FOCUS ON.... DONINGTON LIBRARY . . .

(Transcribed extract from Donington Parish News September 1978)

The story of Donington's library begins before 1948 when the Divisional Library records show that Mr. L.A. Ovens, a local teacher, had resigned the post of voluntary librarian, which involved issuing books from a small collection of probably not more than 200, which were housed in the School and exchanged periodically from the visiting Library Van. No-one else in the village volunteered to take over the job and from then on it was administered one afternoon each week by a member of the Spalding Library staff from a room in the Church Institute, where two lock-up cupboards held the stock of books. This service was not considered to be very satisfactory and during the years following 1950, various attempts were made to find suitable premises. Eventually a site was purchased by the County Council in Church Street. Plans were produced and planning permission sought, and by 1975 the distinct possibility arose of a purpose-built library for Donington. Then came the government freeze on capital projects, and Donington was back to square one.

Local government re-organization arrived in April 1974 and the Divisional Librarian, Mr. B. Fie1d, reported to the Divisional Library Committee, "the lack of reasonable library accommodation at Donington continues to cause acute embarrassment!"

Thanks to Councilor Mrs Ruby Hunt's persistence in asking questions in the right places and with the strong support of the Divisional Library Committee and its Chairman, Councilor Cyril Ford and the County Library Sub-committee, with its Chairman, Councilor W. J. Speechley of Crowland, Donington's cause was pleaded. Success finally came in 1976 with the purchase of the Georgian Café by the County Council.

‘There are about 1800 non-fiction books for both adults and children, about 1000 novels of various kinds, and around 700 books for children, as well as some for teenagers. Younger children are catered for by the provision of picture-books in the kinder box, and there are also Beginner and Easy-Reading books. The adult library stock contains large-print books for the readers with failing eyesight, books in foreign languages, a small collection of music scores, some basic reference books, and books for people who have difficulties in reading. There are also books about Lincolnshire’s History. A recent innovation has been the addition of a collection of books in paper-back for adults, non-fiction as well as novels. These were provided to augment the general stock, as there is insufficient space to add any further shelving, and they have proved to be very popular with readers.

Children from the local schools have visited the Library to learn how to use books and libraries; displays of books on various topics are frequently arranged to exploit the book stock and incidentally to add to the general attractiveness of the Library.

Donington is in the Boston Group of libraries, together with Boston and Kirton, under the supervision of Group Librarian Mr T. G. Lowe. Mrs Sue Brearley is the Library Assistant in charge of Donington, with the part-time help of Mrs Linda Brunton. Such has been the success of the library since it opened in new premises, that extra opening hours have been arranged. It is now open on Monday and Friday 2.30 - 5.00 and 6.00 - 7.00, and on Wednesday from 10.15 - 1.15 and 2.30 - 5.00, and it is apparent that it is much appreciated by the Donington Community.

1978