Service, members and volunteers held a craft and storytelling session on Saturday 2 September.

American author Kyra Kramer, who now lives in Sully, gave a brief overview of her historical books on Henry VIII and mis-represented Queens, as well as her book titled “Mansfield Parsonage” in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen.

The Sully and Lavernock community run library was the first of the five planned library handovers from the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Since May 2015, the Vale of Glamorgan Council worked with community groups across the county to help libraries in Dinas Powys, Sully, Wenvoe, St Athan and Rhoose to stay open.

To volunteer at the library, you can call 02920 531267 or send an email.

Visit the website for more information on the library.

Celebrity Authors and Family Fun lined up for St Athan Community Library Launch 21 March 2017

Readings from five acclaimed children’s authors are set to be the main attraction at the St Athan Community Hub and Library (SACHaL) ‘grand launch’ on Saturday 1 April 2017.

BBC television presenter Lucy Owen will be performing family readings in both English and in Welsh from her new children’s book “Boo-a-bog in the Park”.

Wendy Hobbs, author of the Claudia Quash stories, Anthony Lavisher, author of the Storm sequence of fantasy novels, Michelle Briscombe, author of Silent Mountain and The House on March Lane, and Phil Carradice, author of Hannah’s War and many other titles, will also be reading at the event.

BBC broadcaster, novelist and historian Phil Carradice will be acting as master of ceremonies throughout the day which runs from 11am to 5pm.

Wendy Hobbs said: “"I am delighted to be invited to the grand launch of St Athan Library and am looking forward to meeting the children and reading The Spell of Pencliff and Claudia's Special Wish. Magical adventures for all ages!”

The launch event will also see the unveiling of new library logo designed by pupils at St Athan Primary School.

Music will be provided by two traditional Welsh harpists. The Primary School Choir will also sing and the popular RAF Voluntary Junior Band will play.

Graham Mallaghan, Chair of Trustees of the SACHaL charity, said: “St Athan Library has long been a much loved resource at the heart of our community.

“In our day of friendraising on April 1 we want to show that this vital relationship will not only continue, but grow stronger, now that the library has passed into the people’s hands.

“We want everyone to know that the library is here for them, and that it will collaborate powerfully with other local organisations to serve the common good.

“On this day the community organisations of St Athan will start to demonstrate the benefits of co- production.”

More information on the programme for the day can be found at https://sites.google.com/stathancommunityhubandlibrary.org/sachal