Mackworth Library is to become a Community Managed Library as Derby City Council hand over the management to local charity Direct Help and Advice (DHA).
The library’s last day operating as a council-run library will be Saturday 8th June. It will then close temporarily for work to take place ahead of re-opening as a Community Managed Library on Monday 24th June.
During this period, the Council will carry out training to ensure a smooth transition for customers and volunteers alike. In the interim, customers can access and reserve books at other Derby libraries, with eBooks continuing to be accessible 24/7 online.
The transition of Mackworth Library follows the successful transfer of Sinfin, Spondon and Allestree Libraries to DHA in 2018.
Mackworth Library is one of the remaining seven to transfer to DHA, a process which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of the service. Derby City Council will continue to run Riverside, Alvaston, Normanton, Mickleover and the Local Studies Libraries.
In December 2018, the Council committed an additional £400k and revised the roll-out timescale which would see all transfers achieved by February 2020. The amended timescale aims to allow the Council to realise the project’s full ongoing annual saving of £673k in the 2020/21 financial year.
Another step forward for the project has been to source a technological solution called Mobile Circ which will allow DHA’s volunteers to process loans and returns without needing to access customer data. Currently, the Council’s libraries team are still responsible for this process in order to remain compliant with the Data Protection Act 2018.
The provisional order of the remaining libraries to be handed over to DHA is Chaddesden, Blagreaves, Chellaston, Allenton, Springwood and Derwent.
DHA’s aim is to provide the local community with services beyond borrowing books. They are working closely with communities at each local library to tailor services to fit each area.
Community Action Derby is working in partnership with DHA to recruit volunteers for all proposed Community Managed Libraries. For more information on how to get involved in volunteering please contact them on 01332 346266.