£80,000 LIBRARY APPEAL LAUNCHED – How YOU can help write the next chapter in its history
UPPER NORWOOD LIBRARY TRUST – which will take over the running of the Westow Hill building in April next year – have launched an appeal for funds.
The library has funding of £60,000 each from Croydon and Lambeth councils over the next two financial years.
“About £80,000 at a minimum would make our current business plan viable” say the trust.
“100 local supporters at £100 would raise up to £12,500 a year with gift aid: 200 could raise up to £25,000. “That kind of demonstration that local people value their library will be very important in persuading other potential funders to make up the difference.”
The trust say they will use the funds “to keep the library open and thriving.
“The whole of the ground floor will remain, more or less, as it is, with the same level of book stock. “We will utilise the promised library provision from Lambeth council and supplement it with staff and volunteers.
“The first floor will be used to develop revenue and grant-generating ideas and space for local community activities.
“As a registered charity our vision is to have a professionally staffed and properly stocked library at the heart of a community learning hub.
“To do this we need to supplement the funds supplied by Lambeth and Croydon councils. “Your pledge will be used for essential things such as:
• Staff salaries
• Electricity, heat and light
• Building maintenance
• Book/music/film stock purchasing, repairs and maintenance
• Costs of maintaining the computer system for lending, returns and renewals
• Supporting IT and learning provision in the Library
• Supporting the cost of open groups and regular activities at the library aimed mainly at local people
• Accounts, administration and filing costs of running the charitable library trust.
“Wherever possible these legal requirements are undertaken by volunteers to keep costs to a minimum.”
The trust – made up of local residents and previously part of the Save the Library Campaign – say they set up the trust “in order to deliver a 21st century library with professional staff and a properly stocked library at the heart of a community learning hub.”
All are volunteers, all have no financial interest in the library.
BT MyDonate – all the money goes to the trust, there is no commission or set up fee. https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/uppernorwoodlibrarytrust