This January marks ten years since Minchinhampton library was reopened as a community library. And it has gone from strength to strength each year since.
On Saturday, 14 January the library held a special birthday celebration, attended by past and present volunteers and supporters. Local author, Rachel Joyce, cut the very apt cake, made by Hampton Cakes of Nailsworth. Rachel Joyce is the award-winning author of several bestsellers, one of which The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, is going to be released shortly as a major film, starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton actually filmed last year on Minchinhampton Common.
Since running the library, the Trust has been able to improve not only the volume of books for users, by purchase and many generous donations, but also maintain and enhance the library building and grounds. We’ve listened to the local community, established several groups, and we are always continuing to improve and develop the library space to meet the needs of the whole community.
More recently we have joined Gloucestershire County Libraries in offering their Warm and Welcome scheme. Anyone is very welcome to come along to stay warm, use our computers and wifi, recharge their phone or laptop, try a jigsaw puzzle, play a game, and in the mornings we have hot drinks available.
The library lends approximately 14,000 books per year. Of the eight community libraries in Gloucestershire, Minchinhampton regularly lends the most adult fiction books with children/teen books a close second. A new venture being the purchase of several Ukrainian/English picture books.
