An invitation to meet our Chair...

We would like to invite the Chair of each Friends Group (or a representative) to join us with their library supervisor to meet the new Chair of Libraries Unlimited, Professor William Harvey.

Please join us and the Board of trustees at Exeter Library on Friday 14th December,10.30-11.30am for mince pies and coffee. This will be an informal gathering, giving you the opportunity to chat to Friends from other groups, trustees and library staff from across Devon and Torbay. Please click here to RSVP by 7th December if you are able to attend.

Being a member

In the regional meetings it was noted that Friends Groups needed more information on what it means to be members of Libraries Unlimited. Click here to see a factsheet on membership responsibilities. If you are unsure if your group is a member please contact Rachel Gee.

See the factsheet here>>>

Who's who

In response to your feedback, we've put together a list of names and job titles to help you get to know who's who within the Leadership Team of Libraries Unlimited.

See the list here>>> (This document is correct as of November 2018)

You can also find out more about our Board of trustees here>>>

Brixham

Friends of Brixham Library (FOBL) have received an award from the Royal Horticultural Society and South West in Bloom for the floral displays outside the library.

The level 4 award is an amazing response to their efforts (level 5 being the highest). Well done to all who worked so hard on the flower beds. Pictured is FOBL Chair Alasdair Anderson and committee member Marian Parker.

Ashburton

On Saturday 8th September Ashburton held its annual Food and Drink Festival, in St. Lawrence Lane just outside the Library and Post Office. Librarian, Ros Parkes, sourced a wide range of cookery books and organised a pop-up library stall which was staffed through the day by the Friends of Ashburton Library (FOAL) and volunteers. It was a good way to get the library message out onto the street (literally) and a good example of everyone working together.

Appledore

Appledore Friends (FOAL) have recently funded a film license for the library events room - the plan is for all adult members of the library to be in the Film Club with regular film shows dedicated to a type of film such as Science Fiction, Musicals or Classic Oldies. The Library Christmas Party is scheduled for Friday 7th December, 4.30-7pm. Friends will be serving mince pies and mulled wine upstairs whilst the library will be open in the evening and offering hot chocolate and cookies. There will be short films, a visit from the Mayor and perhaps even Santa Claus! In previous years the party has attracted hundreds of people to the library.

Combe Martin

Combe Martin Friends supported the Summer Reading Challenge finishers party, and Secretary Chris even wore a Dennis the Menace jumper! She said “We had loads of children attend with their parents and it was certainly very noisy as everyone was having a great time!

"Dave Hendy was our balloon modelling guru, I was on badge making, and Barbara was on goody bag design. Once decorated the goody bags were filled with a book of the child’s choice, small games & puzzles, sweets & a beano character topped cake, all funded by the Friends Group”.

Princetown

On Saturday 6th October Princetown Library joined libraries across Devon and other community groups around the world to take part in the Fun Palaces Weekend.

The Friends of Princetown Library supported Customer Service Assistant Heather and opened the library for an afternoon of fun, welcoming over 20 people who took part in a range of craft activities including embroidery, making friendship bracelets, slate painting and flower arranging. Heather said: “As a small library in an isolated village location we really didn't know whether the Fun Palace concept would work but were pleasantly surprised with the turnout. We will definitely be building on this success for next years event".

Kingskerswell

During 2018 Kingskerswell Library was nominated to benefit from the Co-Op Local Community Fund and as part of this volunteers from the Friends of Kingskerswell Library visited two local Co-Ops to promote our Library and ran a word search competition open to all ages.

The winner of the competition is pictured with Mrs Gillian Wright, Chair of the Friends (right) and Kingskerswell Library Assistant Barbara. During the year the Friends have kept a book case at Shiphay Co-Op stocked with donated books to buy. Kingskerswell's year will shortly be coming to an end and funds received to date have provided a digital display for the library promoting village and library activities.

