Newby and Scalby Community Library

Newby and Scalby Community Library

Bad news 2015: NYCC Library Service has stopped paying staff who ran Satellite Libraries and as a consequence Newby and Scalby Library will close.

Good news: they were going to maintain their Central Libraries with paid qualified staff, and satellite libraries could continue to open, with the same service from the Library Service as before, if a board of Trustees could be formed and approved, and sufficient volunteers recruited to maintain service.

This was the situation in which the library in Newby found itself in 2017. Isobel Nixon and Lesley Newton together with four other Trustees were accepted as being able to run and maintain the library. NYCC would maintain the building’s structure and would ‘hand over’ the existing books, book stock and IT equipment and enable the Library to access all the services as before. All other expenses would be met by the trustees.

The situation now is that after two and a half years there are sixty plus volunteers who undertake all the services as before, while the management team plan and run  a range of activities and events such as story times, family history sessions, computer courses, school visits, summer reading challenge for 4-11 year olds and so on.

This year, as a result of an entry into ITV Calendar/The National Lottery’s People’s Project which canvassed support from the public, they were awarded £18,900 to build a community garden on the land behind the library. This has enabled little ones to come from local schools to learn about ‘horticulture’, as well as being able to hold classes outside.

Isobel and Lesley gave a very detailed and interesting account of how these developments took place and, while the current financial situation is positive, there is a continuing need for support by becoming a Friend of the Library or by way of books being donated for sale. Please visit the Library – and maybe you will be inspired to help?

Web address: www.newbyandscalbylibrary.co.uk

JCC ~ December 2019