North Northamptonshire Council  Community Managed Libraries Programme completed

15 November 2023

Picture courtesy of Raunds Community Library Trust

A long-term project to transfer Libraries to become community managed in North Northamptonshire has now been completed. 
 
Raunds Library is the final library to be transferred – with the Creating Tomorrow Academy Trust and the Raunds Community Library Trust selected to run the library in partnership. 

It has been quite a journey to get to where we are today but I am thankful that we have managed to complete the transition to Community Management while preserving what libraries have to offer.

With the support offered by the Council, which includes the provision of books and e lending items, computer and self-service access and professional support and training for volunteers, our community managed libraries are able to continue to offer valuable services in their communities.  
  
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers who have stepped up to work with us to find ways to keep their libraries open even throughout the pandemic, and who continue to work tirelessly for their customers.  
 
Together we have developed a sustainable model of library delivery that goes from strength to strength.Cllr Helen Howell, North Northamptonshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism

The transformation of the Library Service in Northamptonshire began in 2019 under the predecessor authority, Northamptonshire County Council. The programme sought to keep some libraries directly under the local authority management with the remainder managed by community groups. 
 
Since the creation of North Northamptonshire Council in April 2021, the Council has been continuing the programme of transferring some libraries into community management. With the transfer of Irchester Library in October 2022 and Rothwell in May 2023.  
 
In North Northamptonshire the community managed libraries are:

• Burton Latimer 
• Danesholme 
• Desborough 
• Earls Barton 
• Finedon 
• Irchester 
• Raunds 
• Rothwell 
• Thrapston 
• Wollaston 

I’m delighted to see the completion of this programme of work which has seen an innovative model introduced to ensure libraries continue to be at the heart of our communities. 
 
I’d like to thank all of the staff involved for all of their hard work and dedication and of course the community groups themselves, without whom, this would have been impossible.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council