Cullompton

We are small in number but we keep busy in order to help our Library with events and fundraising. Our main aim at present is to help with the purchase of a cover for the outside area attached to The Hayridge Café.

This cover will enable customers to sit outside in the patioed area in all seasons. So far we have been able to raise and ringfence £1750 and we have also put in for grants towards this.

Salcombe

The Friends of Salcombe Library have had a busy few months, with highlights being speakers Karen Wolstenholme who gave a riveting account of her life in the Diplomatic Service, and Vice Admiral Sir Jonathon Todd who talked about his distinguished career in the Navy. In August they ran a popular second-hand book stall on Whitestrand during the Salcombe Town Regatta giving them the opportunity to chat with interested visitors and residents about the library and the work of the Friends.

Colyton

The Friends of Colyton Library (FoCL) hosted another successful Cream Tea Quiz on 4th November with 52 people taking part and raising £260. FoCL encouraged 5 people to join taking membership to 82. In October FoCL achieved their target of raising £5,000 to install money-saving solar panels on the library roof. Chair Jane Dauncey, said: “We had some generous grants from East Devon District Council’s Community Buildings’ fund, County Councillor Martin Shaw’s locality fund and the Colyton Chamber of Feoffees. The remainder was raised by the generosity of the Colyton community and we give heartfelt thanks to them all."

Uffculme

Uffculme Library Friends organised a coffee morning on 13 October, to mark Libraries Week. The coffee morning was held in Square Corner, a community meeting place in the centre of Uffculme – our library is unfortunately too small to host any meetings or events.

The coffee morning was popular, with a good turnout and a chance to raise the profile of the library and library services. As always in Uffculme, the raffle was particularly well patronised, and we are grateful for donations from local businesses. We were pleased to raise (almost!) £100 net for the library.

Ottery St Mary

On July 12th Ann Widdecombe visited Ottery St Mary to talk to the Friends (FOOL) about her life and writing. Due to the size of the audience her talk took place in The Institute, where over 100 people came. The afternoon was a most entertaining, amusing and in some cases, a touching experience as she talked about everything from politics to Strictly and a recent TV documentary on the NHS. Library Supervisor Xanthe Waite presented Ann with a bouquet of flowers, and after a book signing she donated the profits from the afternoon to FOOL and Ottery St Mary Library.

Churston

The Friends of Churston Library contribute to the funding of many Library activities, mainly by organising day trips for Members and non-Members. In the last 12 months we have been to St.Ives, Bath, Salisbury, Truro, Rosemoor and Wells raising over £570.

Friends have contributed prizes for competitions, purchased Lego and provided books allowing every child under 5 to receive one as a gift when they get their first Library card.

Ilfracombe

Tessa from the Friends of Ilfracombe Library says: “We have had two very successful and lucrative Quiz evenings at our local pub in Ilfracombe, the last one raising a total of £210. These evenings are always enjoyable and well worth doing. Several of our group were at a successful Fun Palace, helping with and participating in the activities. We are hoping to support the library in presenting the pantomime Sleeping Beauty in December after the success of The Little Match Girl last year and combine it this year with a Christmas Hamper raffle.”

Dawlish

The Friends of Dawlish Library have organised a programme of speakers and events for the coming months. On 20th November, 7.30pm Sonya Marshall, professional artist, will give an illustrated talk. On 24 January you can join them at 7pm for a Grand General Knowledge Quiz. Derek Gore will give a talk on Dawlish before Domesday on 12th February 7.30pm, and on Friday 8th March, 7.30 pm Matt Norman, a nationally known musician will present The Mandolin: a demonstration and recital. Contact Dawlish Library for more information.

Seaton

On September 17th, Graham Hurley entertained Friends of Seaton Library with a lively talk on his life as a crime fiction writer and had his audience spell-bound and much amused at times. A chance to mingle with him over tea was much enjoyed by his small but hugely appreciative audience. We thoroughly recommend him as a great speaker!

Elizabeth Parker - Chair of FOSL.