New chapter for Library Service in Two Village Communities Thanks to Partnership With Parish Councils
A celebration was held recently to mark an exciting new chapter for the Library Service at Sunningdale, which is now operating from a fitting new community base at The Pavilion, in Broomhall Lane. Meanwhile, the Container Library at Wraysbury is operating under extended opening hours.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is working closely with parish councils, community groups, trusts and volunteers to continue to deliver an accessible Library Service in a more resilient and viable way, retaining a strong physical library provision.
Thanks to partnership funding from Sunningdale Parish Council, the library is now open at The Pavilion on Fridays from 4pm to 7pm, Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm, and Sundays from 11am to 2pm. A public-access computer is also available during those times.
To celebrate this exciting ne chapter, a celebration was held at Sunningdale Recreation Ground, with children’s story-time, a visit from beloved children’s book character Peter Rabbit, who marks his 120th birthday this year, and the cutting of a special book-shaped cake by Cllr Christine Bateson, the mayor.
The new arrangement at Sunningdale is in place of the Container Library, which used to visit the nearby car park. The Container Library now stays at Wraysbury Village Hall car park, The Green, under extended opening hours funded by Wraysbury Parish Council: Wednesdays from 2.30pm to 7pm, Fridays from 2.30 to 5.30pm and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
In addition to the 11 permanent library buildings, the whole borough is well served by the extended Select and Deliver Service/Home Library Service, which enables readers who can’t easily get to their local library to reserve books by phone, email or online. These are selected by library staff and delivered conveniently to doorsteps by dedicated volunteers. The books are later collected by the volunteers.
Councillor Samantha Rayner, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Corporate & Residents Services, Culture & Heritage, & Windsor, said: “Over the last year, we have embarked on an exciting new chapter for the Library Service, forming successful partnerships with parish councils, other organisations and working with our many dedicated local library volunteers to continue to deliver this highly valued service in a more viable way that still meets local needs.
“The Pavilion is a fitting new community base for the Library Service at Sunningdale, very close to where the Container Library used to visit, while Wraysbury is now benefitting from extended opening hours. We’d like to thank both parish councils for engaging constructively with us to shape and implement transformative solutions locally that work for these village communities.”
Jane Clemance, Wraysbury Parish Clerk, said: “There has always been a good take up of the library service in Wraysbury so residents have welcomed the news that not only will we retain our existing library services but are now able to take advantage of the additional evening and weekend opening hours. The parish council will continue to work closely with the Royal Borough to explore how the service can be extended out to local groups within the community.”
Images attached: taken at the celebration held at Sunningdale Recreation Ground.