Irchester Library set to open under community management

18 October 2022

North Northamptonshire Council has reached an agreement to secure the future of Irchester Library. 

The library is set to re-open on Wednesday, October 19 under community management.

Irchester Parish Council has signed the lease on the library property and volunteers will be taking on the running of the library. 

Support in running the library systems will be provided by North Northamptonshire Council including the training of volunteers, provision of lending stock and the library computer systems.

Customers using Irchester Library will be able to continue to use their LibraryPlus library card to access the countywide stock resources and all of the electronic resources. 

The Library opening hours will initially be: 

• Wednesday 10am - 2pm
• Friday 2pm - 6pm
• Saturday 10am - midday 

We have been working alongside Irchester Parish Council to finalise the solution for Irchester Library.

I am delighted that agreement has now been reached and this valuable local resource can once again open its door to the local residents.Cllr Helen Howell, North Northamptonshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism

Libraries play such an important role not just in allowing access to a wealth of reading materials but also as hubs of local communities. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to find a way of securing the future of Irchester Library.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

The Parish Council is delighted to support the library and enable the doors to be open once more. Community engagement is really positive as local support for the library continues to grow.

We have 30 volunteers who have already come forward to be trained in the use of the library management system with a further 25 coming on board soon to perform various roles.Nikki Daft, Irchester Parish Council