News

 
The following press release was issued by Lostwithiel Town Council on 6th October.

Plans for Lostwithiel Town Council to run the town’s Library service are being discussed by Cornwall Council and Lostwithiel Town Council. They involve introducing volunteers and self-service Library facilities.

Last year Lostwithiel Town Council asked the local community who they thought should run the Library, and of those who responded 77% said they would like the Town Council to run it. The library will be managed by Lostwithiel Town Council, with the support of local volunteers. The existing paid staff, all of whom are valued, will no longer be employed at Lostwithiel Library after the service has been transferred to the Town Council. Cornwall Council are consulting with the staff to explore all options available to them.

Customers at Lostwithiel Library will still be members of the Cornwall Library Service and be able to borrow from the Cornwallwide stock of books, CDs, and DVDs as well as having access to online newspapers, e-magazines, eBooks, and computers. The proposal is for the Library to retain its existing opening hours, with an aspiration to increase opening hours in the future.

Cornwall Councillor Edwina Hannaford (portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods) said: “Our aim has been to work with partners and local communities to protect library services by delivering them in line with local need. We will continue to work in partnership with Lostwithiel Town Council on plans to involve volunteers to develop the service for the local community.”

Mayor of Lostwithiel Pam Jarrett said: “Lostwithiel Town Council are doing all they can to retain a library provision for Lostwithiel. We have been exploring this current option for some time alongside Officers from Cornwall Council’s Library & Information Service, with the hope this model will deliver a full service well into the future” Discussions are progressing well; Cornwall Council and Lostwithiel Town Council will continue to work together to develop the proposal involving volunteers, so that the Town Council can take over the library next Spring.