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Your Library Service is Changing

Find Out More at Our Family-Friendly Information Drop In, With Cake:  September 24, Marsden Mechanics, 10.00 – 13.00 (drop in, any time).  Children’s Activities Available

And on the same evening, a Ceilidh to Launch the Library ReDesign Fundraising Campaign

Marsden Library continues to thrive in its home in Marsden Mechanics.  It hosts a variety of events and activities, some long-standing friends like Write Out Loud, some newcomers to the Marsden scene, like Lego Club and Local Writers Reading.

Both the latter are provided in association with Friends of Marsden Library (FOML) and starting Friends of Marsden Library in November 2015 was the first step in assuring the future of Marsden Library.

Now the next phase is beginning: adapting the Library service to the new arrangements.

Staff and Volunteers Working Together

The Library Service has confirmed that Chris Handy will be working in Marsden Library from September, which is terrific news for the village.  There is also a team of Library Service staff from Kirklees working hard to run the service and plan events.

The Library Service has recruited volunteers to work in Marsden Library, alongside the permanent staff member, and library regulars may have noticed some new faces in the library as volunteers begin to complete their training and take up their roles.  Volunteers are an essential part of keeping the Library open as at least two people are needed to staff it during opening hours which means at least one volunteer.

Opening Hours

Hours for all the libraries in the Kirklees area were reviewed as part of the adjustments to the Library Service, and Marsden Library has recently begun to operate to its new hours.  It is now open for 20 hours a week, and the opening hours have been designed to coincide as far as possible with the times when the Library is used by the most number of people.

People using the Library is a very important part of making sure it stays open, so keep calling in.  As well as books to borrow, you can request new titles (for a small charge), read the papers, access the internet, or use the building-wide free wifi.  And as we’ve already mentioned, there’s lots going on, and you can find out more via the Events calendar, and also by signing up to the Friends of Marsden Library Twitter feed or Facebook page.

Space

Kirklees recently approved the first stage of transferring ownership of Marsden Mechanics, a process called Asset Transfer, to the village, represented by Marsden Community Trust (MCT).  MCT will be responsible for the upkeep of the Mechanics Institute  and will need to generate income from rent and room hire to cover the costs.

Marsden Library is a very important part of Marsden Mechanics, and occupies its space without paying any rent.  This will continue because MCT is committed to having Marsden Library in the Mechanics.

To make this work, the MCT Board and the Library Service have agreed to re-design the Library to make better use of space.  The MCT Board plans to create a new office space for renting out, and new meeting space that can be hired.  In addition, the Library space will be available to hire when not being used for the Library.  It is also hoped to make some design changes to the Library to make it more attractive, although what can be achieved in the short term will depend on the funds that can be raised.

Fundraising

Together, we have made a great start to the fundraising already.  In addition to the Robin Ince Gig in June, which raised £1600, funds have been raised through Local Writers Reading, and the very successful Spring Tree Walk and our fundraising total is now more than £3000.

However, to raise enough money to do everything we want to do for the Library Redesign is going to take a massive effort – we will need somewhere in the region of £60, 000.

Launch of the Fundraising Campaign

Fundraising will begin in earnest in September.  There will be a family-friendly drop in information session on Saturday 24 September, 10.00 – 1.00, where you can pop in and have a look at the plans for the Library Redesign.  Members of the MCT Board and Friends of Marsden Library Steering Group will be present to answer your questions, and we hope there will also be Library Volunteers and someone from Kirklees Library Service.  There will be a variety of activities (including the lego)  to keep children occupied while you look at the plans and ask any questions you would like.

We’ll be selling tea and cake – every slice of cake you eat will go towards the Library Redesign!

And then in the evening – a proper village do – we’ll be holding a Ceilidh to really kick off the fundraising campaign.  Further details coming soon!

We look forward to seeing you in September.

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