Library services
Examples of best practice from local authorities and other organisations in the provision of rural library services.
11 Mar 2024
The Essential Lifeline of Libraries in Rural Communities
Last week, coinciding with World Book Day – a global celebration of literature and reading – Rural Services Network Chief Executive, Kerry Booth took part in a Libraries Connected webinar,...
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21 Nov 2022
Libraries at risk of cuts despite ‘unprecedented’ rise in users
The BBC report how Libraries are at risk of cuts despite ‘unprecedented’ rise in users Community libraries are seeing an “unprecedented” rise in the number of people using their services, but...
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24 May 2021
Oxfordshire pub offers post-lockdown lifeline to locals with library and IT hub
Oxfordshire publican Dan Redfern is opening a library and IT hub at his pub The Cherry Tree Inn in Stoke Row to help support local residents as the country moves...
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09 Dec 2019
Britain loses almost a fifth of libraries
The Guardian reports that almost 800 libraries have closed around England, Scotland and Wales since 2010 The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (Cipfa) annual survey of British libraries has...
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14 Jun 2018
Council consults on rural library services
One of England’s largest county councils has teamed up with a charity to improve rural access to its library services. Devon’s libraries attracted 2.7 million visits last year – welcoming...
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29 Jan 2013
New Look, No Shush!
Delivering library services in North Yorkshire The challenge The library service needed to consider how to accelerate its approach of delivering services in partnership with other providers in order to...
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16 Apr 2012
Using volunteers to run rural libraries
Training up a cohort of community volunteers as library staff has brought benefits in Wiltshire. When its rural branch libraries faced a major spending cut Wiltshire Council decided to take...
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16 Apr 2012
Libraries with a social enterprise partner
Co-locating a branch library with a social enterprise brings multiple benefits in Shropshire. A branch library belonging to Shropshire Council has now been co-located with a social enterprise, bringing multiple...
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16 Apr 2012
Mobile libraries that meet top standards
Mobile libraries in east Yorkshire provide the same quality of services found in branch libraries. East Riding of Yorkshire Libraries has designed and introduced mobiles which provide the same range...
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16 Apr 2012
Co-locating libraries in village schools
How Cornwall Council used a cost-effective solution to offer a quality library service to rural communities. Cornwall Council was concerned about the library service provided locally to some of its...
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