Rainworth library is on the move

Sharon Mellins, a library assistant, right, serves customer Joan Radford.

Volunteers are set to take over the running of a library forced to relocate due to “reduced funding”Rainworth library is moving from its current address at Rainworth primacy care centre on Warsop Lane to the village hall on Kirklington Road, where it will become a community partnership library, led by volunteers.Inspire, which manages the library on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, said the change will hopefully “increase opening” hours as the “partnership develops”.The library currently opens on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons. An Inspire spokeswoman said: “We certainly aim to keep libraries open. “In Rainworth, a more sustainable solution had to be found for the future of the library service against a backdrop of reduced funding, rising costs and the expiry of the current lease with the NHS primary health care trust.”Employed staff at the library staff will be taking up vacant hours in other libraries. Councillor John Cottee, chairman of the council’s communities and place committee, said: “We are committed to our libraries service, ensuring they are in the heart of their community.“This initiative is part of our continuing vision for libraries to be modern, community, cultural and information hubs. “We want to continue to provide a great service to library users, but sometimes this requires creative and innovative ways to deliver the service. “The plan to work with the people of Rainworth to open the library in the village hall puts the service right at the heart of the community with great potential for the future.”The library will close at the care centre for the last time at 5pm on Friday, March 9, before opening at its new venue on Tuesday, March 20, at 9.30am.Members of the public are invited to the official opening, set to take place at 1pm on Friday, March 23. Peter Gaw, Inspire chief executive, said: “Inspire is committed to the council’s vision of libraries as hubs at the heart of the community, whether that be through our modernisation and refurbishment programme or working with local partners to develop mutually beneficial solutions”