The Community Managed Library Sector in the North
People power at a community level supporting and nurturing local community resources.
It’s been a whirlwind of a few months since I joined the Community Managed Libraries Network as a part-time Coordinator supporting initiatives in the North and North Midlands. I’ve been working for over 30 years in the community development sector, and most recently have worked to support community-led housing projects develop across the Liverpool City Region. But I’ve been quite blown away by the commitment and diverse approaches’ communities have taken to secure and sustain their local neighbourhood libraries. My first few months have been an eye opener of just what local communities and local people power can do when they put their minds to it! People-led approaches to local delivery of services is certainly something that has taken root; and for me this can only be a good thing.
So just what are community managed libraries? These are community resources which local people come together to support and maintain in their neighbourhoods when the desire to do so is so strong. They might come about following the closure of a local library previously run by the local authority, or in partnership with a local authority, who needs the support of volunteers to maintain a local library. Some, indeed, are fully independent and run by and for the local community.
Let’s look at a few examples here in the North to help get the story across……
There’s Birkdale Community Hub & Library in Southport – a truly ground-breaking and unique case study of what communities are achieving in the community managed libraries sector. https://thestationmastershouse.co.uk.
Following the closure of their local library in 2013, the community came together to create a brand new one – resulting in the exciting and dynamic community organisation now running the Station Master’s House at Birkdale train station.
The first challenge was finding a location and the group struck upon re-purposing the old Station Master’s House at Birkdale train station; a stroke of genius, being as it is at the heart of the community. The group built great partnerships with Merseyrail, Network Rail and funders like the Railways Heritage Trust and PH Holt Foundation came forward to support the project. The building was refurbished to an exceptional standard and opened in October 2021. A second library space at nearby Birkdale Methodist Church is also now operating and activities are developing apace. This is very much a community hub, with books and the library service at its heart – and all run by over 70 community volunteers. Activities include free access to computers, languages classes, knit and natter and free membership to the library. Impressive stuff indeed.
There’s Fallowfield Library in Manchester; known locally as the Place at Platt Lane. https://theplacefallowfield.co.uk About to celebrate its tenth year as a successful community managed space, the organisation came about when the Fallowfield Library was being closed by the local authority in 2013. The group came together to look to maintain the library, as one of the few public buildings operating and available to the local community. Now ten years in, the organisation is a successful and expanding community-based enterprise running a whole host of cultural activities from its venue. A lifeline for the community – which has been especially important during and post the covid pandemic.
The Place is now looking to take control of the whole building by expanding into the upper floor and develop its activity offer to include more arts and cultural activity, alongside its library offer. Its position at the heart of the community means its reach with local people is truly inspiring, and its future is very bright.
I’m looking forward to connecting with more libraries in my northern patch over the coming months and seeing what support I can bring. I’m especially keen to see where local networks can be created to share the learning between these inspiring projects.
Get in touch if you’d like to connect
Paul Kelly
Coordinator, North and North Midlands.
