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04
Jul 2024
Bilton and Woodfield Community Library is hosting its annual community event this weekend.
The volunteer-run library on Woodfield Road is bucking the national trend by increasing the amount of books it lends.
But it needs to generate about £9,000 to survive, and it hopes the community event, from 10am to noon on Saturday (July 6), will help.
Various local groups, including Bilton Conservation Group, Pine Street Allotments, St John's Church Green Team, and the waste reduction group North Yorkshire Rotters, will attend and the Rotters' smoothie-making bike will be available for people to use.
The event has been running annually since 2014.
Many libraries have struggled to maintain their momentum over that time. The number of books borrowed each year has been on a steady decline, and many libraries have been forced to close due to a lack of funding.
Greta Knight, chairman of Bilton and Woodfield Community Library, said it was "bucking the county and national trend" by seeing the number of books borrowed rise by 10% in the past year.
The library also offers a range of neighbourhood sessions – from children's story-time and bake sales to IT drop-ins and monthly coffee mornings – which have cemented the place as a community pillar.
These outreach activities have brought in more than 2,600 people from all walks of life, many of whom are expected to attend this weekend.
Saturday's event is open to everyone.
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