There has been widespread publicity about Somerset County Council’s decision to close a number of its libraries, including Bruton, unless a Community Group takes them over. The decision has not come as a surprise, and the Trustees of Bruton Library have been working with the Town Council during the past year to ensure that Bruton’s Library does not close.
Bruton’s Library building belongs to the Bruton Library Trust, not the County Council. The Trustees have notified the County Council of their wish to run the Library as a Community Library, and have recruited a pool of volunteers to assist with this. The intention is that the County Council will continue to supply books, its electronic catalogue, membership and lending systems and the inter-library loan service, whilst the volunteers will staff the library. In the short term the Trust will pay the County Council for the services of a part-time senior librarian. Bruton Town Council has agreed in principle to give the Trust a £4,000 grant next year to assist.
The Trustees are keen to use the building for other activities and services, which would, they feel, make it more of a focus for the community and encourage more people to make use of both the Library and its facilities.
The Library remains open Tuesday 2pm–5.30pm, Friday 10am–1.30pm and 2.30pm–5.30pm, and Saturday 10am–1pm.
Additional volunteers are very welcome. Please contact Mike Streatfeild, Trustee, on 01749 813 275.
