Happy World Book Day, not just to the children but to all the volunteers across the UK helping to support our Libraries.

Across the last decade, over 500 libraries have been handed to volunteers. More and more libraries are still becoming staffed only by volunteers, instead of paid staff, provided by the council. This is due to the council making budget cuts. However, this is still better than the alternative of closing down local libraries, inhibiting children of what still is an exciting adventure out the house to somewhere new where their imagination can run wild!

Libraries create opportunities for children to:

  • Learn
  • Develop and grow
  • Interact with other children
  • Get help with homework
  • Give mum and dad a break
  • And generally, have fun through the power of imagination!

Libraries are being revived

Despite some towns being deprived of their local library services. Many libraries still continue to run each day through the commitment of local community volunteer groups. Where members of the groups will rotate working shifts allowing the library duties to be split equally amongst the volunteers. Many community-run libraries have been revived by volunteers. This is because the previously paid staff before weren’t local, therefore naturally they didn’t have the incentive to be as engaged with the community as current local volunteers are now.

Volunteers helping communities

Community volunteers are performing amazing tasks in order to keep libraries fresh and welcoming to all local communities. Our current client MCRVIP in Manchester have been advertising volunteering opportunities for libraries across the whole of Manchester, opportunities at Manchester libraries can include:

  • Lego Club volunteers
  • Once a month Film and craft volunteers
  • General Community library volunteers
  • IT volunteers
  • Homework club volunteers
  • Saturday club volunteers

More roles than you would have realised, it shows that it’s not all stacking and scanning books, but actually helping the community and interacting with the children and adults that go.

So thank you to all the volunteers for helping our community libraries.