Warwickshire’s first volunteer-run library is welcomed

The library was among 16 earmarked for closure by Warwickshire County Council last year, but soon after receiving the news, people in the village put their heads together to see what could be done to prevent this from happening.

The service had already moved from its former premises in Bridge Street to the village hall and, thanks to funding from Kineton parish council, it will be able to continue running from there and will be staffed entirely by volunteers.

Mike Harris, chairman of the Friends of Kineton library group, said: “In an ideal world, a library service would be provided by our county council, but given our current circumstances, this is not an option in Kineton.

“The parish council and the Friends group consider it essential that a library exists in Kineton for the village and the surrounding villages. We are excited by the prospect of working with the county library service to continue and, hopefully, expand the library provision in Kineton.”

A group of 17 volunteers will undergo training by county council library staff, who will work alongside them during the first few weeks and there will be a helpline for volunteers seeking further assistance.

The nature of the project means the library will only be able to be open on Mondays (11am to 4pm) and Saturdays (9am to noon), but Mr Harris is hopeful that opening times will be expanded as the venture progresses.

He said: “It will depend on the extent to which there is a demand and the extent to which we can find volunteers.

“So far we have had an enthusiastic reception from villagers. It’s looking quite positive.”

People will be able to return and renew books borrowed from Kineton at any other Warwickshire library or online as before.

Meanwhile in Harbury, where the library was also earmarked for closure, plans are also underway to convert the service, which will continue to be run by the county council until March, into a community-run venture in April. Further updates will be published closer to the time.