THE running of Holsworthy Library, along with all Devon County Council libraries, was taken over by Libraries Unlimited on Friday, April 1, writes Christine Williams.

Libraries Unlimited is a new mutual organisation owned by staff and the community.

The move is set to secure the future of all 50 of the county’s libraries and save the authority a further £1.5-million in addition to the £3-million it has already saved from its library service budget over the past three years.

The new organisation will be managed by a chief executive and led by a board of trustees recruited from library staff, library friends groups and independent members of the public over the coming months.

Libraries Unlimited chair, Julie Dent, is confident that with a rigorous five year business plan, they can continue to deliver an affordable, sustainable and innovative library service for Devon and save money, she said: “This is a landmark day for Devon’s libraries as we begin a new chapter in what I’m confident will be a bright and successful future.”

Devon County Council will continue to fund the libraries but Libraries Unlimited will apply for charitable status.

No-one will be asked to pay to visit the library but services such as DVD hire and the reservation of books will continue to be charged for.

Although people will be encouraged to become volunteers, libraries will not be reliant upon them and will continue to be run by paid staff.

Mary Weblin, an assistant librarian at Holsworthy, expects library users will hardly notice the change.

However, people from the Holsworthy area are invited to a coffee morning in the library between 11am and noon on Saturday, April 23, to celebrate the launch of Libraries Unlimited as well as World Book Night – an annual celebration of reading and books.

Mary said: “Not only will there be coffee, tea and cakes but we shall have free copies of World Book Night books to give away.

“Everyone is welcome and you don’t need to be a member of the library although it will be the perfect opportunity to join up! Entrance is free and there is no need to book.”