Community Managed Libraries
The Asset Transfer Unit is supporting a national network of community organisations and local authorities exploring the transfer for library services and assets.
This forms part of our wider programme of work to support Multiple Asset Transfer.
Interest in community management of libraries has grown significantly in recent months driven in part by budget cuts, but also due to increased recognition of the potential for community managed solutions to add value to service delivery.
We believe that library services play a vitally important role at the very heart of our communities, and that ‘doing nothing’ would come at a considerable cost.
The Community Managed Library programme aims to support and promote good practice including:
- work with local authorities to develop strategic approaches to sustainable library service and asset transfer
- work with community organisations around viability and sustainability of library transfer
- inspiring innovation in service transformation by sharing learning across the network, and exploring synergies with related services and emerging technologies
- supporting collaboration to develop the potential of this emerging movement
The Community Managed Library Network benefits from the support of:
- Experienced community managed library practitioners and pioneers
- Experts in the fields of asset transfer, community enterprise and social action
- A growing peer support network of emerging community organisations and authorities developing a new wave of community library services
The Community Knowledge Hub
The Community Knowledge Hub provides an online platform and resource for the community library network, bringing together advice and guidance; peer networking; and access to a range of resources and remote support.
Please visit www.communityknowledgehub.org.uk for more information.
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Is your library facility threatened with closure? We can provide support and advice to help you.
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Exploring how the trust developed £1.4M assets including a community resource centre, youth centre and library.
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Norden Community Trust was founded in 2007 by a group of local people determined to rescue and revitalise the Old Library as a community facility at the heart of the village.