People power: Community library celebrates 10th anniversary

MILESTONE: Anlaby Park Community Library, which is now run as a charity

By Angus Young

Members of a volunteer-run library in Hull are celebrating the 10th anniversary of taking over the running of the building.

People power eventually won the day after city councillors voted to close Anlaby Park Library as part of sweeping cuts triggered by the coalition government’s austerity programme.

While opening hours at other libraries across Hull were drastically reduced, councillors decided to shut the venue in The Greenway.

However, regular users and nearby residents who had campaigned to keep it open then opened talks aimed at taking it over and running it themselves.

DEDICATED: From left, library volunteers Kay Ballantyne, Mandy Abdulla, Margaret Clarke and Denise Porteous

August marks a decade since a lease was signed and the keys were handed over. The new trustees have never looked back.

Trustee and operational manager Mandy Abdulla said: “We fought a very hard campaign and were so determined that we decided that the council closing the library would only be the start.

“It took a while for the lease to get sorted out but we never gave up. Barbara Bourne, who led the campaign, was really instrumental in pushing for it.”

Today, set in the middle of a picturesque green, the library is flourishing with the word ‘Community’ added to its title.

As well as books and an IT system supplied by the council through service-level agreements, it also hosts a range of daily activities. Ironically, it now boasts longer opening hours than most council-run libraries.

It also stages three big outdoor events each year, including this Saturday’s Music on the Green from 3pm until late with people invited to bring their own picnic for the occasion.

“It’s been a learning curve for all of us from day one but virtually everyone who was involved ten years ago is still here,” said Mandy

“In a way, that’s becoming a bit of a problem because we are all getting older and it would be nice if we could attract some younger faces to get involved in running the library.

“We have got a great bunch of volunteers and we always say that if you visit once, someone will probably find a job for you to do before you leave.”

Now run as a charity, the library’s trustees are currently negotiating with the council over a long-term lease through a formal asset transfer process.

“Ultimately, it would allow us to apply for more funding and hopefully secure the long-term future of the building.

“It’s been here for around 100 years, initially as a sports club with tennis courts outside, so it really is part of the local community. We would like it to be here for generations to come.”