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Lytchett Matravers breaks the 50,000 book issue barrier

The staff at the Library at Lytchett Matravers recently became the first Community Library in Dorset to issue over 50,000 books in a year. Last year the library was one of the 20 community libraries threatened with the withdrawal of funding by the County Council. Over the last 6 or 7 years book issues have increased each year and this last year a total of 52,209 books were issued. Several other community libraries including Corfe Mullen, Upton, Burton Bradstock and Crossways also showed a large increase in their issue of books. Regrettably most of the large town libraries followed the continual downward trend.
Lytchett Matravers Library passes the 50000 book issue barrier 
At the Lytchett Matravers Parish Annual Meeting on Saturday 28 April Graham Lee Chairman of the Friends of Lytchett Matravers Library thanked Sue, Natasha and Clare for their outstanding achievement and presented Sue Thomas, Manager of the village library with a presentation cake in the shape of a book recording the achievement.
 

Dorset County Council Cabinet approve community libraries business plans

Members of Dorset County Council Cabinet meeting at Dorchester in March approved proposals to allow them to move forward and handover control to the communities. Seven of the nine community libraries have so far submitted a business plan to the county to take over the running of their libraries. Two communities Portland Underhill and Corfe Castle have yet to do so. In the case of Portland the lease on the building expires shortly and with regard to Corfe Castle, the chairman of the Friends Group recently suddenly passed away, but a group of parish councillors have requested a meeting with Library Officer in an endeavour to retain the library.

Chickerell, Wool, Charmouth, Colehill Burton Bradstock and Stalbridge business plans were approved.

Hazel Robinson Chairman of Charmouth Library made an appeal to the Cabinet for extra funding in order to bring the library building up to standard which is at present desperately in need of major repairs to the roof. The Chairman of the Cabinet Cllr. Angus Campbell stated that all libraries that were being handed over to the community would be handed over in an acceptable state of repair.

The Chairman of AD LIB, Graham Lee informed the meeting that there were a number of areas which needed to be resolved before any handover of a library to the community and suggested that a joint meeting with all the interested parties took place as soon as possible. This course of action was approved.