Irchester Library set to open under community management

Irchester Library is set to open under community management tomorrow (Wednesday).

North Northants Council (NNC) has reached an agreement to secure the future of Irchester Library with it re-opening tomorrow (Wednesday) under a new management system.

Irchester Parish Council has signed the lease on the library property and volunteers will be taking on the running of the library.

Support in running the library systems will be provided by NNC, including the training of volunteers, provision of lending stock and the library computer systems.

Customers using Irchester Library will be able to continue to use their LibraryPlus library card to access the countywide stock resources and all of the electronic resources.

The library’s opening hours will initially be 10am to 2pm on Wednesday, 2pm to 6pm on Friday and 10am to midday on Saturday.

Cllr Helen Howell, NNC’s deputy leader and executive member for sport, leisure, culture and tourism, said: “We have been working alongside Irchester Parish Council to finalise the solution for Irchester Library.

“I am delighted that agreement has now been reached and this valuable local resource can once again open its door to the local residents.”

Council leader Jason Smithers said: “Libraries play such an important role not just in allowing access to a wealth of reading materials but also as hubs of local communities.

"I’m delighted that we’ve been able to find a way of securing the future of Irchester Library.”

Nikki Daft from Irchester Parish Council said: “The parish council is delighted to support the library and enable the doors to be open once more.

"Community engagement is really positive as local support for the library continues to grow.

“We have 30 volunteers who have already come forward to be trained in the use of the library management system with a further 25 coming on board soon to perform various roles.”

Earlier this year the Northants Telegraph reported how after a five-year process, three remaining libraries, deemed surplus to requirement by the defunct Northamptonshire County Council (NCC), would finally be handed over to the communities that they serve.

This included Irchester Library – to read more click here.