A LIBRARY forced to relocate due to unaffordable rent costs hosted a book sale at its new home to help keep the community base open.
North Baddesley Community Library hosted a book sale on Wednesday, August 31 to help raise funds to keep the library running. The library, independent of Hampshire Libraries, re-opened at All Saints Church on July 5 after being forced to close its doors at its site in Willis Avenue in April.
The morning book sale took place outside the church, raising £80 to go towards the community library’s rent donation. Voluntary chair, Debbie Evenhand said: “The reception at the book sale was very good. We’re lucky enough that we have the location we have with the church’s support and can hold events. We have no funding because we are non-revenue. Our main form of revenue raising is book sales.
READ MORE: North Baddesley Community Library reopens at All Saints Church
“I think a library is very important in any area but especially somewhere like North Baddesley, it’s somewhere for people to go and to meet and to read books and it’s a great community centre. It’s particularly valuable for people who might not otherwise have access to books- there’d be no library without our library. We are a community library run for the community.”
Local author Claire Gradidge, who cut the ribbon for the July reopening, attended the book sale and is expected to be signing copies and potentially giving a talk upon the release of her new crime novel, A Conflict of Interests, in October. The voluntary coordinator added that Claire “has been very supportive.”
SEE ALSO: Romsey author and Winchester University lecturer releases new crime book based on WWII local history
In an effort to continue fundraising and keep the community hub open, the library volunteers hope to restart quizzes in October. Additionally, weekly story times will return from Tuesday, September 13- open to all children accompanied by an adult- and jigsaw and magazine exchanges are currently in the works.
The community library is always looking for more volunteers, with about 20 regular volunteer workers helping keep the library open three days a week: Tuesdays 2pm-4pm and Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am-midday.
For more go to northbaddesley-pc.gov.uk/library/.
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